The Center for Environmental Studies offers a major, a minor, and much more. The program aims to foster the transition to a just society that respects the needs of future generations, other species, and the ecosystems upon which all life depends. Students have the opportunity to lead environmental efforts on campus through Austin College Thinking Green and design projects that reduce the college’s environmental impact. Environmental studies students can also aid the restoration of native ecosystems, hold internships at world-class organizations, and do research. Through participation in these activities and courses — from biology to economics to philosophy — environmental studies students advance their knowledge, expand awareness, and foster greater appreciation for the interdependence of humans and other species.

Austin College's use of wind power greatly exceeds the EPA's requirement for the Green Power Partnership.

Austin College’s Sneed Prairie Restoration Project is the TCEQ's 2020 Texas Environmental Excellence Award winner in the Education category.

Austin College's greenhouse gas emissions have declined by more than 55% since 2008.

Austin College is a Princeton Review Green College

Meet Our Alumni

Aly Tharp ’12

Aly Tharp is the Program Director of the Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth, organizing faith-based community action for climate and environmental justice. After graduating from AC, Aly joined a non-violent direct action campaign to stop the Keystone XL pipeline in East Texas and has been involved in numerous national mobilizations and Gulf South climate justice… [Read More]

Ann Huston ’09

Ann Huston is a park ranger in one of the “Mighty Five” national parks in Utah. She first worked with the National Park Service (NPS) as a Student Conservation Association (SCA) intern after college. As a ranger, she provides educational programs on natural and cultural resources the park protects.

Barron H. Henderson ’01

Barron H. Henderson is a Physical Scientist at the U.S. EPA, where he uses atmospheric science to inform national policy and regulations. He holds a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was previously an Assistant Professor of Environmental Engineering Sciences at the University of Florida. While at… [Read More]

Cara (Marusak) Rouvaldt ’10

Cara (Marusak) Rouvaldt received her BA in Environmental Studies and Political Science at Austin College. Since graduation in 2010, Cara has worked her way up to Environmental Project Manager at Halff Associates, Inc. She manages and prepares environmental impact studies (e.g., Categorical Exclusions, Environmental Assessments, and Environmental Impact Statements) in accordance with the National Environmental… [Read More]

Chris Harper ’99

Chris Harper is a Supervisory Biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, where he helps private landowners protect endangered species and restore ecosystems. He holds an MS in grassland Ecology from Kansas State and was previously Texas Fire Management Planner for The Nature Conservancy. Chris held a Nature Conservancy internship as an undergrad.

Don Kelly ’14

Don Kelly is studying Electrical Engineering at the University of Texas at Dallas while working as a design engineer for the Iota Foundation, a Berlin based non-profit distributed ledger research and development organization. Don believes that cultural paradigm shifts required for sustainable living can be motivated by the value proposition of attractive technologies that enable more… [Read More]

Erika Valek ’15

Erika Valek is a Soil Conservationist with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), where she works with farmers to design natural resource conservation plans for their land. Erika holds an MSc in Land Reclamation and Remediation from the University of Alberta and previously interned with the NRCS while attending… [Read More]

Jacob Lowe ’99

Jacob Lowe is a Project Manager for Stericycle Environmental Solutions. Jacob solves environmental compliance problems for industrial, medical, and other commercial facilities as well as municipal governments. He has wild stories. After an undergrad internship with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Fisheries Lab and a stint teaching tropical ecology in Peru, he signed on with… [Read More]

Jade Rutledge ’09

Jade Rutledge is currently an Aquatic Scientist for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. She conducts environmental and conservation reviews of water rights applications. She also facilitates environmental flows stakeholder groups throughout the state. Prior to this position, Jade worked on education programming at a variety of national and state parks in Oregon, Alaska, and… [Read More]

Kathryn Turner ’08

Kathryn Turner, Ph.D. is a Research Associate at The Land Institute in Salina, Kansas, where she works on reducing diseases in perennial grains. Unlike corn, wheat, and rice, perennial grains do not need to be planted every year. Thus, fields do not need to be plowed annually, which reduces erosion, and their deeper roots impart… [Read More]

Katie Masucci ’11

Katie Masucci is a Senior Environmental Education Coordinator for the City of Plano, Texas. Her interest in environmental education is a result of wonderful experiences as a Sneed Prairie field guide and an undergraduate internship with Plano. Katie teaches residents about water quality, efficiency and conservation using curricula that she and her teammates design. From… [Read More]

Lindsey (St. Clair) Griffin ’11

Lindsey (St. Clair) Griffin is an environmental scientist with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at the Region 6 location in Dallas, Texas. She is the State Coordinator for the state of Oklahoma where she works with the agencies in charge of water quality standards, water quality monitoring, developing Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), assessment of… [Read More]

Maegan Fitzgerald ’09

Maegan Fitzgerald is a doctoral student in primatology and wildlife sciences at the Wildlife Research Center of Kyoto University, Japan. She holds an M.S. in Ecosystem Science and Management from Texas A&M University. Her research focuses on using emerging technologies to identify strategies for balancing conservation and socioeconomic development in the Nimba region of Guinea,… [Read More]

Mari Elise Ewing ’07

Mari Elise Ewing is an associate professor of Environmental Studies at Austin College. She holds an M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Mari Elise worked as a stewardship assistant for The Nature Conservancy of Colorado as a graduate student and interned at Bamberger Ranch Preserve in Texas as an undergraduate student.

Natalia Carter ’05

Natalia Carter is a solar professional, socialpreneur and environmental activist. She started her career in the solar industry with SolarCity/Tesla, continued expanding her expertise with SunPro and now works as an independent solar energy consultant. Natalia helps homeowners switch to clean, abundant solar energy while saving money on their electric bill and creating a smart, distributed… [Read More]

Samantha Kannenberg ’13

Samantha Kannenberg received her BA in Environmental Studies and Biology at Austin College in 2013. As an undergraduate student, Samantha interned with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge in Texas. Since graduation, Samantha has been working as an Environmental Scientist and Project Manager at Halff Associates, Inc.… [Read More]

Sarah Dillabough ‘16

After returning to El Paso after graduating with a major in Environmental Studies and Political Science and a minor in French, I worked with Texas Senator Jose Rodriguez in his district office as a legislative intern. I then did one year of AmeriCorps VISTA service with the City of El Paso Resilience and Sustainability Department.… [Read More]

Shannon (Torrence) Houlette ’99

Shannon (Torrence) Houlette, Ph.D. is a Public Services Staff Officer with the U.S. Forest Service in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. Here previous postings have included wildlife biologist positions in Alaska and Arizona. Shannon holds a Ph.D. from Texas Tech University and a master’s degree from North Dakota State University. Shannon’s work has focused on species as diverse… [Read More]