Adam Charboneau Is Named SUNY Sustainability Faculty Fellow

Adam Charboneau, lecturer of sustainability studies in the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences(SoMAS) at Stony Brook University, has been selected as an inaugural State University of New York (SUNY) Sustainability Faculty Fellow, a program designed to expand climate education across the 64 campuses within the SUNY system.

The announcement was made by SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. during New York Climate Week. Eleven faculty members from 11 campuses throughout SUNY were named fellows and will help colleagues integrate sustainability topics into existing courses while creating new applied learning opportunities.

"With climate change affecting all elements of our society, from extreme weather emergencies to the emerging clean energy field, our students will need to be knowledgeable about sustainability to thrive as citizens and in their careers," King said. "Today's students are eager to participate in climate action, and SUNY is taking steps so that New Yorkers are prepared."

Charboneau teaches courses in sustainability and environmental history and serves as faculty director of the sustainability studies major and minor. He said the fellowship will allow him to expand Stony Brook's work toward integrating sustainability across disciplines and into real-world settings.

"For me, it means an opportunity to further grow my ability to communicate sustainability and help grow this program here and elsewhere throughout the SUNY system," Charboneau said. "You can find ways to teach sustainability in any kind of course curriculum. It is not siloed."

The fellowship is part of SUNY's Climate and Sustainability Action Plan, which aligns with New York State's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act and Executive Order 22. These measures require state institutions to take the lead in decarbonization and waste reduction. SUNY, which owns 40 percent of all state buildings, is seen as a critical force in attaining the state's climate goals.

Charboneau said his priority will be finding ways to make classroom learning more practical. "I am most excited to take what is usually relegated to a classroom and make it hands on," he said. "Whether it is a composting project on campus or connecting with local communities, the more students engage directly, the more they see they can make change happen."

"We inherited this house, and it may be broken in places, but it is ours to mend." - Adam Charboneau

SoMAS Dean Paul Shepson said Charboneau's selection reflects his teaching and background. "I am proud that SUNY has chosen Adam Charboneau as a Sustainability Faculty Fellow, and know that he is exceptionally well-prepared to inspire our students and contribute to building a more resilient and sustainable New York," Shepson said. "SUNY's and New York State's continuing leadership in responding to the climate crisis, and associated efforts in educating the leaders of the future, makes me proud to be a New Yorker."

The fellows will collaborate on developing a shared repository of resources, model curricula, and training workshops. They will also hold joint conferences and share best practices with faculty in disciplines ranging from sciences and engineering to arts and humanities.

Charboneau said he hopes the program will help faculty across the system see how sustainability connects to their teaching, regardless of the subject. "Whatever your discipline is, you are in it because you enjoy it and you see ways you can apply it to your everyday life," he said. "Sustainability connects to everyday life, too. If we make it the default, the easiest path forward, more people will embrace it."

The fellowship also aligns with workforce needs in New York's growing clean energy economy. "What I hear from students more than anything else is they want hands-on experiences, but also the nuts and bolts to enter a profession upon graduation," Charboneau said. "By being part of this program, I can better understand job market trajectories and help prepare students for careers in a growing field."

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said the initiative addresses both education and economic growth. "Equipping students with climate and sustainability skills is critical to building New York's clean energy economy," she said. "SUNY's Sustainability Faculty Fellowship will expand opportunities in classrooms statewide, supporting a diverse workforce that can generate growth and climate resilience in every region."

Charboneau is already applying those ideas in projects that link students to local and international partners. He is currently guiding students working with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, in partnership with the New York Climate Exchange, on case studies of urban climate transitions and is collaborating with Stony Brook's Office of Sustainabilityon audits, composting initiatives, and applied research.

He said the fellowship will strengthen projects like these by connecting him with faculty from other campuses. "The payoff is to learn from people in different disciplines and how they approach it," Charboneau said. "Sustainability requires systems thinking. You need to inventory the problem from multiple angles and work together toward solutions."

The SUNY Board of Trustees called the program an example of higher education stepping into a leadership role during a pivotal time for our environment. "The challenges facing New York State, and our entire global civilization, due to climate change require our passionate dedication to meaningful action, and we applaud the inaugural Sustainability Faculty Fellows for being true leaders in this field," the Board said in a statement.

"We inherited this house, and it may be broken in places, but it is ours to mend," Charboneau said. "By working together, we can make it stronger and prepare our students to build a sustainable future."

- Beth Squire