FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences Renames Mid-Career Award in Honor of David Hassenzahl and Kim Smith

Washington, DC — January 23, 2026 — The Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences (AESS) is proud to announce the renaming of its Mid-Career Award as the Hassenzahl–Smith Mid-Career Award, honoring David Hassenzahl and Kim Smith for their extraordinary service, leadership, and lasting contributions to the field of environmental studies and sciences.

The AESS Mid-Career Award recognizes individuals who have made significant scholarly, professional, and service contributions during the middle stages of their careers. Renaming the award reflects AESS’s deep appreciation for Hassenzahl and Smith’s sustained leadership, mentorship, and commitment to advancing interdisciplinary environmental scholarship.

Throughout their careers, Hassenzahl and Smith have been instrumental in strengthening AESS’s mission and community. Hassenzahl is currently Dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Interim Dean, College of Agriculture at California State University, Chico. Smith is currently the Curriculum Coordinator for the Program in the Environment at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Their dedication to building inclusive scholarly communities, mentoring emerging leaders, and advancing environmental scholarship has shaped this organization in enduring ways.

This recognition serves not only as a tribute to their individual and collective impact, but also as a lasting symbol of the values that define the AESS community: collaboration, interdisciplinary engagement, and service-driven leadership.

The Hassenzahl–Smith Mid-Career Award will continue to recognize outstanding mid-career leaders whose work reflects sustained excellence in research, policy and activism. The award will be presented annually as part of AESS’s ongoing commitment to celebrating leadership and innovation in the environmental field.

For more information about the Hassenzahl–Smith Mid-Career Award and AESS awards programs, visit aessonline.org/awards.

About AESS
The Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences (AESS) is a professional society dedicated to advancing interdisciplinary research, education, and practice in environmental studies and sciences. AESS brings together scholars, educators, students, and practitioners to address complex environmental challenges through collaboration, innovation, and community engagement.

Main Contact:
Carolyn Anthon
Managing Director
Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences
canthon@aessonline.org

Contact: Carolyn Anthon

support@aessonline.org 

Office: (202) 503-4638 

June 16, 2025

For immediate release

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences (AESS) has selected the three recipients of the 2025 AESS Awards to be recognized at an awards luncheon during the AESS Annual Conference, June 23-25. Since 2010, these awards have recognized faculty, scholars and students in Environmental Studies and Sciences at all career stages who exemplify the highest standards of teaching, scholarship and service to the AESS community.

The Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences is a scholarly and professional organization that promotes interdisciplinary research, teaching and service for faculty and students in the more than 1,000 Environmental academic programs nationwide and beyond.  

2025 Award Recipients

Dr. David Blockstein has been awarded the William R. Freudenburg Lifetime Achievement Award.  Named for an AESS founder, Dr. William R. Freudenburg, this Award seeks to recognize and advance the spirit of AESS co-founder, the late Professor William R. Freudenburg, who spawned a new generation of environmental professionals and academics who have pursued interdisciplinary research to address some of the most pressing issues of our time. Through this award, AESS honors members of the profession who have also devoted their lives to strengthening our field by mentoring the next generation of environmental scientists and activists. 

An ecologist and conservation biologist, Dr. Blockstein has served throughout his career as a leader in work dedicated to science and the environment. This includes 28 years with the National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE), serving as its first Executive Director. In 2001, Dr. Blockstein founded the Council of Environmental Deans and Directors (CEDD) – the first professional organization for deans and directors of environmental colleges and programs. In addition, he founded the Council of Energy Research and Education Leaders (CEREL) in 2006. He is also one of the founders of the Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences (AESS).

His work bridges science and policy; Dr. Blockstein has worked on issues as varied as climate change, energy, biodiversity, and sustainability. His career has emphasized increasing minority representation in the sciences, improving decision-making with science, and using digital tools to communicate more broadly about science and the environment.

He has served on committees for scientific and conservation organizations, to name just a few: the American Association for the Advancement of Science; American Chemical Society; American Society of Zoologists; Society for Conservation Biology; American Ornithologists’ Union; University of Minnesota College of Biological Sciences; American Bird Conservancy; World Conservation Union (IUCN); Aldo Leopold Foundation; National Foundation for Environmental Education; and the Environmental Education Coalition. He continues his dedication to science, policy, teaching, and advocacy as co-Director of the Worldwide Climate and Justice Education Week. AESS is excited to recognize Dr. Blockstein for a lifetime of achievements and continual devotion to supporting the next generation of environmental scholars.

Dr. Jacob Park has been recognized with the AESS Mid-Career Award. This Award honors individuals who are mid-career and have made significant contributions to environmental studies or environmental sciences for at least ten years. Through this award, AESS recognizes outstanding accomplishments and sustained excellence in research, policy, activism, or a combination of these areas. Upon learning of his award, Dr. Park shared, “I am grateful to AESS for this award and for recognizing something I have always believed in: the importance of cultivating an integrated interdisciplinary approach to teaching, research, and scholarly engagement.” The committee noted strong scholarship, commitment to interdisciplinarity, contributions to the work of critically important institutions such as the UNEP and IUCN, as well as work supporting the next generation of ESS scholars. Dr. Park exemplifies the spirit of AESS in terms of scholarly and participatory approaches to ESS.

Dr. Corrie Grosse has been awarded the AESS Early Career Award. This Award recognizes outstanding accomplishments and promising future potential for teaching, research, policy, or activism in any field of environmental science and studies. Through this award, AESS honors individuals who are early in their careers, but have made significant contributions to knowledge, community and diversity in environmental studies and science, and have a career plan and trajectory that promise to continue and bolster such contributions. Dr. Grosse is “honored to receive this award from such a welcoming community of scholars and activists devoted to producing, sharing, and applying knowledge to create the world we need.” The committee noted Dr. Grosse’s critically important scholarship, commitment to activism, dedication to inclusivity and justice, and impact on students. Dr. Grosse’s commitments to advance climate justice and engage scholars across disciplines exemplify AESS’s mission to promote collaborative environmental problem-solving.

The Association will also be evaluating poster presentations during the Conference and selecting a recipient for the Student Poster Award.

Contact: Carolyn Anthon

support@aessonline.org 

Office: (202) 503-4638 

June 20, 2024

For immediate release

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences (AESS) has selected the four recipients of the 2024 AESS Awards to be recognized at a virtual ceremony during the AESS Annual Conference, June 20-21, 2024. Since 2010, these awards have recognized faculty, scholars and students in Environmental Studies and Sciences at all career stages who exemplify the highest standards of teaching, scholarship and service to the AESS community.

The Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences is a scholarly and professional organization that promotes interdisciplinary research, teaching and service for faculty and students in the more than 1,000 Environmental academic programs nationwide and beyond.  

2024 Award Recipients

Dr. Stephanie Kaza has been awarded the William R. Freudenburg Lifetime Achievement Award.  Named for an AESS founder, Dr. William R. Freudenburg, this Award seeks to recognize and advance the spirit of AESS co-founder, the late Professor William R. Freudenburg, who spawned a new generation of environmental professionals and academics who have pursued interdisciplinary research to address some of the most pressing issues of our time. Through this award, AESS honors members of the profession who have also devoted their lives to strengthening our field by mentoring the next generation of environmental scientists and activists. Dr. Stephanie Kaza is Professor Emeritus in the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Vermont (UVM). She is a writer, a practicing Soto Zen Buddhist and tireless advocate for interdisciplinary studies. For many years, she served as the Director of the Environmental Program at UVM  and on the U.S. Council of Environmental Deans and Directors. Dr. Kaza has been a leader in the interdisciplinary field of environmental studies for most of her career. 

Dr. Kaza’s scholarly contributions reflect a commitment to integrative environmental scholarship. Her publications underscore the significance of humanities in interdisciplinary environmental studies. Notably, her last three books, published by the Buddhist press Shambala Publications, delve into the intersection of spirituality and ecology. Equally significant is Dr. Kaza’s impact as an educator. Throughout her extensive career, she has excelled in teaching and lecturing on various topics. In 2011, she received the UVM George V. Kidder Outstanding Faculty Award, a testament to her excellence in teaching. Dr. Stephanie Kaza has a lifetime of commitment to interdisciplinary environmental studies and sciences. AESS is delighted to recognize her long-standing contributions to the organization as one of the founding members and to the field overall. 

Dr. Laurence Delina has been awarded the AESS Early Career Award. This Award recognizes outstanding accomplishments and promising future potential for teaching, research, policy, or activism in any field of environmental science and studies. Through this award, AESS honors individuals who are early in their careers, but have made significant contributions to knowledge, community and diversity in environmental studies and science, and have a career plan and trajectory that promise to continue and bolster such contributions. Dr. Delina’s research is primarily focused on climate, energy and resilience with a specific emphasis on vulnerable populations in Southeast Asia, his home region. The committee noted accomplishments as a scholar as well as dedication in the field – particularly the collaborative and consistent support of students and more junior researchers via the Delina Research Group. Dr. Delina exemplifies the spirit of AESS in terms of scholarly and participatory approaches to ESS.