Human Use of the Environment

Bronwen Powell (she/her) is an associate professor of Geography, African Studies and Anthropology (courtesy). Broadly, her research examines the social, cultural, and environmental drivers of human nutrition, diet, and food security. Her recent research focuses on how forests, landscape diversity, and land use change contribute to human diet and nutrition. Most recently she has been examining how climate change, land use change, market access, and policy change impact the food systems and diets of rural and Indigenous peoples around the world (Tanzania, Indonesia, Alaska).

Travis Tennessen, PhD, works in the Center for Service-Learning at Western Washington University in Bellingham. He received his PhD in Geography from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he studied and taught about environmental history and community-based natural resource management. The Sarvodaya philosophy and movements have inspired his teaching and community organizing efforts, including the Community Engagement Fellows program he leads. Several years ago Travis gave a TEDx talk inspired by the Sri Lankan Sarvodaya movement entitled, “Creating Universities of Life.”  He served on the Sarvodaya USA board for several years, and now stays involved as a consultant.