‘Struck Gold’: Institute of Environment and Sustainability welcomes new director

Before becoming Miami University’s new director of the Institute of Environment and Sustainability (IES), J.D. Wulfhorst was often found roasting green chilis, playing the resonator guitar in a bluegrass band and riding his motorcycle around Idaho. But at his core, Wulfhorst has dedicated his life to a passion for the environment and how humans impact it.

Wulfhorst worked as a professor of rural sociology and environmental science at the University of Idaho for 25 years, but he decided to put himself on the job market again. He received an offer from Miami to be the director of IES and started this new position on Aug. 18.

His focus on the environment and sustainability began in the late 1980s, when he started receiving mail from organizations such as the Sierra Club and Greenpeace during their push for greater environmental awareness. It was this material that got Wulfhorst interested in pursuing environmental studies in college.

“The people-environment interface has always fascinated me,” Wulfhorst said. “We abuse our environment so much, we argue about it a lot and most people enjoy it in ways that bring amazing things to their life.”

He went on to receive his Bachelor of Arts in interdisciplinary studies from Appalachian State University, his master’s degree in sociology at the University of Kentucky and his doctor of philosophy in rural and community sociology at Utah State University.

Although he has spent much of his time in western states, Wulfhorst said he has a long family history in Cincinnati and Dayton. He spent time in the region during summer and Christmas vacations, and he said he is glad to be back in the area with his new role.

“It's like a homecoming,” Wulfhorst said. “Even though I never got to live here as a kid, I got to come here a lot. My dad, my aunt and my uncle are all [Miami] alum. So there was this legacy institution that I never thought I'd get to connect to.”

Wulfhorst oversees the four undergraduate co-majors, including energy, environmental science, food systems and food studies, and sustainability. He will also be teaching classes in the Department of Geography starting in the spring.

Amanda Bentley Brymer is the assistant director of IES and has worked with Wulforst in every role. She started as his student at the University of Idaho, designed research together post-grad and helped him with administrative work at Miami.

“He's such an engaged, active listener and truly cares about advocating for students and their needs,” Brymer said. “He also cares deeply about building and maintaining the relationships and the hard work required to pull off interdisciplinarity.”

Wulfhorst said he knows he has started this job in a time where stress is high and there are a lot of changes happening that are directly affecting students, such as Senate Bill 1.

“It feels like a huge privilege to have been able to start here right in the middle of all this,” Wulfhorst said. “I took it because I could have said, ‘No, I’ll just stay in Idaho,’ and I could have just ridden it out and things would have been a lot easier, but not very challenging.”

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Elise Kokenge worked with Wulfhorst at the University of Idaho, where she is currently an assistant research professor in the Department of Natural Resources and Society and the College of Natural Resources Program Director of Graduate Studies.

She said she is sad to see him go, but she knows that he will thrive in his new position.

“I think your institution has gained an amazing human,” Kokenge said. “Wherever this individual is there will be creativity, energy, engagement. You guys have a gem and I'm really sad for the University of Idaho. I'm mourning our own loss, but everybody's got to go to grow and your institution has just struck gold with J.D. Wulfhorst.”

mchenrvg@miamioh.edu

halljp3@miamioh.edu