Sustainability Studies

By Michelle La Roche Pietri Education, community building, and sustainability work together to create meaningful opportunities to help our planet. As a lifelong environmentalist, Dr. Muthusami Kumaran, also known as Dr. K, integrates these three components seamlessly in his classes, but most of all in his study abroad program: “UF in Belize: NGOs, Sustainability & Development.” Dr. ...

Sustainable Gators, we want to hear about what you’ve been up to! Fill out the Google Form for a chance to be featured in the Sustainability Studies’ Summer Spotlight Series 🐊 Summer Sustainability Spotlight 🌿 – Google Forms   Read more "Sustainable Gators, we want to hear about what you’ve been up to!"

Interview with Riley Harper What was your favorite Sustainability Studies class and why? My favorite class I took at UF was Psychology of Sustainability with Dr. Ron Chandler. I feel like I have mentioned it a thousand times, but I can’t emphasize enough how much that class really changed my outlook on sustainability and how I perceive ...

By Michelle La Roche Pietri As temperatures continue to rise this summer, Gators are seeking different ways to stay cool. Apartment pools are nice, but have you tried visiting any of Florida’s beautiful springs?   Rainbow Spring offers crystal clear waters, views of lush vegetation, and three main hiking trails decorated with man-made gardens and waterfalls. Its history as a mining site ...

The Sustainability Studies graduate developed the South Florida Sun Sentinel essay in a course examining the benefits and risks of emerging technologies. Sayri Proaño ’26 has taken work that began in a University of Florida classroom into a timely public conversation about artificial intelligence, infrastructure and environmental stewardship. On July 13, 2026, the South Florida Sun Sentinel ...

Riley Harper: What degrees did you get from UF when you were a student there?  Angela Melidosian: I’m a triple Gator, so all of my higher ed degrees are from UF. I started in 2014 as a Sustainability Studies major, of course. And then I also got a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies and Spanish. I did my undergrad in 3 years, then I went on to do the MDP program, which stands for Master of Sustainable Development Practice. That’s a 2-year program, and I got certifications in Health and Spirituality, Tropical Conservation Development and Latin ...

The Sustainability Studies Newsletter showcases the ways our community continues to learn, adapt, and lead. Published each fall, spring, and summer, the newsletter provides information about sustainable resources and events in and around Gainesville. It also presents interviews with Sustainability Studies students, graduates, and faculty who are making exceptional contributions.

By Riley Harper On April 19th, UF’s Public Interest Communications Student Association (PICSA) hosted their first annual Advocacy & Action Fair from 12-5 pm in the Plaza of the Americas. Several other environmental groups were tabling, including the Sierra Club, genCLEO, Sunrise Movement and the Sustainability Studies program. They had live music featuring The LaLas and ...

By Riley Harper On March 12th, 2026, the Sustainability Studies Program hosted a Professional Development Panel about careers in Environmental Communications. The panel is a part of a broader initiative spearheaded by Sustainability Studies faculty Dr. Anna Peterson and Dr. Glen Billesbach to showcase the many career pathways available to the program’s students.  Dr. Gabby Salazar, Cynthia Barnett, ...

Dr. Mitchell Thomashow will be present for a variety of events the week of March 2nd. This includes a lecture, lunch, and drop-in office hours. Check out the flyers for more information!   Read more "Dr. Mitchell Thomashow Events!"