Joy Ackerman, PhD

Core Faculty

Department of Environmental Studies

AUNE Contact Information

603.283.2345
jackerman@antioch.edu

Highest Degree

PhD, Antioch University New England

Other Degrees & Credentials

MS, Environmental Geology, Colorado State University
BA, Geology, cum laude, Mount Holyoke College

Overview

Transformation is the common theme in my environmental practice, from landscape change to changing ideas about nature. My own transformation from a practitioner of environmental science to a scholar of human science has been given scope at Antioch through teaching foundation courses in areas as diverse as applied hydrology and ecological thought.

“I’m fascinated by the cultural context of environmental work, and draw on the approaches of humanistic geography and critical ecology to explore cultural practices in relation to landscape and environmental values. Language is a vital aspect of environmental thought and action, and I enjoy working with students who want to develop their written voice. Effective communication and dialog require more than expository skill, and should be grounded in understanding of the variety of cultural and conceptual frameworks within which people relate to the natural world.”

My interests in eco-theology and the role of language in environmental thought, combined with my background in geology and geography, have led me to focus on sacred geography in my current work. I am currently researching and writing about Walden Pond as a place of pilgrimage, exploring both the power of place in the pilgrim experience and the politics of place as evidenced in landscape and discourse.