Antioch University New England

06/22/2026

Brown Thrashers have been declining across the Northeastern United States, with few studies considering the habitat preferences of the bird.

”The purpose of this study was to evaluate Brown Thrasher associations with early successional habitat adjacent to farmland, within deciduous forests, and within pine barrens.”

Read the full dissertation here: https://aura.antioch.edu/etds/1058/

06/19/2026

Juneteenth is marked as a triumph over oppression, a testament to the enduring liberation and resilience of Black Americans. In observance of this day, we’re taking time to acknowledge and preserve American history – even the uncomfortable parts – while working to build a strong and unified future, where everyone is truly free.

06/17/2026

You have a bird to thank for your cup of coffee!

Michael Akresh, faculty in Environmental Studies at Antioch University New England, recently co-authored a new peer-reviewed study titled, “Landscape influences on bird control of coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) damage: Insights from a coffee-producing region in Honduras.”

The study, published in Ornithological Applications, examines how birds help control the coffee berry borer, a major insect pest in coffee production. Based on field research in Yoro, Honduras, the study found that bird predation reduced pest damage on coffee farms, and that surrounding forest cover strengthened that benefit. The authors also identified a landscape threshold: when forest cover exceeded 36 percent within 250 meters of farms, coffee berry borer abundance dropped noticeably.

The findings also connect to our partnerships through Antioch New England’s Institute for International Conservation (IIC), which helps bring Café Solar coffee from the Yoro region to the Antioch community. Akresh’s research underscores the value of forest-friendly, bird-friendly coffee systems in the same region where Café Solar operates, linking conservation science to a tangible campus offering that supports sustainable coffee production in Honduras

To read the study, visit
https://academic.oup.com/condor/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/ornithapp/duag043/8651743

06/16/2026

"One thing I didn't expect to gain from this program was the perspective on how to live a happier life. At Antioch, I learned to be a stronger educator through my course of study. Through that same study and through the vibrant Antioch community, I also learned to be a stronger person who can approach the world with more kindness, thoughtfulness, wonder, and joy."
Ryan Duggan, MS
AUNE Environmental Education

06/12/2026

Driven by her love for marine biology and passion for conservation, PhD in Environmental Studies alum Liz Foote has what she would call her dream career, working as a research fellow in social marketing at Griffith University in Queensland, Australia.

At Griffith, Liz leads a project built around both koala conservation and social media – which involves the creation of a digital platform to enable community participation in tracking, reporting, and conserving the endangered population of koala.

“It’s sometimes surreal to me,” says Foote, “Being three hours away from the Great Barrier Reef, surrounded by the Gondwana rainforest and Eucalyptus trees.” She loves her job. And as she puts it, “Antioch made it possible.”

Read more about Liz and her work here: https://commonthread.antioch.edu/from-leading-boat-tours-to-becoming-a-social-marketing-expert-and-promoting-koala-conservation/

06/10/2026

We’re proud to be a sponsor Pollinator Palooza! Join us and the Cheshire County Conservation District on June 27, at Ashuelot River Park!

Activities include pollinator crafts, native plant potting, shaved ice, local food, and more!

This event is free and open to the public and will be held rain or shine.

Learn more here: https://www.cheshireconservation.org/event-details/2026-pollinator-palooza

06/05/2026

This is an excerpt of a pod that is WIP. This podcast will be dedicated to our recently departed and beloved Professor at Antioch University New England, Dr. Ernie ("Dr.Z") Zullo. To see what an impact he had on his students, I'd encourage you to visit his tribute wall. https://abradley32.wixsite.com/tributewall/group-page/tribute-wall-and-rememberance/discussion To make a donation in his name to The Trevor Project, an organization that was important to the both of us, please visit this site. https://give.thetrevorproject.org/campaign/740055/donate?c_src=UMCOF261150250&c_src2=Nebo-Paid-Search&utm_medium=fundraising&utm_source=sem-googleadwords1&utm_campaign=yearend&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=1674429279&gbraid=0AAAAAC4XVSnwqtamfUFGFoZGxlLrzJgvZ&gclid=Cj0KCQiAoZDJBhC0ARIsAERP-F_Vz4mvFna-Sga2CqLL7sRZ1_uUYcH9j3leloGaOgEQP--vggtvKkIaAnrxEALw_wcB

06/05/2026

We recently made the decision to change one of our core graduate course names from Environmental Ethics to Ecological Ethics. Below, our Director of Graduate Programs, Mary Pat Champeau, reflects on what the catalyst was for this change, and why we feel it’s an important one.

“Sometimes, wisdom is so close to us we cannot see it. This was the case for me as I listened to Nandita Bajaj interview Sarah Bexell, both of whom are longtime friends of mine, and esteemed IHE/Antioch University faculty, for the Population Balance podcast OVERSHOOT. They were talking about Sarah’s work at the University of Denver's Center for a Regenerative Future, and in response to Nandita’s question about the difference between environmental justice and ecological justice, Sarah said: “𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁. 𝗪𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀. 𝗔𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀. 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝘀… 𝗘𝗰𝗼-𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗹𝗹…”

A new awareness dawned on me, one that had been lurking on the fringes of my brain but that I hadn’t focused on until I heard Sarah’s words. In collaboration with our full faculty and IHE co-founder, Zoe Weil, we changed the name of a core course in our graduate programs from Environmental Ethics to Ecological Ethics; a name that more accurately represents the spirit of the course, and our field. (Bonus sidenote: Ecological Ethics is currently taught by the podcast co-host and executive director of Population Balance, Nandita Bajaj!)

Today is World Environment Day. I wonder if we might expand our understanding of this day to include justice and compassion for all living beings on the planet, as well as the abiotic components. For those who enjoy commemorating days like this with deeper reflection, I encourage you to listen to the full interview with Dr. Sarah Bexell on the Overshoot podcast, hosted by Nandita Bajaj and Alan Ware. I cannot recommend it highly enough.”

Enjoy the full episode: https://www.populationbalance.org/podcast/sarah-bexell-2

We have it in us to create a more beautiful, regenerative future that allows both humans and nonhumans to flourish. Dr. Sarah Bexell, professor of social work and co-founder of the Center for a Regenerative Future at the University of Denver, joins us.

06/03/2026

Happy Pride Month!

We’re hopeful in the continued effort to build a world where everyone can bloom, flourish, and flaunt their true colors. That's why community is so crucial in our present day; we must continue to create space with liberation and equality for all.

05/31/2026

Jason Rhoades, Core Faculty of Environmental and Sustainable Studies, and alum Ximena Gallegos Gutierrez (MS Environmental Studies), published a new article in Environmental Education Research titled, “Comparative Assessment of the Environmental Education Policies of Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela.”

The study tackles a practical problem: national environmental education (EE) policies shape what countries can implement at scale, yet researchers and policymakers have had limited comparative guidance for how to design strong national EE policy. Rhoades and Gallegos Gutierrez address that gap by building an assessment framework tailored to a South American context and applying it to publicly available national EE policy documents from Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela. They evaluate policies across six dimensions —evidence-based grounding, regional relevance, attention to community issues, political feasibility, financial realism, and stakeholder consensus—and map how countries differ in content, approach, and underlying theories.

Read the article here:

While national environmental education (EE) policies are crucial in advancing the field, there is a lack of available research and guidance to inform their development. This research aims to fill t...