Green Fire: History of Huxley College

To order your advance copy of “Green Fire” contact Huxley.Book@wwu.edu

Green Fire: A History of Huxley College tells a tale that reaches beyond the walls of academia into the world of global politics, policy and people. Through the eyes of its founders, faculty and alumni, the story of the college comes to life with vivid first-hand accounts, a rich narrative and a remarkable collection of archival photos.

“The history of Huxley College spans a tumultuous time in environmental policy and politics and serves as a chronicle of one of the most important social shifts that has taken place in the last century,” says Huxley College dean, Brad Smith. “We wanted to show how Huxley College helped shape, and was shaped by, the broader environmental movement. “

WWSC President Charles "Jerry" Flora.
Huxley College archives. Dr. Flora cast the tie-breaking vote, as acting academic dean, to officially establish Huxley College in 1969.

The book’s author, William “Bill” Dietrich, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist for his coverage of the Exxon Valdez spill, remembers when Huxley College was first established—he was a student at Fairhaven College.

According to Dietrich, “The College was born during an era of civil unrest in America and, as the book chronicles, the approval process for the new college was Machiavellian.  The faculty was divided on whether an environmental college should even exist. “

Built after the cluster college models of Oxford and Cambridge, Huxley College is described by some as an experiment of sorts. It evolved out of the environmental movement and was intended to foster community among students and professors.   Though Huxley College grew rapidly during the 1970’s, the growth of cluster colleges at Western came to a halt.  Of the original three cluster colleges only two remain, Huxley College of the Environment and Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies.  Over forty years later, both are thriving.

“Huxley College has staying power,” Dietrich says. “One of the questions we ask in the book is ‘was the experiment successful and should it continue?’ The answer is affirmative.”

House where the Huxley College of the Environment was originally located.

In the book, forty alumni profiles give voice to the real-life experiences of a diverse group of leaders who have forged and inspired four decades of environmental change. Its pages explain why Huxley College is relevant to anyone interested in the environment and speak to the broader context of the state of the planet and the role of Huxley College within it. 

“Huxley College helped establish environmental science and studies as an integral part of curriculum,” Dietrich says. “The environmental movement has gone through all kinds of changes over the years and in the last 40 years the population of the globe has grown from 3 billion to 7 billion. The mission and legacy of Huxley College is more powerful now than ever.”

The director of development for the College, Manca Valum notes that the book could have been a vanity piece. But it isn’t. The book goes well beyond self- congratulation to tell a much larger tale.

“The book provides not just success stories, but useful lessons and observations gained from the last four decades,” Valum says. “It is beautiful, informational and inspirational.  It reminds us of our past and challenges us to think about the future.”

Green Fire: A History of Huxley College is due out in print this spring.  To order your advance copy, contact Manca Valum at 360.650.6542 or email Huxley.Book@wwu.edu