Morristown, N.J. (February 10, 2021)

The National Endowment for the Humanities recently awarded Saint Elizabeth University a $30,000 grant to develop a minor and certification in environmental ethics.

While there is a growing trend in higher education to invest in STEM-related programs, the humanities have been on the decline across the board. The creation of this minor will strengthen the recognition of the humanities, which are vitally important to developing students in the context of a shared global community.

"Few issues are as pressing and prevalent as the state of the environment. On the one hand, exploring and addressing our human-centered mindset is important for the wellbeing of the ecosystems of Earth,” explains Ryan McLaughlin, theology professor at SEU. “But even aside from this aim, there are many issues of human justice at work here. We want to provide students with the tools to address the pressing issues posed by environmental ethics in whatever career path they choose."

Some of these issues affect the poor disproportionately and environmental racism remains a persistent problem in the United States. Developing an interdisciplinary minor in environmental ethics at SEU will bring a multitude of diverse voices to the field, including low-income and first-generation college students.

Students will leave SEU equipped with the tools of philosophy, science, religion, law and critical thinking, all in the service of making the world a better place for all creatures.