Cohort 9
Chris Johnson
EDUCATION • Master of Architecture University of North Carolina-Charlotte • BFA in Interior Design Winthrop University
ENROLLED • Cohort 9
LOCATION • Rock Hill, S.C.
Chris Johnson developed an intimate relationship with nature while growing up in rural Western Pennsylvania, also learning the consequences of ignoring the interrelationships between human and natural systems as the forest and petroleum industries began to decline and relocate, leading to the loss of ecological services, economic depression, and social decay. Influenced by experiences early in his life, he recognized that design plays a vital role in mitigating environmental degradation and social inequalities associated with human practices while earning a BFA in Interior Design at Winthrop University. Building on those sustainability concepts, his master’s thesis at UNC Charlotte focused on how architecture responded to the needs of underserved communities and exclusionary public policies. Currently, as a university sustainability coordinator, Chris has found that many sustainability professionals and students struggle to understand the interplay between social, environmental, and economic systems, and many university leaders overlook the value of the intersectionality of sustainability across disciplines. He has concluded that, to avoid long-term, life-altering disruptions to human and natural systems, interdisciplinary educational sustainability is necessary for developing and retaining the resilience skills required to address the complex “wicked” problems humanity is predicted to face. His teaching develops sustainability literacy, promotes evidence-based decision-making, and empowers students to apply sustainability principles in meaningful and informed ways through experiential learning methods, such as role-playing, growing food in a community garden, sorting recycling, or immersing themselves in nature. Leading by example, he challenges students’ worldviews and inspires them to practice developing a broader perspective on what it means to be sustainable.
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Ed.D. in Educational Sustainability
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