Dear Environmental Studies Students, Faculty, and Community,
Welcome to what promises to be an extraordinary fall semester in the Environmental Studies Program at Yale University. As we begin this new academic year, we want to acknowledge an important transition in our program’s leadership. After 17 years of dedicated service, our previous chair Dr. John Wargo has stepped down, and we are pleased to introduce our new co-chair leadership model. As the new co-chairs (Drs. Paul Sabin (History) and Craig Brodersen (YSE)), we took over for Wargo this past summer. The EVST program is fortunate to benefit from the continued leadership offered by Linda Evenson, EVST’s talented program manager; its dedicated DUS’s Drs. Michael Fotos and Kealoha Freidenburg; and the senior colloquium director, Dr. Jeffery Park. The program is also grateful for our network of Peer Mentors that volunteer to help guide new students through the EVST track. This collaborative leadership approach, bridging the humanities and sciences, reflects our program’s commitment to interdisciplinary thinking and shared stewardship—values that are fundamental to both environmental problem-solving and our academic mission.
There has perhaps never been a more critical time to pursue environmental studies. The challenges facing our planet, from climate change and biodiversity loss to environmental justice and sustainable development, demand urgent, thoughtful, and innovative solutions. As students and faculty in this program, you are not merely observers of these challenges; you are the architects of solutions and the leaders who will guide humanity through this pivotal moment in our environmental history.
The work ahead of us requires exactly what our program cultivates: deep and careful thinking, diverse perspectives, and the ability to forge meaningful connections across traditional disciplinary boundaries. The environmental crises of our time cannot be solved by any single field of study. They demand the integration of social sciences, physical sciences, and natural sciences, all grounded in a rich understanding of our shared environmental past and an unwavering commitment to a sustainable future.
The Environmental Studies Program at Yale is uniquely positioned to help students develop these essential skills. Our program brings together leaders in the fields of economics, literature, ecology, policy, chemistry, anthropology, geology, history, and other fields. In your classrooms, laboratories, and field experiences, you will learn not just to think across disciplines, but to synthesize knowledge in ways that can drive real-world change.
The future leaders in environmental science, policy, conservation, and sustainability are sitting in our classrooms today. The solutions to our most pressing environmental challenges will emerge from the research you conduct, the policies you craft, the technologies you develop, and the movements you lead. This is both an extraordinary opportunity and a profound responsibility.
As we embark on this semester together, we encourage you to embrace the complexity of environmental challenges, seek out perspectives different from your own, and never lose sight of the urgency and importance of this work. The world needs what you are learning here, and we are honored to be part of your journey.
Welcome to a semester of discovery, growth, and meaningful impact.
Warmly,
Paul Sabin and Craig Brodersen, on behalf of the EVST community