Building Connections and Advancing Green Careers: Highlights from KAEE’s Recent eeHEN Meeting

KAEE’s Environmental Education in Higher Education Network (eeHEN) recently held a vibrant and energizing meeting that brought together faculty, staff, and professionals from colleges and universities across Kentucky. The day was filled with meaningful conversations, collaborative brainstorming, and a shared commitment to strengthening the role of environmental education in higher education.

We spent time diving into KAEE’s Green Career Initiative, exploring how this effort can better support students in discovering environmental career pathways and how higher education institutions can leverage it to enhance their own programming. Participants also shared ideas on how eeHEN can continue evolving to increase collaboration, deepen networking opportunities, and better serve campuses across the state.

In addition to productive discussions, the gathering offered a much-needed space for connection and community. It was a great reminder of the power of bringing like-minded educators and professionals together to learn from each other and build momentum for environmental education at the collegiate level.

Institutions Represented at the Meeting Included:

• University of Kentucky: 4-H, Forestry Extension, Dept. of Forestry & Natural Resources Extension, Writing, Rhetoric, & Digital Studies, Environmental & Sustainability Studies

• Centre College: Education

• Eastern Kentucky University: Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education

• University of Louisville: Education, SECP

• Kentucky State University: Environmental Education and Research Center (EERC)

• Bluegrass Community & Technical College: Environmental Science Technology (EST)

• Northern Kentucky University: College of Education – Science Methods and EE

• Asbury University: Adventure Education & Leadership, Biology

• Maysville Community & Technical College: Biology

• Berea College: Forestry Outreach Center

We’re so grateful to everyone who attended and contributed their insights and energy. If you're working in higher education and passionate about environmental education, we’d love for you to be a part of this growing network. 

Learn more and join us at kaee.org/eehen.