My Story
From my early days climbing trees and chasing frogs to an adolescence of experimentation and tomfoolery, I have been intrigued by human beings and our relationships with each other and our natural world.
I studied psychology and environment in college, then became an agroforestry Peace Corps Volunteer in The Gambia, West Africa where my host family invited me to share in much deeper community than I had experienced anywhere. I also witnessed transforming ecosystems and food insecurity paralleling our changing climate. I returned to graduate school in environmental studies and community & regional planning, realizing my passion for applied education.
I moved to Asheville in 2012 to create a Sustainability Studies graduate program highlighting the climate crisis. I am honored to now be at Warren Wilson where deep commitment to addressing climate with a focus on justice is common, making WWC ideal for a graduate program in Applied Climate Studies.
Keith McDadeI feel lucky to have arrived at a place where students are prepared to transform our systems, our communities, our organizations, and ourselves to build a better world. People care deeply about each other and the planet as we navigate the challenges of the climate crisis in this critical moment.
Education
- BA in Psychology, University of Michigan
- MS in Environmental Studies, University of Oregon
- MCRP in Community & Regional Planning, University of Oregon
- PhD in Natural Resources, Sustainability, and Environment
Research Interests
- Climate and sustainability pedagogy
- Climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience
- Climate leadership