The Environmental Resiliency online graduate program is now enrolling students for five summer courses that can work toward a graduate microcertificate, certificate or a master's degree in a field with high workforce demand.

Courses available for the summer are: 

• ENRE 51203: Foundations of Resiliency, taught by Joanna Person-Michener
• ENRE 52303: Carbon Accounting, taught by John Kester III
• ENRE 52103: Leadership is Convening, Do You Know How to Convene?, taught by Sarah Elaine Lewis
• ENRE 54203: Business and the Environment, taught by Christopher Craig
• SUST 54003: Sustainable Strategies and Practices in Fashion and Textiles, taught by Lance Cheramie

The Environmental Resiliency program launched last spring in response to a broad demand for these skills in the workforce. Students may take these courses as electives for their currently enrolled degree programs, or they can apply to become a student in the Environmental Resiliency master's program or one of eight graduate certificate and microcertificate programs. Current students can apply to these programs for free.

Summer courses will be held from May 27 - July 17 and will be taught by professors holding Ph.D.s and with extensive experience in the field: Lance Cheramie, teaching assistant professor at the U of A; Christopher Craig, an internationally award-winning business and sustainability educator; John Kester III, sustainability educator and consultant with experience across multiple industries; Sarah Elaine Lewis, CEO and founder of Edgewater Coaching and Consulting; and Joanna Person-Michener, a mental health therapist specializing in eco-therapy.

Lance Cheramie
Cheramie is a teaching assistant professor in the School of Human Environmental Sciences' Apparel Merchandising and Product Development (AMPD) program at the U of A, specializing in sustainability within the apparel and textile industry. With extensive expertise in consumer behavior, global sourcing and innovative technologies, Cheramie integrates real-world industry experience and cutting-edge sustainability practices into his courses. He has been recognized with multiple awards, including the Paul Cronan Technology Award, reflecting his dedication to innovative teaching methodologies.

His classes frequently feature guest speakers from prominent sustainability-focused organizations, providing students with firsthand insights into sustainable practices within the apparel industry. Cheramie's research interests include corporate sustainability strategies, carbon emissions analytics and emerging retail technologies such as artificial intelligence and augmented reality, underscoring his commitment to advancing sustainability education and research.

Christopher Craig
Craig is an internationally award-winning business and sustainability educator. He is the recipient of the Academy of Management's Distinguished Educator Award (ONE Division) and the University of South Carolina's Grand Page Prize for Sustainability Issues in Business Curricula. Craig graduated from U of A with a Ph.D. in environmental dynamics and is the Tom W. Hutchens Endowed Professor at Murray State University's College of Business. His research interests explore the complex interactions businesses share with the natural environment and society more broadly.

John Kester III
Kester has spent 15 years working in sustainability across industries in academia, corporate and non-profit roles. He has worked at Walmart, Northern Arizona University and The Sustainability Consortium and has served in consulting roles at McDonald's and other companies supporting their sustainability efforts. He holds a Ph.D. in environmental dynamics from the U of A.

Sarah Elaine Lewis
Lewis began her journey as a sustainability professional during grade school, when she completed science fair projects on soil quality and solar panels. She later became an award-winning earth science teacher, where she focused on using economics in science education. She went on to earn her Ph.D. in environmental dynamics from the U of A, studying willingness to pay for riparian zones in an Ozark Watershed. During that time, she used her knowledge of ecosystem services to run for office on a platform of sustainability for the Fayetteville City Council and won.

As a council member, she co-wrote and sponsored the Streamside Protection Ordinance and the Low Impact Development Ordinance, as well as the Energy Efficiency Standards Ordinance. After earning her doctorate, Lewis became a founding staff member of The Sustainability Consortium, a global organization focused on creating sustainable products and working with global supply chains in consumer goods. After 14 years building and running that organization and working with corporate sustainability professionals, she transitioned to becoming a certified sustainability leadership coach. She started Edgewater Coaching and Consulting, where she supports sustainability-minded people in achieving their goals.

Joanna Person-Michener
Person-Michener's professional background includes 14 years of advocacy in the field of climate change. She is a licensed therapist with a specialization in climate psychology and ecotherapy, with specialized training from the Earthbody Institute of Oakland. She is also registered with the Climate Psychology Alliance of North America. She also holds a Ph.D. in environmental dynamics from the U of A, where she focused on potential community resilience to climate change impacts through small-scale, local agricultural initiatives. She also holds professional and volunteer experience in the field of sustainability, particularly working with municipal leaders, state legislators and the public. Her experience in both mental health and environmental dynamics equips her to address the psychological and practical aspects of sustainability and resilience.

For more information on the courses or the Environmental Resiliency programs, visit their website or contact JoAnn Kvamme at jkvamme@uark.edu or Ken McCown at kennethm@uark.edu.