As the first college in the United States to adopt sustainability science – the leading-edge of 21st century transdisciplinary (collaborative) environmental problem solving – as its framework for teaching and learning, Unity has attracted top talent to augment its visionary faculty, staff and administration. The College community welcomes the following individuals to an endeavor that is vibrant, focused and without borders. Just as Unity College issues forth environmental professionals who become leaders across the globe, so too, is it attracting professionals who are committed to ensuring that Unity reach its key goals in service to the sustainability of the planet.

The newest members of the Unity College community are:

Mary Saunders Bulan, Ph.D., Director of Half Moon Field Station and Assistant Professor of Sustainable Agricultural Enterprise
Saunders Bulan possesses broad experience in sustainable farming, value-added enterprise, research, teaching, and learning. She has served as a volunteer on biodynamic farms and specialty produce operations in British Columbia, was coordinator for a non-profit farm project in Rhode Island, has overseen membership, and greenhouse / field production. Bulan’s work on her Ph.D. program expanded her understanding of farming systems both globally and at home, and reinforced her commitment to sustainable agriculture. She holds a Ph.D. in Agronomy, University of Wisconsin at Madison, and a B.S. in International Relations from Brown University.

Jennifer Lorraine Cartier, Ph.D., Director of Teacher Education and Science
An experienced science teacher educator, Cartier most recently served as Director of Teacher Education at the University of Pittsburgh, School of Education. She has designed and taught 19 different courses related to science pedagogy, curriculum theory and design. She holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction (Science Education) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an M.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a B.A. from Williams College.

Matthew W.H. Chatfield, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Conservation Biology
Chatfield has served in several capacities at Tulane University of New Orleans, Louisiana, including as a Research Assistant Professor at the Center for Bioenvironmental Research, Project Coordinator at the Tulane Center for Applied Coastal Sciences and Engineering, and visiting Assistant Professor. He served the University of Michigan as a Post-doctoral researcher in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. He holds a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Michigan, and a B.A. in Biology from the University of Chicago of Chicago, Illinois.

Zachary Falcon, Assistant Professor of Conservation Law and Environmental Policy
Zach Falcon has been named Assistant Professor of Conservation Law and Environmental Policy at Unity College of Unity, Maine. Falcon is currently an adjunct Instructor at Unity College and previously taught at Eastern Maine Community College, Thomas College, and Husson College. He served as Associate Director of the Writing Resource Center at the University of Iowa College of Law. As an attorney, Falcon served in the State of Alaska Department of Law, where he represented the state in civil litigation, administrative hearings, and permit appeals. Falcon was also an associate with Faulkner Banfield, PC, during which time he served as a public defender for the City and Borough of Juneau. Upon graduating from the University of Michigan Law School, Falcon worked as an associate counsel for the Resources Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C.

Jeffrey (Steve) Kahl, Ph.D., Director of Sustainability
Kahl possesses over 30 years of experience in academia, industry, and non-profits working on environmental and energy issues in New England. A sought after speaker and visionary within the field of sustainability, Kahl has addressed emerging issues in sustainability, environmental policy, water quality, energy use and reduction, renewables, air pollution, and sustainable low impact development. He has held major, visible roles in agencies and commissions. He has pursued legislative work to advance a host of issues related to sustainability. Kahl holds a Ph.D. in Earth Sciences from the University of Maine, an M.S. in Geological Sciences, University of Maine, and B.A. in Zoology, from the University of Maine.

James Killarney, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Environmental Chemistry
Killarney has demonstrated a laudable commitment to mentoring undergraduate research and has taught a variety of classes to students from across a broad spectrum of majors. He has taught chemistry for science and pre-med majors, in addition to teaching courses for non-science majors. Outside of the classroom, Killarney has been involved in service both in his field and community. He has mentored high school students, led community service projects that promote chemistry, and serves as a coordinator of the American Chemical Society (ACS) Chemistry Olympiad program for the state of Maine. Killarney holds a Ph.D. in Analytical / Environmental Chemistry from the University of Maine, Orono, an MPH from Boston University, and B.S. in Biology from the University of Maine, Orono.

Bill Kovarik, Ph.D., Professor of Environmental Writing
Kovarik has broad teaching experience that is augmented by work for environmental and green technology groups and news reporting. His professional credentials include journalism, digital media, and community information services. Kovarik has trained scientists to effectively address traditional and new media. Among his many projects is setting up small windmills for an agricultural cooperative in Virginia. He holds a Ph.D. in Public Communication from the University of Maryland, M.A. in Communication from the University of South Carolina, and B.S. in Journalism from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Sheryl G. Spann, MBA in Marketing, Director of Marketing and Communications
As a strategic marketing professional with over 30 years of experience, Spann has been named Director of Marketing and Communications. She will develop effective internal and external strategies to enhance the College’s brand recognition and reputation regionally, nationally and internationally with particular focus on targeting primary constituents of prospective students and donors. Partnering with the new Marketing Department, she will direct all marketing efforts including brand marketing, advertising, events, publicity, institutional publication development, graphic arts, printing, social media, e-communications, web, media relations and crisis management. She will serve as chief writer, editor and proofreader for all college-wide publications and marketing communications. Spann has extensive experience in the areas of brand identity development, strategic marketing, market research, web site creation, new academic program/product development, media relations and fundraising. She previously served as a Marketing Consultant for Strategic Solutions of Boston, Massachusetts, was the Director of Marketing for two academic publishers – Fortress Press (Minneapolis, MN) and Multnomah Publishing (Sisters, OR – division of Random House), managed the web-based Affiliate Marketing Program for CBD (Peabody, MA) and built an international educational tour division for Explorica (Boston, MA) as Espiritour Program Manager. Spann has also focused her career expertise in the non-profit world with marketing, publicity, events and donor fundraising efforts for Stop Hunger Now (Community Development Director – New England), Habitat for Humanity and the American Cancer Society. She holds an M.B.A. from Boston College, an S.T.M. plus Professional Fundraising Certificate from Boston University, and a B.S. in Business Administration from Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

James Spartz, (Ph.D. candidate) Assistant Professor of Environmental Communications
Spartz is a doctoral candidate in Mass Communications at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and anticipates completion of his terminal degree this year. He has broad experience in the field of communications, having served as a Public Affairs Specialist in the Office of Communications at the U.S. Forest Service Forest Products Laboratory, the national research and development laboratory of the U.S. Forest Service. The experience Spartz has gained in a variety of communications contexts has given him an exceptional understanding of effective science communication in public, political, and scientific contexts. His dissertation is entitled “Public Perceptions of Bioenergy and Land Use Change in Southwest Wisconsin: A Case Study Investigating Narrative Frames, Place-Attachment, and Trusted Sources of Information.” He holds an M.A. from the School of Journalism & Mass Communication, University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse.

Monday, April 21, 2014