Meet CES Program Director, Dr. Chris Young, the CES “Feature of the Week”!
Chris Young: Current UWM CES Program Director and Professor
Chris Young’s academic journey exemplifies his commitment to interdisciplinary education and community engagement, but also to his students. After completing a biology major, Chris grappled with uncertainty regarding his career path. He was drawn to the idea of becoming a professor but was unsure of the specific discipline that would best suit him. To gain practical experience, he took on a role as a landfill inspector in Minnesota, recognizing the importance of real-world experience. He eventually pursued his desire to become a professor and obtained his PhD in “History of Science and Technology” at the University of Minnesota, where he could integrate his interests in science, writing, and history, ultimately shaping his teaching philosophy.
After earning his PhD, Chris began his teaching career at a seminary in Oregon for a few years and eventually moved to the Milwaukee area with his wife, where he became the assistant director of the Center for 21st Century Studies at UWM. Chris continued his professional development at Alverno College for over 20 years, growing deep roots of collaboration and connection with local environmental organizations. At Alverno, he embraced his interdisciplinary approach to science education, teaching a diverse array of courses, including biology, evolution, field surveying, and climate change, all while emphasizing experiential learning and community involvement. Through these experiences, Chris solidified the groundwork to take on and succeed in his current role as CES Program Director.
“This is my dream job” Chris explains, discussing his move to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) as the Program Director of the Conservation and Environmental Science (CES) program, which marked a life-long aspiration. He viewed this opportunity as one that would allow him to leverage his extensive local connections and experiences to enhance the educational offerings in the CES program. A “collaborative spirit,” as he calls it, not only enriches the students’ learning experiences but also strengthens the ties between the university and the community, fostering a sense of shared responsibility for environmental stewardship. Young’s commitment to experiential learning is evident in his approach to the senior capstone course, where local organizations partner with CES students. These connections and experiences reinforce a critical component of the CES program.
“What are you doing here?” is an important question Chris asks students to ponder in all aspects of their lives. Although Chris has been in his new role for less than two years, he recognized quickly the need to create visible CES pathways for students to help define their study focus and–equally important–themselves. As the program director, Young has implemented flexible pathways for students, allowing them to tailor their education according to their interests without strict requirements. This initiative is designed to help students recognize their passions early in their academic careers, enabling them to make informed decisions about their coursework and future career trajectories.
“You have to develop an understanding of what it is you love, what it is you most want to do” as Chris says, resonating with his vision for creating a truly interdisciplinary experience for CES students. Within this flexible curriculum, they can draw connections between various scientific disciplines and understand how their coursework fits into the broader context of conservation and environmental science, while fostering a sense of identity as conservation and environmental scientists. Chris has his own experience that he shares with his students about self-development and introspection: Chris brings his copy of Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac into his classes on the first day and uses it as an example. Before Chris proceeded forward with his PhD (over 30 years ago!), he read this book, which refocused his interest in ecology, “Not just as a science, but as a way of living in a natural community and interacting with human communities, because I think that’s really the bigger message of it.”
In addition to his role as the UWM CES Program Director, Chris possesses a rich depth of experience that significantly enhances his contributions to the environmental field. He is an accomplished author and continues to serve as an editor, focusing on areas such as the history of science, urban ecology, environmental history, and environmental education.
In science and life, we all understand how connected things are; the impact upon one thing can lead to impacts on other things. Chris aims to make an impact contributing to students and a program, which ultimately impacts the community, and continues in a true positive feedback loop: all making an impact and “connecting the parts.”
Intrigued? For more information or contact information, check out UWM’s CES Program: uwm.edu/ces
Written by Zelenda Koch