Q&A: Meet Professor Sara Ashpole
Meet Your Environmental Studies Mentor
Associate Professor of Environmental Studies Sara Ashpole is passionate about field-based learning, connecting students to real-world environmental challenges while inspiring critical thinking and meaningful action for a sustainable future. Her research expertise includes local collaborations with landowners to monitor frogs and salamanders and restore endangered amphibian habitats, as well as policy work through her leadership on national and international conservation committees.
What’s your favorite class to teach, and why?
I love teaching "Urban Green" as part of the First-Year Program. It’s an interdisciplinary course that explores innovative and inspiring approaches to urban sustainability, from design to justice. The class is especially rewarding when students bring diverse perspectives and identities, enriching our discussions and group projects.
What makes your teaching style unique?
As a field ecologist, I prioritize hands-on learning. Most of my courses include a field or lab component, allowing students to gain practical skills and certifications valued by employers. For example, my courses often include internationally recognized training modules to prepare students for careers in environmental science. I also emphasize career development by helping students build skills that translate directly to the job market.
What do you value most about your students?
I value the personal experiences, traditions, and perspectives my students bring to class. When they feel comfortable sharing these, everyone benefits—including me. These interactions create a collaborative environment where we learn from each other and grow as a community.
What’s an unusual or innovative course you’ve taught?
Two stand out: The Green Café and "For the Love of Chocolate," both part of the Sustainability Program. In The Green Café, students run a campus restaurant from start to finish—growing, harvesting, cooking, and serving food under the guidance of chefs, farmers, and myself. For the Love of Chocolate explores sustainable chocolate production, culminating in a campus-wide celebration of all things chocolate. Both courses integrated sustainability, creativity, and real-world applications.
What surprises students most about you?
Probably that I’m a hobby farmer! My family and I raise our own meat and barter goods like honey and woodcrafts. My students also adore my dog, Dacks, who is a campus favorite and arguably more popular than I am!
What’s been your proudest moment as a professor?
Seeing the success of students I’ve worked with in the Sustainability Program has been incredibly rewarding. Watching them thrive both on campus and in their careers, equipped with skills and experiences gained from the program, fills me with pride.
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