- Amanda Acheson
- Ilse Asplund
- Sophia Barkat
- Andie Belone
- Justin Bendell
- David Borden
- Carolyn Brown
- Tyanna Burton
- Austin Campbell
- Curtis Conley
- Geoff Cross
- Katie Curran
- Tara Devoley
- Lance Diskan
- Ian Dixon-McDonald
- Grace Ellis
- Ashleigh Ellsworth
- Karan English
- Shelley Everly
- Denise Fisher
- Christina Flynn
- Robin Flynn
- Jesse Friebolin
- Sara Gamble
- Heather Gearhart
- Sada Gilbert
- Erin Gilmartin
- Marie Gladue
- Craig Goodworth
- Jenn Grove
- Joanna Hale
- Heather Harris
- Tom Hart
- Meredith Hartwell
- Dusty Hiles
- Matthew Holmes
- Jonna Johnson
- Atia Khan
- Barbara King
- Norm Lowe
- Christine Maher
- Ernesta Manson
- Vincent Mariola
- Nancy Mauer
- Jessica McGrath
- Roberto Nutlouis
- Tamara Ramirez
- Tommy Rock
- Annemari Romero
- Maureen Russell
- Todd Sherman
- Margery Sorensen
- Launa Steinsdoerfer
- Rick Strait
- Lisa Strobel-Hendricks
- Leslie Thatcher
- Wade Thorson
- Rachel Tso
- Ecole Venskytis
- Michelle Walch
- Jennifer Williams
- Catherina L. Woodwell
Sophia Barkat, BA in Liberal Arts from Mount Holyoke College
Sophia joined the MLS program at NAU hoping to explore ways in which rice farming in Bangladesh could be made sustainable, thinking that the problem was mainly ecological. During the program, however, she discovered that such "third-world" problems were not mainly due to a lack of technology and resources, or rising population, but due to an erroneous imported culture of "modernization."
Consequently, her time has been spent thinking about agents of modernization and agents of pre-modern cultural revivalism. Her MLS thesis focuses on agents of modernization. It is a comparative study of nations with differing policies on Genetically Modified (GM) crops to see if reporting "cultures" of national agricultural research institutes on GM crops are correlated to national policies on GM crops. For her thesis, she will focus on the research and reporting methods of national rice research institutes of Bangladesh, India and the Philippines and on the national policies on GM rice of these nations.
Sophia writes and edits for Juryfury.com and is inspired by cultural revivalism in the music of Habib Wahid and Fuad al Muqtadir.
Justin Bendell, BS, Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin - Madison
My current academic work revolves around the political and social philosophy coined "bioregionalism." The aim of my work is to explore the history and potential of a bioregional approach to living.
For my thesis, I intend to interweave my interest in bioregionalism, creative writing, and environmental history. Using Flagstaff, Arizona and the greater Mogollon forest bioregion as my focus, I will craft a deep ecological (bioregional) history spanning from deep time to present day. The purpose of this project is to offer a new lens to interpret human-nature relationships in place over time and to suggest how bioregionalism has been and might be the most ecologically sane and emancipatory means for humans to live on earth.
My mid-range goal is straightforward: finish my thesis. Outside of the MLS program, I have commenced a community garden project in my east side Flagstaff neighborhood. My hopes are that a community garden might feed my neighborhood community both literally and figuratively, creating a positive place to interrelate and develop food-raising skills necessary to survive in a post-carbon, bioregional society.
My long-range future, while misty at present, will likely involve further university education, organizing and developing community-level ecological and socio-political projects, and continuing participation in regional and global social change movements.
And if, some day, someone pays me to sit around and write essays, I'll write essays and gladly accept the payments.
The MLS program is a brilliant alternative to most graduate programs. It allows me to transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries and create an academic environment that more close resembles the complex world beyond the ivory towers. A good and sustainable world is not a world where educational blinders and obtuse discourse prevail, but one where interrelationality, subjective exchange, and wide-spectrum personal and cultural growth are the rule. I appreciate the MLS program for allowing me the freedom to make my own academic choices and for its dedication to building a more sane, less sociopathic society.
Ashleigh D. Ellsworth, BA English, Wake Forest University;
MA Religion, Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary
Focus: English, Women's Studies
The MLS program is a wonderful backdrop for learning about the philosophies that have made our world both wonderful and terrible. In learning this framework, I think MLS students are better equipped to break down the barriers that exist in today's society, i.e. oppression against women and "minorities," ecological destruction, and a loss of hope in the "civilized" world. The program is empowering to students because it provides the basis for our own explorations. My classes have been spread across English, history, anthropology, and women's studies, but all have been useful for combatting patriarchal societal structures in numerous ways.
I am most interested in the intersections between literature/environment and women/environment. In addition to the MLS degree, I am working on a Graduate Certificate in Women's Studies. Together, I feel equipped to address the issues of women and the natural world and the usefulness of reading and writing about the natural world.
Craig Goodworth, BFA Maryland Institute College of Art
I am presently working on an MFA through Azusa Pacific University (art/faith integration). I am a spiritual progressive whose focus thus far in the program has centered on creative and religious practice. I'm interested in the intersection of aesthetics and religion, beauty and holiness.
Dusty Hiles, BA Liberal Studies, NAU
My studies in the MLS program center on the themes of social constructions of reality and the politics of representation across communities and other levels of society. My other strong areas of interest include social change, language teaching, and critical sociolinguistics.
For my thesis, I will be examining issues of intercultural communication and representation through photography. During my time working on this project I will be living in Taiwan, creating a large body of photography and writing about both problems & prospects at stake in the practice of communicating between cultures and contributing to a discourse of images of the world.
I chose the MLS program at NAU because of the flexibility it offers to explore rich points of interest across multiple departments while maintaining the freedom to focus in those disciplines I find most interesting, useful, meaningful, and important. It allows one entry into such a diverse array of graduate-level studies, despite the fact that it may be one's first time exploring the discipline.
Norm Lowe, BS in Rangeland Management from the University of Arizona
My MLS program work focuses on understanding the complexity and beauty of the world and exploring beauty as a value system of the 21st century. For my thesis work I am considering exploring beauty as a fourth “bottom line” of sustainability in addition to the well known three of economic, social, and ecological sustainability. I have worked many years with the Navajo, and in the Navajo 4-Direction Beauty Way model. Beauty is the first/leading (east) element that sets the tone for the south (work/economic), west (community/social) and north (environment) elements. I am studying the deep indigenous beauties of place that are core values for modeling green/sustainable human habitat development for our region. This includes incorporation of energy, water and materials conservation principles into aesthetic architecture and building practices.
My goals for the future include working with non-profit and for-profit groups in designing buildings and built environments that optimize both aesthetic and sustainability values. I have worked professionally as a rangeland conservationist and currently do consulting work in the areas of rangeland management and land restoration. I am active in the local Diablo Trust collaborative land management group, and with the Coconino County Sustainable Economic Development Program.
As a scientist working with the environment, I have realized the importance of more effective communications with the larger non-science oriented public in achieving healthy environments. The MLS liberal studies focus, with a theme of visions of good and sustainable societies, provides a needed counter-balancing approach for achieving social goals of conservation and sustainable living.