Tom Wessels
Encyclopedia
Tom Wessels is a terrestrial ecologist and a professor
at Antioch University New England
in the Department of Environmental Studies
, where he founded a master's program in conservation biology
. He is the author
of three books and is an active environmentalist
.
and a MA
in ecology
at the University of Colorado
. Wessels went directly into academia, beginning with a post at the now defunct Windham College
, in Putney, Vermont
. In 1978 he became an adjunct faculty member at Antioch University New England
and was instrumental in developing numerous courses in the yet very young Environmental Studies Department. He became a core faculty member at Antioch in 2000.
In addition to teaching at Antioch, Wessels has traveled on expedition to Iceland
with Haraldur Sigurdsson
. He chaired the Science department for ten years at The Putney School
, a boarding high school in Putney, Vermont. He served as the chair of the Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation
, a foundation that provides grants
and fellowship
s to promote
environmental
leadership
. Since 1995 he has served as an ecological consultant
for the Rainforest Alliance
SmartWood Program in the Northeastern United States
.
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at Antioch University New England
Antioch University New England
Antioch University New England is a private graduate school located in Keene, New Hampshire. It is part of the Antioch University system that includes campuses in Seattle, Washington; Los Angeles, California; Santa Barbara, California; and Yellow Springs, Ohio.- History :In 1964, Antioch College...
in the Department of Environmental Studies
Environmental studies
Environmental studies is the academic field which systematically studies human interaction with the environment. It is a broad interdisciplinary field of study that includes the natural environment, built environment, and the sets of relationships between them...
, where he founded a master's program in conservation biology
Conservation biology
Conservation biology is the scientific study of the nature and status of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction...
. He is the author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
of three books and is an active environmentalist
Environmentalist
An environmentalist broadly supports the goals of the environmental movement, "a political and ethical movement that seeks to improve and protect the quality of the natural environment through changes to environmentally harmful human activities"...
.
Professional Biography
Wessels earned a BS in wildlife biology from the University of New HampshireUniversity of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire is a public university in the University System of New Hampshire , United States. The main campus is in Durham, New Hampshire. An additional campus is located in Manchester. With over 15,000 students, UNH is the largest university in New Hampshire. The university is...
and a MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in ecology
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
at the University of Colorado
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
. Wessels went directly into academia, beginning with a post at the now defunct Windham College
Windham College
Windham College was a liberal arts college located in Putney, Vermont on the campus of what is now Landmark College.-History:Windham was founded in 1951 by Walter F. Hendricks as the Vermont Institute of Special Studies. The school's initial aim was to help foreign students improve their English...
, in Putney, Vermont
Putney, Vermont
Putney is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,634 at the 2000 census.On December 26, 1753 Col.Josiah Willard led a proprietors' petition for a Putney charter which was issued by Governor Benning Wentworth of the New Hampshire Grants under King George II of England...
. In 1978 he became an adjunct faculty member at Antioch University New England
Antioch University New England
Antioch University New England is a private graduate school located in Keene, New Hampshire. It is part of the Antioch University system that includes campuses in Seattle, Washington; Los Angeles, California; Santa Barbara, California; and Yellow Springs, Ohio.- History :In 1964, Antioch College...
and was instrumental in developing numerous courses in the yet very young Environmental Studies Department. He became a core faculty member at Antioch in 2000.
In addition to teaching at Antioch, Wessels has traveled on expedition to Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
with Haraldur Sigurdsson
Haraldur Sigurdsson
Haraldur Sigurðsson is an Icelandic volcanologist and geochemist. Sigurðsson studied geology and geochemistry in the United Kingdom, where he obtained a Bachelors degree from Queen's University, Belfast, followed by a Ph.D. degree from the University of Durham in 1970...
. He chaired the Science department for ten years at The Putney School
The Putney School
The Putney School is an independent high school in Putney, Vermont. It was founded in 1935 by Carmelita Hinton. It is a co-educational, college-preparatory boarding school, with a day-student component, located outside of Brattleboro, Vermont. Emily Jones is the director...
, a boarding high school in Putney, Vermont. He served as the chair of the Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation
Bob Switzer
Robert C. Switzer usually known as Bob Switzer was the co-inventor along with his brother Joe Switzer of the first fluorescent paint which he called "Day-Glo"....
, a foundation that provides grants
Grant (money)
Grants are funds disbursed by one party , often a Government Department, Corporation, Foundation or Trust, to a recipient, often a nonprofit entity, educational institution, business or an individual. In order to receive a grant, some form of "Grant Writing" often referred to as either a proposal...
and fellowship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
s to promote
Promotion (marketing)
Promotion is one of the four elements of marketing mix . It is the communication link between sellers and buyers for the purpose of influencing, informing, or persuading a potential buyer's purchasing decision....
environmental
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
leadership
Leadership
Leadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Other in-depth definitions of leadership have also emerged.-Theories:...
. Since 1995 he has served as an ecological consultant
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
for the Rainforest Alliance
Rainforest Alliance
The Rainforest Alliance is a non-governmental organization with the published aims of working to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior. It is based in New York City, and has offices throughout the...
SmartWood Program in the Northeastern United States
Northeastern United States
The Northeastern United States is a region of the United States as defined by the United States Census Bureau.-Composition:The region comprises nine states: the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont; and the Mid-Atlantic states of New...
.
Books
- Gardner, Blake and Tom Wessels. Untamed Vermont (Thistle Hill Publications, 2003). ISBN 0970551126
- Wessels, Tom. The Granite Landscape: A Natural History of America's Mountain Domes, From Acadia to Yosemite (The Countryman Press, 2001). ISBN 0881504297
- Wessels, Tom. The Myth of Progress: Toward a Sustainable Future (University of Vermont Press, 2006). ISBN 1584654953
- Wessels, Tom. Reading the Forested Landscape: A Natural History of New England (The Countryman Press, 1997). ISBN 0881503789
- Wessels, Tom. "Forest Forensics: A Field Guide to Reading the Forested Landscape" (The Countryman Press, 2010). ISBN 0881509183
External links
- Medomak Camp
- Rainforest Alliance SmartWood Program
- Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation
- Whole Terrain link to Wessels' articles published in Whole TerrainWhole TerrainWhole Terrain: Journal of Reflective Environmental Practice is an environmentally-themed literary journal that's published approximately once a year by Antioch University New England . Each volume explores emerging ecological and social issues from the perspectives of practitioners working in the...