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