Emeriti
Walt Hecox
Professor Emeritus of Economics and Environmental Studies & Science Program
Professor Emeritus of Economics
Environmental Studies & Science Program
Colorado College
14 E. Cache La Poudre St.
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Tel: (719) 389-6413; Cell: (719) 640-5041
E-mail: WHecox@ColoradoCollege.edu
Val Veirs
Professor Emeritus of Physics and Environmental Studies & Science Program
585 Smugglers Cove
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
Tel: (360)-278-8360
Email: VVeirs@coloradocollege.edu
Nate Bower
Professor Emeritus of Chemsitry and Biochemistry
and Environmental Studies & Science Program
Email: nbower@coloradocollege.edu
Tel: (719) 389-6432
Eric Leonard
Professor Emeritus of Geology and Environmental Studies & Science Program
Email: eleonard@coloradocollege.edu
Barbara Whitten
Professor Emerita of Physicss and Environmental Studies & Science Program
Email: bwhitten@coloradocollege.edu
During her thirty-year career at Colorado College, Barbara taught the full range of physics courses, along with Gender and Science in the Feminist and Gender Studies program, and Energy in the Environmental program. She retired from teaching in 2017.
Her research centers on studying the experience of women in undergraduate physics programs, with the goal of increasing the diversity of the physics community. Most recently, she was part of a team that organized distributed peer networks for women faculty in physics departments. These provided significant support for stressed women, especially during the pandemic.
Barbara has also worked on a review article to encourage physics faculty to introduce environmental topics into their classes at all levels. A second review article was aimed at environmental science teachers, encouraging them to teach more about energy. She was the guest editor of a recent special issue of American Journal of Physics on the physics of the environment, sustainability, and climate change.
Recent Publications
Cindy Blaha, Anne Cox, Beth Cunningham, Anne -Barrie Hunter, Rachel Ivie, Kristine P.H. Lui, Idalia Ramos -Colón, and Barbara Whitten, “‘Everything is on fire’: The Uneven Impact of COVID on Women Faculty,” Journal of Women and Gender in Higher Education, Submitted for Publication May 3, 2024
Anne Cox, Cindy Blaha, Beth Cunningham, Anne-Barrie Hunter, Rachel Ivie, Sarah Phan-Budd, Idalia Ramos Colon, Emily Rice, Laura Tucker, and Barbara Whitten, “Distributed Peer Mentoring Networks to Support Isolated Faculty,” Journal of Faculty Development, 35, January 2021, pp.43-48
Kyle Forinash and Barbara Whitten, “Resource Letter TEP-1: Resources for Teaching Environmental Physics,” American Journal of Physics, 87 (6), June 2019, pp. 421-432
Kyle Forinash, John H. Perkins, and Barbara Whitten, “Background, approaches, and resources for teaching energy in environmental studies,” Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, 11, 2021, pp. 708-734
Kyle Forinash, Roger Tobin, Barbara Whitten, and Richard Wolfson, guest editors, American Journal of Physics, Special Issue: Teaching the Physics of the Environment, Sustainability, and Climate Change, 91, 9, September 2023
Howard Drossman
Professor Emeritus of Environmental Science and Education
Email: hdrossman@coloradocollege.edu
Higher Education Teaching & Employment
Professor Emeritus, Colorado College, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO (Sept. 1, 2025 – present)
Professor of Environmental Education and TREE Semester Program Director, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO (July 2014–August 2025)
Chair, Education Department, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO (Jan. 2021-July 2021; Jan. 2022-July 2022)
Professor of Environmental Science, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO (Sept. 2006-June 2014)
Executive Director, Catamount Center, Woodland Park, CO (May 2005-Dec. 2008)
Environmental Science Program Director, Environmental Science Program, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO (July 2000-June 2007)
Visiting Scientist, Marine Biological Laboratory Ecosystems Research Center, Woods Hole, MA (Sept. 2005 - June 2006)
Visiting Professor, International Sustainable Development Studies Institute, Chiang Mai, Thailand (Jan. 2006-March 2006)
Associate Professor of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO (Sept. 1998-Aug. 2006)
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Colorado College Chemistry Department, Colorado Springs, CO. Taught and developed innovative bioanalytical and environmental chemistry classes. Research in areas of atmospheric chemistry and quantitative single molecule detection of DNA. (September, 1995 - August, 1997)
Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Colorado College Chemistry Department, Colorado Springs, CO. Taught undergraduate classes in general, analytical, and bioanalytical chemistry, instrumental analysis, global bioethics, and environmental capstone class. Research in environmental and bioanalytical chemistry. (September 1992 - August, 1998)
Publications (* denotes undergraduate student; abbreviated)
Simmons, B., Bhagwanji, Y, Born, P., Drossman, H., Franzen, R.L., Mony, P., Poelzing, T., Ridge, S.W. 2025. Guidelines for Excellence: Environmental Educator Knowledge and Skills, North American Association for Environmental Education, ISBN 979-8-218-68398-6, Washington, D.C.
Drossman, H., and Arias, J-M. (with Celinda Reynolds Kaelin and Debbie Howell). 2025. “The Seven-S Model for Developing Environmental Leaders: Harmonizing Indigenous and Integral Approaches in Environmental and Sustainability Education.” Contingencies: A Journal of Global Pedagogy, 3(1), https://doi.org/10.33682/ahpr-y9xe
Drossman, H. 2023, “An Iterative and Adaptive Developmental Evaluation Framework: Case Study of the Teaching and Researching Environmental Education Semester.” Environmental Education Research, 30(5), 807-830. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2023.2286937
Arias, J-M, Drossman, H. 2021. “Power & Equity in Undergraduate Environmental Education: Loving Critique at the Colorado College TREE Semester,” Clearing Magazine, Fall.
Drossman, H., Gaia, S., Dawson, T., 2016. Development of an Integral-Motivated Lectical® Ecological Stewardship Assessment, Journal of Integral Theory and Practice.
*Harness, H., Drossman, H., 2012. “The Environmental Education Through Filmmaking Project.” In The Media, Animal Conservation and Environmental Education (J. Bewitt, ed.), Routledge.
*Harness, H., Drossman, H., 2011. “The Environmental Education Through Filmmaking Project.” Environmental Education Research, 17(6), 829-849, DOI:10.1080/13504622.2011.618626.
Drossman, H., Bennett, J., McGrath-Spangler, E., VanRoekel, L., Wells, K. E. 2011. “Assessment of a Constructivist-Motivated Mentoring Program to Enhance the Teaching Skills of Atmospheric Science Graduate Students.” Journal of College Science Teaching, 41(2), 72-81.
Drossman, H., 2012, “How Does an Automobile Engine Convert Heat to Work?,” in ChemConnections Activity Workbook, Anthony, S. and Mernitz, H. (eds.), New York: Norton.
Drossman, H., 2012, “How Does Engine Temperature Affect CO and NOx Production?” in ChemConnections Activity Workbook, Anthony, S. and Mernitz, H. (eds.), New York: Norton.
Hobbie, J. E., Hobbie, E. A., Drossman, H., Conte, M., Weber, J.C., Shamhart, J., *Weinrobe, M. 2009. "Mycorrhizal fungi supply nitrogen to host plants in Arctic tundra and boreal forests: 15N is the key signal." Canadian Journal of Microbiology, 55(1): 84-94.
Drossman, H. Chemical Speciation Analysis of Sports Drinks by Acid-Base Titrimetry and Ion Chromatography: A Challenging Beverage Formulation Project, Journal of Chemical Education, 2007, 84(1), 124-127.
Drossman, H. *Myers, J.B., Bower, N.W., 2006. Radioimmunoassay of Morphine in Urine from Ingestion of Poppy Seeds: A Research-Based Laboratory, Chem. Educator, 11, 1–6, DOI 10.1333/s00897061038a.
Hamann, H., Drossman, H., 2006. Integrating Watershed Management with Learning: the role of information transfer in linking educators and students with community watershed initiatives, Comparative Technology Transfer and Society, December, 4(3), 305–339.
Drossman, H., Laursen, S, Tikkanen, W., 2003. How Can We Reduce Automobile Air Pollution: A ChemConnections Module for General Chemistry Students, W.W. Norton & Company.
Drossman, H., Hamann, H, 2003. "Teaching Chemistry at the Watershed Level,” American Chemical Society Environmental Chemistry Section Abstracts, August. (extended abstract)
Abstracts & Presented Papers (abbreviated)
Drossman, H., Gaia, S., Dawson, T., Development of an Integral-Motivated Lectical® Ecological Stewardship Assessment, Integral Theory Conference, Sonoma State University, CA. (2015)
Drossman, H., Giuffre, K., *Diefendorf, S., Carlson, S., Social Networks Analysis of Environmental Activists: The Role of Gender, Social Exclusion and the Definition of Sustainability, American Sociological Association National Meeting, Denver, CO. (2012)
Drossman, H., Titcombe, M., “Analysis of student satisfaction and achievement of learning objectives with traditional vs. environmentally-relevant POGIL exercises” American Chemical Society National Meeting, Anaheim, CA. (2011)
Foster, Susan Q., S. Denning, D. A. Randall, R. M. Johnson, J. Bergman, H. Drossman, L. Gardiner, B. Hatheway, R. Russell, B. Jones, J. Lanting, R. Pandya, L. Pitot, and D. Swartz, Understanding clouds, weather, climate, and modeling: education and outreach from the Center for Multi-scale Modeling of Atmospheric Processes, American Meteorological Society. (2008)
Invited Presentations (abbreviated)
Drossman, H. What Would the Lorax Do? Earth Day Speaker, Prospect Sierra Elementary School, El Cerrito, CA, April 23, 2025.
Franzen, R., Born, P., Drossman, H., McClain, L., Higher Education Environmental Education Programs for Certification, NAAEE National Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA, November 6, 2024.
Franzen, R., Born, P., Drossman, H., Simmons, B., NAAEE Guidelines for Development of Professional Environmental Educators, NAAEE National Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA, November 6, 2024.
Franzen, R., Born, P., Drossman, H., McClain, L., Exemplary Higher Education Environmental Education Programs, NAAEE National Meeting, Tucson, AZ, October 13, 2022.
Franzen, R., Born, P., Bennett, B., Drossman, H., McClain, L., The Road to NAAEE Higher Education Accreditation: A Map for Success, NAAEE National Meeting, Tucson, AZ, October 12, 2022.
Drossman, H., A More Transformational Portfolio, CAEE Awards Symposium, Golden CO, November 4, 2021.
Drossman, H., An Introduction to Developmental Evaluation, CAEE Fall Conference (online), September 21, 2021.
Drossman, H., Two Generations of Professional Development, CAEE Fall Conference (online), September 17, 2020.
*Mazurek, J., Drossman, H. Developing Effective Environmental Educators, CAEE Annual Conference, March 16, 2019, Denver, CO.
Drossman, H., What Makes Learning Transformative?: Lessons from the TREE Semester, Colorado College Fall Conference, Colorado Springs, CO. (2018)
Honors & Certifications (abbreviated)
Master Environmental Educator Certification; Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education (2009-2032)
Val Veirs Environmental Justice Award, Just World Awards, Colorado College, 2022
Catamount Center Board President & Treasurer (October 1997 – present)
NAAEE Distinguished Program (TREE Semester) (2017-2031)
Tai Chi Level X Instructor
CAEE Enos Mills Lifetime Achievement Award (2021)
CAEE Innovative Program Award (TREE Semester) (2018)
Chair and Co-Founder, Colorado College Campus Sustainability Council 2005-2012
External Grants (abbreviated)
National Science Foundation Noyce Grant (Implementation chair): scholarships for teacher preparation (co-PI with Mike Taber (PI), Manya Whitaker and Tina Valtierra, $1,190,012) (2015)
National Science Foundation Science Technology Center: “Multi-scale Modeling of Atmospheric Processes,” sub-contract from Colorado State University (PI: David Randall) ($15,000 + 1 student summer fellowships) (2014)
Associated College of the Midwest Seminar in Advanced Interdisciplinary Learning (SAIL). “Contested Spaces: Exploring Multiple Perspectives on Land Stewardship in the Pikes Peak Region of Colorado.” ($95,000) (PI: Howard Drossman with co-PIs Jonathan Lee and Donna McMillan) (2013)
National Science Foundation Science Technology Center: “Multi-scale Modeling of Atmospheric Processes,” sub-contract from Colorado State University (PI: David Randall) ($25,000 + 2 student summer fellowships) (2013)
Nature Conservancy Conservation Grant: Response of forest thinning in the Upper Fountain Creek Watershed ($27,000) (sub-award w/ Paige Lewis-Nature Conservancy) (2012)
Classes Taught
- Environmental Education Practicum (ED120, TREE)
- Critical Foundations of Environmental Education (ED 225, TREE)
- Developing Environmental Education Curricula (ED 385, TREE)
- Advanced Independent Study (ED 403; TREE)
- Advanced Research (ED 490)
- Introduction to Global Climate Change (EV 128)
- Human Impacts on Biogeochemical Cycles (EV 211)
- Environmental Education (ED203/EV260)
- Environmental Inquiry (EV 221)
- Analysis of Environmental Data (EV 228)
- Energy: Environmental Thermodynamics & Energetics (EV 212)
- Water: Ecohydrology & Aquatic Chemistry (EV 311)
- Air: Atmospheric Physics & Chemistry (EV 431)
- Intro to Environmental Science: Global Climate (EV 121)
- Intro Env Science: Elements of Sustainability (EV 120)
- Environmental Science Capstone (EV 411)
- Environmental Science Practicum (EV 490)
- Environmental Science Seminar (EV 491)
- Environmental Science Thesis (EV 499)
- Global Bioethics (EV 120)
- General Chemistry I (CH 107)
- General Chemistry II (CH 108)
- Introduction to Analytical Chemistry (CH 241)
- Bioanalytical Chemistry (CH 345)
- Instrumental Analysis (CH 342)