Henshue named inaugural SUNY fellow for sustainability

Nick Henshue, associate teaching professor in the Department of Environment and Sustainability, has been named one of SUNY’s inaugural Sustainability Faculty Fellows by Chancellor John B. King Jr.

Henshue and 10 other fellows from 10 other SUNY campuses will assist SUNY faculty in incorporating climate and sustainability topics into existing courses.

Henshue, who is also co-director of the EarthED Institute and an expert in restoration and soil ecology, with a primary focus on earthworms, says he’s excited to share some of the success the Department of Environmental and Sustainability has had the past six years.

“EVS is one of the newest and fastest growing programs — not just at UB, but across the SUNY system,” Henshue says. “I want to share what we are doing with other campuses. We don’t want to keep our program a secret.”

The fellows were selected following an open call for nominations, according to SUNY.

The Sustainability Faculty Fellows will advance climate literacy and knowledge of sustainability topics throughout the SUNY system by developing pedagogical resources and providing support for faculty as they develop and teach courses across a broad spectrum of disciplines and levels of study, from micro-credentials through doctoral programs.

“It’s not about teaching fellow faculty how to teach or rewrite the manual but rather offer small tweaks that have big impacts on existing programs,” Henshue explains.

“Sustainability literally impacts every human on this planet,” he says. “If we’re dialed in at UB on how to teach students about the environment and sustainability, I want every other school to be able to offer that same opportunity to students. At the end of the day, we’re all better off because it’s creating more capable global citizens.”

The inaugural fellows were announced last week in conjunction with New York Climate Week.

The 11 fellows will meet virtually every other week over the course of a year, in addition to a couple trips to Albany to meet in person, Henshue says, adding that he’s impressed with the range of expertise among the inaugural fellows.

“SUNY is proud to be a key partner in Gov. Kathy Hochul’s plan to build a resilient and sustainable New York,” the chancellor said in a statement.  

“With climate change affecting all elements of our society, from extreme weather emergencies to the emerging clean energy field, our students will need to be knowledgeable about sustainability to thrive as citizens and in their careers,” King said. “Today’s students are eager to participate in climate action, and SUNY is taking steps so that New Yorkers are prepared.”