Dean's Office

 

Steven Hollenhorst, Professor and Dean of the College

Steve has over 25 years of experience in developing, implementing and enhancing innovative academic programs. At the University of Idaho, he served as associate dean of the College of Natural Resources, Chair of the Department of Conservation Social Sciences, and founding director of the university’s award-winning Building Sustainable Communities Initiative, and founding director of the McCall Outdoor Science School (MOSS). He was also director of the University’s Park Studies Unit, which is a branch of the National Park Service Social Science Program.  Formerly he was co-editor of the international academic journal Society and Natural Resources. Prior to the University of Idaho, he was a professor and program coordinator in the Division of Forestry at Western Virginia University. 

His scholarship work is in the areas of land use policy and management; land trusts and conservation easements; and environmental leadership.  His career includes nationally and internationally recognized scholarship. He is the author or co-author of numerous scholarly publications, including refereed articles, peer-reviewed agency research reports, book chapters and research reports. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Oregon and his doctorate from Ohio State University.

Nancy McLaughlin, Assistant to the Dean
B.S., Telecommunication, University of Florida; M.B.A., International Business, University of San Francisco

Main Office - ES 523
Office: (360) 650-2844

Brian L. Bingham, Professor. B.S. and M.S. (zoology), Brigham Young University; Ph.D. (biology), Florida State University.

Office: ES 337

Phone: (360) 650-2845
Email

• Courses include invertebrate biology, marine ecology, deep-sea biology and a graduate course in experimental design. Research emphasizes marine ecology with particular interests in the dynamics of benthic communities and the importance of reproductive and larval processes.

 

Leo R. Bodensteiner, Associate Professor. B.A. (biology), Moorhead (MN) State University; M.A. and Ph.D. (zoology), Southern Illinois University.

Office: ES 442

Phone: (360) 650-7375
Email | Web Site

• Courses in environmental pollution, fundamentals of ecology, limnology, stream ecology and environmental biology of fishes. Research interests include lotic ecology and aquatic habitat restoration, environmental tolerance of aquatic organisms, freshwater fisheries management, and aquaculture.

 

Andy Bunn, Associate Professor. BS (zoology) The Evergreen
State College; MEM (resource ecology) Duke University; PhD, Montana State
University-Bozeman (environmental science).

Office: ES 437

Phone: (360) 650-4252
Email | Web Site

 

Rebecca Bunn, Assistant Professor. B.S. (civil engineering) Michigan Technological University; M.S. (environmental engineering) University of Colorado; PhD (environmental science) Montana State University.

Office: ES 334

Phone: (360) 650-4597
Email | Web Site

• Courses in environmental toxicology, energy production, and environmental problem solving.  Research interests include interactions between plants and the belowground biota, with an emphasis on mycorrhizae in marginal and disturbed habitats.

 

James Helfield, Associate Professor. BA (English), Duke University;
MSc (physical geography), University of Toronto; PhD (forest ecology),
University of Washington.

Office: ES 338

Phone: (360) 650-7285
Email | Web Site

 

Peter S. Homann, Professor. B.A. (natural sciences) and B.S. (chemistry), Case Western Reserve University; M.S. (forest ecology), Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies; Ph.D. (forest soils, nutrient cycling), University of Washington.

Office: ES 437

Phone: (360) 650-7585
Email | Web Site

• Courses include terrestrial biogeochemistry, environmental systems, water quality, biostatistics, and soil processes. Research is focused on 1) quantifying soil organic matter at local and regional scales, evaluation of controlling factors, and assessment of uncertainty, 2) nutrient and carbon cycling in forest ecosystems, and 3) modeling plant-soil interactions at seedling to forest-stand scales.

 

Wayne G. Landis, Professor, Director, Institute of Environmental Toxicology. B.A. (biology), Wake Forest University; M.A. (biology), Indiana University; Ph.D. (zoology), Indiana University.

Office: ES 518

Phone: (360) 650-6136
Email | Web Site

• Courses in environmental toxicology and risk assessment. His current research is in developing new methods in toxicology, evaluating multispecies toxicity tests, and describing how ecosystems respond to stressors.

Brooke Love, Assistant Professor, B.S. Engineering Geology, Stanford Universit, M.S. Chemical Oceanography and PhD Chemical oceanography, University of Washington.

Office: ES 435

Phone: (360) 650-2894
Email| Web Site

• Teach in Environmental Science, and at the Shannon Point Marine Center as part of the MIMSUP program. Research includes CO2 in very hot places, to focus on some collaborative research on ocean acidification - the effects of CO2 on the ecology of our future oceans.

 

Robin A. Matthews, Professor and Director, Institute for Watershed Studies. B.S. (biology), University of California at Riverside; M.S. (environmental studies), Indiana University; Ph.D. (botany/aquatic ecology), Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Office: ES 604

Phone: (360) 650-3507
Email | Web Site

• Courses in stream ecology, environmental pollution, aquatic and environmental toxicology, limnology, and statistical ecology. Research interests in freshwater ecology and aquatic toxicology.

 

John F. McLaughlin, Associate Professor. B.A. (biological sciences),(integrated science program), (biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology), Northwestern University; M.S. (biological sciences) and Ph.D. (biological sciences, population biology), Stanford University.

Office: ES 440

Phone: (360) 650-7617
Web Site |

• Courses in fundamentals of ecology, population biology, conservation of biological diversity, field methods in vertebrate ecology, and biostatistical analysis. Research interests include habitat relationships of birds and carnivores, effects of forest management on wildlife, population dynamics, and predator-prey interactions.

 

John Rybczyk, Professor. Chair, Environmental Sciences Department, B.S. Fisheries and Wildlife Biology, Michigan State University M.S. Ecosystem Biology, Eastern Michigan University 
Ph.D. Louisiana State University (1997). Oceanography.

Office: ES 336

Phone: (360) 650-2081
Email | Web Site

• Courses taught at Western: Wetland Ecology, Wastewater Treatment Wetlands, Environmental Systems, Environmental Disturbances. Research interests include: Global warming, sea level rise and coastal wetland sustainability; Ecological modeling; Wetland wastewater treatment systems, Riparian wetland restoration.

 

David H. Shull. Associate Professor. BS (oceanography), University of Washington; MS (oceanography) University of Connecticut; PhD (environmental science) University of Massachusetts Boston.

Office: ES 445

Phone: (360) 650-3690
Email | Web Site

• Courses include oceanography, environmental science, and biodiversity and evolution. Research interests in benthic ecology with emphasis on the effects of benthic communities on the transport and distributions of dissolved and particulate materials in marine sediments.

 

Ruth M. Sofield, Associate Professor. BA (Biology), West Virginia U; MS (Environmental Science) McNeese State U; MS (Environmental Science and Engineering) and PhD (Environmental Science and Engineering), Colorado School of Mines.

Office: ES 440

Phone: (360) 650-2181
Email | Web Site

• Courses in environmental toxicology and environmental chemistry. Research interests include how genetic make-up of organisms affects tolerance during chemical exposures, and effects of water chemistry on bioavailability of metals to exposed organisms.

 

David O. Wallin, Professor. B.S. (biology), Juniata College; M.A. (biology), The College of William and Mary; Ph.D. (environmental science), University of Virginia.

Office: AH 310

Phone: (360) 650-7526
Email | Web Site

• Courses in fundamentals of ecology, terrestrial ecology, landscape ecology, and use of remote sensing in ecology. Research interests focus on the regional-scale study of land-use effects on the structure and function of forest ecosystems. His work is heavily dependent on the use of simulation models and satellite remote sensing. Recent studies have used satellite data to evaluate the consequences of forest change on vertebrate diversity and the regional carbon budget.

 

Main Office - AH 217

516 High Street - MS 9085 | Bellingham, WA 98225
Office: (360) 650-3284

Fax: (360) 650-7702

 

Troy D. Abel, Associate Professor. BS, Indiana University (public health); MPA (public policy analysis) and Ph.D. (public policy and science and technology policy), George Mason University.

Office: AH 205

Phone: (360) 650-6133
Email | Web Site

• Courses in U.S. environmental policy, U.S. and Washington State environmental regulation, Globalization and Conservation, and Environmental Impact Assessment.  His research interests include environmental justice, environmental governance, globalization and the environment, and civic environmentalism. 

 

Andrew J. Bach, Associate Professor. B.S., M.A. (geography), University of California, Davis; Ph.D. (geography), Arizona State University.

Office: AH 226
Phone: (360) 650-4774
Email | Web Site

• Courses in physical geography, statistics, cartography, soils and water resources. Research interests include aeolian and glacial geomorphology, the history and resource management of the Olympic Peninsula, soil genesis and weathering and water resources of the Western United States.

 

Gigi Berardi, Professor. B.A. (biology), University of California at San Diego; M.S. (natural resources conservation) and Ph.D. (natural resources, policy and planning), Cornell University.

Office: AH 204
Phone: (360) 650-2106
Email | Web Site

• Courses in human geography, research and writing, and a graduate course on the history and philosophy of geography. Research interests include environment and society, the study of natural resource-dependent communities and persistent rural poverty in the U.S., native Alaskan populations at risk.

 

Patrick H. Buckley, Associate Professor. B.S. (civil engineering and geology), University of Notre Dame; M.A. (economic geography and South Asian studies), University of Washington; Ph.D. (economic geography), Boston University.

Office: AH 222
Phone: (360) 650-4773
Email | Web Site

• Courses include human geography, United States, Japan, analysis of areal data, natural resources management, geographic information systems, planning process, transportation planning, third world, world affairs. Research interests are economic geography and regional development (differential regional impacts of policy and planning, impacts of technological and industrial change, ethnic integration of the U.S. workforce) and international development (Japan and Pacific rim development, special emphasis on India and Nepal).

 

Stefan Freelan, GIS Specialist. BA (Liberal Arts, Environmental Ethics), Fairhaven College, WWU; M.S. (Geography), Huxley College, WWU.

Office: AH 201
Phone: (360) 650-2949
Email | Web Site

• Courses taught: Introduction to GIS and Computer Cartography. Provide support for GIS, GPS and the Spatial Analysis Lab.

 

Rebekah Green, Resilience Institute, Associate Director. BS in Civil Engineering, University of Washington. Ph.D. in Structural Engineering, minors in Anthropology and Science & Technology Studies from Cornell University. Post-doctoral research at the Earth Institute, Columbia University.

Office: AH 203
Phone: (360) 650-2707
Email | Web Site

• Courses taught: Disaster Reduction and Emergency Planning Studio, The Planet, Perception of Environmental Risks, Human Ecology.

 

Michael Medler, Assistant Professor. B.S. (philosophy), MS (environmental studies), University of Oregon; PhD (geography), University of Arizona.

Office: AH 210

Phone: (360) 650-3173
Email | Web Site

• Courses in GIS, natural resources, biogeography and wildland fire. Research interests center on developing techniques that simplify the mapping and understanding of complex biophysical processes such as forest fire, fire hazard, or habitat.

 

Jean O. Melious, Associate Professor. B.A. (government and environmental studies), St. Lawrence University; M.Ph. (urban design and regional planning), University of Edinburgh; J.D., Harvard Law School.

Office: AH 208

Phone: (360) 650-7377
Email | Web Site

• Courses in environmental and land use law, environmental dispute resolution, international environmental policy, environmental law and Canadian environmental policy. Significant experience in handling matters involving environmental impact assessment, regulation of air and water pollution, hazardous waste regulation, endangered species issues, planning and zoning law, growth management, and transportation issues.

 

John C. Miles, Professor. B.A. (anthropology), Dartmouth College; M.S. (recreation and park management), University of Oregon; Ph.D. (education), The Union Institute.

Office: AH 202
Phone: (360) 650-2896 
Email | Web Site

• Courses in conservation history, environmental ethics, nature writing, and experiential and environmental education. Dr. Miles' current research interests are in wilderness education and wilderness management, national park and forest policy, and the history and natural resources of the North Cascade region.

 

Scott B. Miles, Associate Professor. B.S. (civil engineering), Washington State University; M.S. (civil engineering), University of Massachusetts; Post-graduate Diploma (geographic information systems), University of Edinburgh; Ph.D. (geography), University of Washington.

Office: AH 203
Phone: (360) 650-2440
Email | Web Site

• Courses in disaster risk reduction, hazards mitigation, GIS, environmental modeling, sustainable development, environmental conflict resolution, research and writing. Research interests in social vulnerability, community resilience, sustainable livelihoods, hazards modeling, GIS modeling for decision support, participatory methods.

 

Debnath Mookherjee, Professor. B.Sc. and M.Sc. (geography), University of Calcutta; Ph.D. (geography), University of Florida.

Office: AH 228
Phone: (360) 650-2895
Email | Web Site

• Courses in systematic and regional fields of geography including urban and economic geography, regional development, spatial analysis of environmental problems, the developing world and Asian geography. Professional activities include research publications and presentations at national and international professional associations and organizations. Current research interests include comparative urbanization, regional development and growth management.

 

Olin E. (Gene) Myers, Jr., Professor. B.S. (environmental studies), Western Washington University; M.A. and Ph.D. (psychology and human development), University of Chicago.

Office: AH 224
Phone: (360) 650-4775
Email | Web Site

• Courses in social science and humanistic perspectives on the environment, including environmental history and ethics, environmental education, community-based change, and educational research. Research interests include conservation psychology, development of environmental responsibility, human-animal interaction, and history, philosophy and methods of social science.

 

David Rossiter, Associate Professor. B.A. (geography), University of British Columbia; M.A., Ph.D. (geography), York University.

Office: AH 232
Phone: (360) 650-3603
Email | Web Site

• Courses in human geography, cultural-historical geography, and resource geography. Research areas include aboriginal claims and the politics of nature in the Pacific Northwest and historical geographies of nature and recreation on Vancouver, BC’s North Shore.
  
  

 

Paul Stangl, Assistant Professor. BS (liberal arts), Kansas State U; MCRP (city and regional planning), Rutgers U; PhD (geography), U Texas, Austin.  

Office: AH 207
Phone: (360) 650-2793
Email

• Courses in the history and politics of planning, processes and methods in planning, planning for sustainable communities, planning studio and campus planning studio.  Research interests include pedestrian planning, new urbanism, urban landscapes, memory and meaning, and Europe and Berlin. 

 

Wendy Walker, Visiting Assistant Professor. B.A. (geology), Western Washington University; M.A. (religion), Florida State University.

Office: AH 230
Phone: (360) 650-3504
Email | Web Site

• Courses in environmental education, interpretation, curriculum, and outdoor education. Wendy divides her time between Huxley College and consulting work in interpretive writing, exhibit development.

 

Grace Wang, Associate Professor. B.S. (political economy of natural resources), University of California, Berkeley, M.S. and Ph.D. (forestry), University of Minnesota.

Office: AH 212
Phone: (360) 650-3278
Email | Web Site

• Courses in environmental studies, natural resource and environmental policy, and public land policy. Research interests include forest policy, human dimensions of natural resources, and resource management.

 

Nicholas C. Zaferatos, Associate Professor. B.S. (geography), State University of New York at Buffalo; M.S. (environmental planning), Western Washington University; Ph.D. (urban planning), University of Washington.

Office: ES 444 
Phone: (360) 650-7660
Email | Web Site

• Courses include urban and environmental planning, sustainable community development, planning theory and methods, environmental policy, Native American natural resources policy. Research interests include growth management, community development, intergovernmental relations, and Native American community and economic development and federal Indian environmental policy. 

 

Diane Knutson

Admin Services Manager
Office: AH 217 
Phone: (360) 650-3277 
Email

 

 

 

Theresa Tripp

Secretary Senior
Office: AH 217
Phone: (360) 650-2070
Email