Welcome to the University of Washington’s Program on the Environment (PoE)! We’re excited to have you consider joining a community where collaboration across disciplines sparks meaningful action to protect and sustain our planet. Here, students, scholars, and community partners combine concepts and methods from social and natural sciences, humanities, technologies, and arts to turn innovative ideas into real-world solutions. We strive to find ways that communities can improve environmental health and wellbeing by changing habits and using creative ideas and technologies to address urgent problems, large and small. 

Although I’ve been part of UW since 2006, I’m only a year into my journey with PoE, and I’m inspired by its vibrant, integrative spirit. My own background is in earth observation, geography, environmental studies, and geospatial sciences— a blend of fields that reflect PoE’s interdisciplinary approach. I truly believe in how PoE brings people together to imagine and create a fairer, more sustainable future for all. 

PoE is committed to maintaining its tradition of excellence in education. Our faculty are recognized for their teaching, our staff are incredibly supportive, and our students are passionate and engaged. In 2025, we’re proud to welcome two new Assistant Teaching Professors, Dr. Tim Billo and Dr. Yen-Chu Weng. Although they’re new to these ranks, Dr. Billo and Dr. Weng each bring over 10 years of experience teaching with PoE and have been critical to the Program’s development and success. Dr. Weng is also a 2025 Fulbright awardee, which will give her the opportunity to expand her teaching experience in Japan during the 2025-2026 academic year—she’ll return to PoE in summer of 2026.  

While PoE is based in the College of the Environment, our reach extends across the entire university, connecting with many departments and units. This allows students to design a personalized, interdisciplinary course of study, culminating in a self-guided, year-long capstone project—the highlight of our program. 

 Located in the breathtaking Pacific Northwest, UW offers a natural laboratory full of ecosystems, communities, and landscapes. Our students can easily move from classroom lessons to hands-on field experiences, whether it’s studying food systems and ecological restoration at the UW farm and Union Bay Natural Area, learning about urban development and climate resilience in a case analysis course, or diving into sustainability through a capstone internship. We also offer special courses that explore regional and global environmental issues. 

Today, there is an urgent need for skilled professionals who can take on complex environmental challenges. Our undergraduate program has a strong track record of preparing leaders who create positive change. If you’re passionate about making a difference—helping to make our world safer, fairer, and more resilient—consider pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies or joining us at a future event. We are appreciative of our supporters, advocates, and champions, and invite you to explore our website, send us a message, or stop by Wallace Hall—I’d love to meet you! 

– L. Monika Moskal

Director, Program on the Environment