Faculty Environmental Seminar on Sustainability Teaching

Seton Hall University faculty are finding new ways to connect environmental issues
with diverse academic disciplines through the Faculty Environmental Seminar. Created
by Judith Stark, Ph.D., who is a professor of environmental philosophy and longtime leader in environmental
education at Seton Hall University.

Sponsored by the Center for Faculty Development that is directed by Mary Balkun, Ph.D., the seminar invites faculty members from across the University to explore how environmental
content can be meaningfully integrated into courses they already teach. Participants
commit to meeting three times per semester and select one or two class sessions in
one of their courses in which they incorporate environmental perspectives relevant
to their subject area.

Now completed three times under Professor Stark’s leadership, the seminar has brought
together faculty from a wide range of disciplines within the College of Arts and Sciences, the Stillman School of Business, the College of Nursing and Communication, Media and the Arts. Courses represented have included English, physics, philosophy, psychology, nursing,
speech pathology, and entrepreneurship — demonstrating the program’s emphasis on interdisciplinary
collaboration and the relevance of environmental concerns across academic fields.

Professor Stark helped establish Seton Hall’s Environmental Studies program nearly
30 years ago.  She recently designed the “Faculty Environmental Seminar” to support
faculty in making thoughtful, discipline-specific connections between environmental
issues and their curricula. Rather than requiring new course development, the program
encourages participants to add environmental content to existing classes, making sustainability
and environmental responsibility visible within a variety of academic contexts.

Faculty who participate in the seminar receive a stipend in recognition of their time
and commitment. In addition to fostering innovative teaching practices, the program
creates a collaborative space for faculty to share ideas, reflect on pedagogy and
consider how environmental awareness can enrich student learning.

This initiative reflects Seton Hall University’s ongoing commitment to interdisciplinary
excellence and socially engaged scholarship. By building upon programs like the “Faculty
Environmental Seminar,” the University continues to demonstrate how environmental
inquiry can enrich teaching and learning across the humanities, natural sciences,
social sciences, business, nursing, and communication.

Supported by a strong Environmental Studies program and faculty leadership grounded
in decades of innovation, Seton Hall’s environmental initiatives highlight the University’s
dedication to preparing students to thoughtfully engage with complex global challenges
through academic rigor, ethical reflection and collaborative learning.

The next “Faculty Environmental Seminar” is scheduled for Fall 2026. Faculty members
interested in applying for or learning more about the program are encouraged to reach
out directly to [email protected] with questions regarding the application process.

View the Seton Hall University Environmental Studies page to learn more.

Categories:
Education, Science and Technology