People

I am an Assistant Professor of Environmental Education in the School of Environment and Natural Resources at The Ohio State University. I work collaboratively with educators and youth on design-based research to understand and develop pathways for people to learn about and care for the natural world we are all a part of. I focus on urban communities and explore questions of environmental identity, environmental literacy about complex ecological issues, and the structure and function of learning ecosystems.

I am a nature-based educator, providing opportunities and advocating for the right of every child, from preschool through high school - and the grownups who guide them - to have meaningful experiences learning in, about, and with nature.

Jack Hilgert serves as the Statewide Environmental Education Coordinator for the Oklahoma Conservation Commission and Oklahoma State Coordinator for Project WILD and Project WET. He specializes in K–12 engagement, educator professional learning, and building statewide networks that connect students with hands-on, place-based environmental learning. Jack coordinates environmental education programs for youth, educators, and families while managing a network of volunteer facilitators. His work strengthens school and district partnerships, expands access to environmental education, and supports sustainable programs that reach rural and underserved communities. He also supports Oklahoma Envirothon and serves on the OKAEE Board.

I'm an associate professor of park resource management at Slippery Rock University of PA where I study metrics and outcomes of conservation education and utilize service-learning pedagogies. I teach in our online Environmental Education graduate program and our undergrad Park Resource Mgmt program.