ESAC Board of Directors 2019-2020
President
Ryan Katz-Rosene, University of Ottawa
Vice-President
Michael Kenny, York University
Past President
Veronica Wahl, Douglas College
Treasurer
Celeste Digiovanni, University of Ottawa
Secretary
Kira Cooper, University of Waterloo
Member Retention & Outreach Coordinators
Raed Abu Hayyaneh, University of Calgary
Hannah Barnard-Chumik, University of British Columbia
Social Media and Communications Coordinator
Isabella Boushey, McGill University and UQAM
ESAC-L Coordinator
Garrett Richards, Grenfell Campus (MUN)
Please contact Garrett via his website (linked above) if you are experiencing issues getting access to the ESAC-L listserv.
Board Members at Large
Maryam Hajizarghani, University of Calgary
Alice Miao, University of British Columbia
Peter Shepherd, Ryerson University and JustEarth.net
ESAC and A\J Liaison
Marcia Ruby, Alternatives Journal
Ryan Katz-Rosene
Assistant Professor, University of Ottawa
When and why did you join ESAC?
I joined ESAC in 2010 in order to participate in the Annual Conference at Concordia University in Montreal. It seemed like a unique network of Canadian researchers focusing on environmental issues and I wanted to be a part of it.
What is your current role at ESAC?
I have been ESAC’s president for the past few years.
Why is it worth it to join ESAC?
Those academic disciplines with functional professional associations benefit from networking opportunities, a sense of community and cooperative scholarly opportunities. A stronger ESAC will produce larger and better organized conferences, more funding opportunities, collaborative projects and more clout for Canadian environmental research.
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Michael Kenny
PhD Student, York University
I am the Executive Director of Regenesis, a community environmental organization dedicated to empowering students to address today’s environmental and social concerns through advocacy and loyal service. I am completing my Ph.D. at the Faculty of Education at York University and I occasionally teach.
When and Why did you join ESAC?
Life on this planet is facing an extinction crisis. We need to support environmental education and research in order to change minds and behaviors. I joined in 2017.
What is your current role at ESAC?
I am Vice-President and the CFHSS liaison for ESAC.
Why is it worth it to join ESAC?
ESAC provides a community to meet and mingle with other like-minded academics, students and activists working on different issues related to the environment.
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Celeste Digiovanni
PhD Student, University of Ottawa
I am a PhD student in Geography at the University of Ottawa. I am also an employee for Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Indigenous Reconciliation group as a Policy Analyst.
When and why did you join ESAC?
I joined ESAC in 2018 when presenting in Congress at the University of Regina. The ESAC community is a group of like minded individuals, who have not only increased my existing knowledge of Environmental Studies, but also taught me the expanse of our field. As ESAC continues to grow, I am constantly inspired by our member’s vigorous work ethic and compelling passion for protecting our natural environment.
What is your current role at ESAC?
I am the Treasurer for ESAC.
Why is it worth it to join ESAC?
Our members! ESAC makes a space for people in the field of environmental studies to congregate and share knowledge. This makes for an interdisciplinary understanding of the field, which is essential to all of our future endeavours not only as academics, but as stewards for our physical environment.
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Kira Cooper
PhD Student, University of Waterloo
When and why did you join ESAC?
I joined ESAC back in 2011 while presenting my research at the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences Conference at the University of New Brunswick. I found the environmental community here so inspiring that I joined the Board of Directors and organized the 2012 annual conference at the University of Waterloo.
What is your current role at ESAC?
I am currently the Secretary of ESAC and member of the conference organization committee.
Why is it worth it to join ESAC?
The interdisciplinary backgrounds of EASC members creates a unique opportunity for networking, the development of research alliances, and a forum for discussion on current issues. ESAC is a compilation of voices speaking in unison to the timely environmental challenges our world faces. The more voices that join in this harmonious environmental tune, the further the acoustics will sound through policy, advocacy, and governance.
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Raed Abu Hayyaneh
PhD Student, University of Calgary
Raed is an Environmental sciences specialist with several years of experience in social and environmental projects related to education and community awareness, nature protection, and sustainability. He is experienced with public policy, environmental programs and socioeconomic projects funded by various NGO’s such as Save The Children and the USAID, as well as with non-profit environmental organizations. Raed is a scholar currently pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Calgary in the field of Environmental Design with a focus on developing nature conservation education programs for schools and communities around nature reserves. Currently, he is a consultant in many organizations researching local communities’ sustainable development. In terms of outdoor activities, he enjoys hiking, camping and birds watching.
When and why did you join ESAC?
I joined ESAC in 2019 and had the opportunity to participate and present at ESAC 2019 in Vancouver. I found out that it is an important hub for sharing, learning, and helping around sustainability in Canada and the world.
What is your current role at ESAC?
I am a board member and Membership and Outreach Co-Coordinator.
Why is it worth it to join ESAC?
ESAC is one of the national networks for research exchange and learning for teachers, researchers, environmental awareness leaders, and sustainable development programs in Canada.
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Isabella Boushey
PhD Student, UQAM
I study the resilience and resistance of urban trees to major climatic events throughout their history.
When and why did you join ESAC?
I just recently joined ESAC in 2019 because I saw it as an opportunity to learn more about the social sciences aspect of the environment and hear about all the research going on around the country. ESAC also gives me to opportunity to play a role in the field of environmental research.
What is your current role at ESAC?
I am the Social Media and Communications Chair for the association.
Why is it worth it to join ESAC?
As I mentioned, it gives you the opportunity to network and meet a wide diversity of people from different fields that have a common interest, the environment. It broadens your knowledge of the field, and gives you so many opportunities to learn and have your work heard.
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Garrett Richards
Assistant Professor, Grenfell Campus (MUN)
When and why did you join ESAC?
I joined ESAC in 2016 during the annual conference in Calgary. I was a postdoctoral fellow at the time and was looking for new opportunities. ESAC seemed to be a group of very keen and high-energy scholars, and they had some open spots on the board they were looking to fill.
What is your current role at ESAC?
I am technically a board member at-large, not a director, but I am responsible for the ESAC-L listserv and act as the liaison for the website. I was also on the conference committees for the 2018 conference in Regina and the 2019 conference in Vancouver.
Why is it worth it to join ESAC?
The people. This is a great group of high-energy folks who are always open to new ideas and members.
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Maryam Hajizarghani
PhD Student, University of Calgary
When and why did you join ESAC?
I joined the association at the 2019 ESAC conference. My interest, job and professional experiences are very much matched with ESAC’s policies and goals. Moreover, I enjoy international cooperation with variety of people in a research-based context.
What is your current role at ESAC?
Member of the ESAC board.
Why is it worth it to join ESAC?
ESAC is an opportunity to be active for our living environment, a place where scholars and other people try to protect the planet Earth.