Diversity & Community Studies - Research Projects

 

Brandi Button, SRSC 2013
Acting Executive Director, Sustainable Glasgow Inc. and Adjunct Instructor of Gender and Women's Studies Western Kentucky University  

My thesis, "Plain and Simple: Living Sustainably in an Unsustainable World," was a study of four  American women who are defining sustainability and "the good life" for themselves. I stayed with each of the women for one week in their homes, observing and interviewing them while working alongside them in their daily routines. My research has been made possible because of the preparation I received in the core classes of the SRSC program. These along with the faculty and staff in the program have been instrumental in the networks I have formed and projects I have been asked to be a part of. My research highlights powerful examples of women in the sustainability movement and how they have come to shape and define their roles.

 

 Brittany Ryan, SRSC 2013
 Market Manager at Greenmarket
 New York, New York

 Through the SRSC program, I have been able to really discover what my passion is in life and have gained the knowledge necessary to work in this area for the rest of my life.  I love how the program allowed me to create my own focus and was so diverse in its courses, giving me many perspectives to consider.My thesis was titled, "Overcoming Barriers to Local Food Access:  A Case Study." By conducting a case study, which incorporates both quantitative and qualitative data, I argued that local food access through farmers' markets can counter negative health trends, discussed the perceived barriers to fix access, and offered suggestions for overcoming those perceived barriers.  My hope is that this case study can serve as a nationwide model.