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Prodigal Summer, is ideally suited for the Environmental Studies Program here at Skidmore. The novel is an engrossing story about humans and nature, and Kingsolver’s expertise in the natural sciences deeply shapes the book. Grounded in the principles of the natural world, the protagonists discuss one of the dominant characteristics of both the natural and social worlds: change.

Deanna, living a solitary life as a mountain ranger, encounters hunter Eddie Bondo. Eddie amazes at Deanna’s isolated life. In one small scene, Eddie laughs out loud when Deanna recounts hearing a country and bluegrass band of sisters “up from Texas. The Dixie Chicks.” When Eddie explains they are now national stars, Deanna responds, “Amazing. Nothing stays the same down there.” “Nothing stays the same anywhere,” Eddie corrects her.

In another chapter, organic farmer Nannie Rawley reminds her neighbor, Garnett Walker, who is trying to revive the American Chestnut, “This ‘evolution’ business is just a name scientists put on the most obvious truth in the world, that every kind of living thing adjusts to change in the place where it lives.”

The ES Program has confronted the truth of change this academic year and with some regret has had to acknowledge that “Nothing stays the same anywhere.” But as we share those changes with you in this newsletter, I trust you will see we are adjusting well.

Change has visited the ES program personnel. Professor Karen Kellogg, my predecessor as director, was appointed Associate Dean of the Faculty for Infrastructure, Sustainability, and Civic Engagement and began her new responsibilities in June, bringing her characteristic insightfulness, efficiency, and energy to this position. Chief among her responsibilities is overseeing the planning for new physical and life sciences facilities for the College. Karen

has been a guiding force behind the ES Program as it has grown over the past ten years from a minor to a full-blown, interdisciplinary major with over a hundred students. Karen’s intelligence, breadth of knowledge, and thoughtfulness have played a major role in shaping our senior capstone experience, and she has been invaluable to students not only in their Skidmore education but also in shaping their careers beyond Skidmore. Whether teaching ES 100, supervising independent studies and internships, conducting summer collaborative research, or hiking with our ES students, Karen has left a footprint on the program that is deep and lasting. We wish her continued success as Associate Dean of the Faculty but also eagerly anticipate her return to the ES Program.

Earlier in 2012, the ES Program lost another key member when Kim Marsella took the new position of Associate Director in the Office of Academic Advising. Kim has been a pillar of the ES Program in her position as Program Coordinator and instructor for ES 100 and ES 105. She cultivated an outstanding relationship with many community resources to foster internship opportunities and research contacts. Kim created a community for the ES faculty and students by assuring that our Environmental Studies education continued outside the classroom, organizing an incredible array of guest speakers, films, and panels; arranging field trips; and providing special advising sessions for our newest students. Of course, Kim was a tireless source of guidance and smart advice to all of our ES students, particularly those lucky enough to have her as their advisor.

But as Nannie Rawley explains, “every kind of living thing adjusts to change in the place where it lives” and the ES Program is not exempt. Inside this newsletter, you’ll see how we are adjusting with new faculty. Anne Gallagher Ernst was named the new Environmental Studies Coordinator this past summer and has been learning the intricacies of the ES Program. Dr. Andrew (AJ) Schneller has also joined the ES

faculty while Karen Kellogg serves as the Associate Dean of the Faculty. Finally, this fall we added Dr. Nurcan Atalan-Helicke as a new tenure-track assistant professor of Environmental Studies, after teaching as a visiting assistant professor in the ES Program last year.

Recent major grants to the ES Program from the Mellon Foundation and the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation represent exciting changes by providing opportunities and initiatives for our students. The Cargill Foundation grant is supporting new programs for

Environmental Studies and the Sustainable Skidmore Office.

Given my theme of change, I don’t want to commit the omission from the 2012 Presidential Debates and fail to mention climate change. With the announcement that 2012 was the hottest year on record for the United States, we all know the importance of this issue and the implications of this unique change. But rather than ending by encouraging you into political, social, and scientific activism, let me conclude as I began by recommending a new work of literature from Barbara Kingsolver that takes climate change as its center, Flight Behavior . Amid serious concerns, Flight Behavior reminds us—as the ES Program is experiencing—that some changes can be good.