Theses

Dissertations and Theses Chaired

Advisor: Raymond De Young, PhD (listings only for committee chair or co-chair)

Doctoral Dissertations

1. Lasoff-Santos, J. (2024) Supporting community and psychological resilience to the climate crisis.
2. Hamilton, E. (2018) The cognitive and behavioral affordances of stewardship behavior in sustainable college residence halls. [1]
3. Cole (Smith), L. (2013) The Teaching Green School Building: Exploring the contributions of school design to informal environmental education. [1]
4. Wolske, K. (2011) Encouraging climate-friendly behaviors through a community energy challenge: The effects of information, feedback, and shared stories. [2]
5. Duvall, J. (2010) Deliberate engagement as a strategy for promoting behavior change while enhancing well-being. [2]
6. Basu, A. (2009) The role of nature patterns in the perception and acceptability of rural density. [2]
7. McDade, K. (2008) Greener grass?: Factors related to reducing environmental impacts of lawn care companies. [2]
8. Scheuer, C.W. (2007) Adoption of residential green building practices: Understanding the role of familiarity. [2]
9. Kearney, A. (1997) Some implications of cognitive map theory for environmental problem solving and decision making. [3]
10. Duncan, A. (1997) Source reduction in context: A conceptual framework and field study of waste prevention behavior.
11. Lee, Y.J. (1992) Determinants of recycling behavior in office environments: A case study in Taiwan. [4]

Notes: [1] Co-chaired with Jean Wineman, UM College of Architecture and Urban Planning. [2] Co-chaired with Rachel Kaplan, School of Natural Resources and Environment. [3] Co-chaired with Stephen Kaplan, UM Department of Psychology. [4] Co-chaired with Robert Marans, UM College of Architecture and Urban Planning.

Master’s Capstone: Integrative Research Seminar Projects

1. Woodward, T. (2025, pending) The impact of provisioning skills on psychological well-being.
2. Rothkop, J. (2024) Trust in sources of information on tap water quality in populations experiencing a water crisis. [Article]
3. Antal, T., B. Frohlich & J. Miller (2022) A framework for strengthening resilience networks in Ypsilanti, Michigan. [Presentation]
4. Barr, K. (2022) Farm stops: A new way to enhance local and regional food systems. [DeepBlue version]
5. Barr, K. (2022) How to Start a Farm Stop: A Pattern Language for Local Food System.
6. Corcoran, W. & N. Bourgault (2021) Developing diverse, accessible environmental education partnerships on an organic farm near Ann Arbor, Michigan
7. Faber, G., D. Kirwan, T. McCarty & P. Porter (2021) Enhancing community resilience through the use of a resilience hub in Ypsilanti, MI.
8. Shiffler, K. (2020) Therapeutic design for healthcare environments: A practical application at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital, Pontiac, MI.
9. Garramone, I. (2019) Farms-in-healthcare toolkit: Enhancing knowledge sharing and collaboration.
10. Weil, A. (2019) Localizing the Mackinac Island food system: Opportunities and barriers to increase locally produced food options on Mackinac Island.
11. Williamson, K. (2018) A Guidebook for Community Based Climate Adaptation and Psychological Resilience: A Case Study from Coastal Connecticut.
12. Santos, J. (2018) Exploring the motivations, satisfactions, and well-being of agricultural intentional community residents
13. Landeryou, T. (2018) Washtenaw County local food database and the book Foodloose in Washtenaw: A foodie’s guide to Washtenaw County.
14. Rickard, C. & N. Curotto (2018) University-Community Partnerships for Re-skilling and Resilience Building.
15. Harbo, S. (2017) Community-based Resource Sharing: Motivations and Spillover Effects.
16. Highleyman, L. & C. Dellorto-Blackwell (2017) The Farm at St. Joe’s: Growing Healthy and Resilient Communities.
17. Coleman, J. (2016) Putting your eggs in one basket: A simulator for small farmers in Southeast Michigan, USA.
18. Long, R. (2016) Land conservation social networks in Southeast Michigan.
19. Brym, M. & D. Poon (2011) The edible city: A technical policy assessment envisioning the future development of a locally integrated food system in Washtenaw County, Southeastern Michigan. [1]
20. Baker, D. (2011) Desert home: Lessons for localtecture. [1]
21. Hedgecock, M. (2010) Local ads: Prompting localization behavior. [1]
22. Reem, G. (2010) Agritours: Pre-familiarizing citizens with urban, suburban and rural farms. [1]
23. Bush, A; Graul, A. & Luria, R. (2009) The food shed: Envisioning a localized food system. [1]
24. Sweeney, E. (2009) Maintaining stability after the downshift: An analysis of some behavioral dilemmas of localization using two empirical approaches [1].
25. Mitsos, M.; Speiser, J.; Leach, W.; Morrow, C.; Graham, M.; Watts-Hull, R. & Simpkins, D. (1995) Common property resource management: An integrative research seminar. [2]

Notes: [1] Co-chaired with Thomas Princen, School of Natural Resources and Environment. [2] Co-chaired with Bobbi Low and Thomas Princen, School of Natural Resources and Environment.

Master’s Capstone: Team-based Projects

1. Dwyer, K., Kawamoto, A., Ostermeier, A., Scancarello, Z. and White, W. (2023) Community Engagement for Developing Scio Township’s Environmental Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (ESCAP).
2. Borgman, M., Burnette, D., Cole, S., Gourley, R. Guckian, M., Jacokes, M. and Smith, S. (2014) A Rooted University: Growing Resiliency, Community, and Engaged Food Citizens at the UM Campus Farm. [1]
3. Duvall, J., Gruelle, M., Hopkins, M. and Wolske, K. (2005) Revitalizing Riverside: Community Perspectives on Enhancing an Urban Park. [2]
4. Rom, N. and Smith, J. (2004) An Evaluation of Environmentally Responsible Behavior in the Lake Baikal Region of Russia.
5. McMillan, T. and Higgs, A. (2003) Designing sustainability education into a residential high school. [2]
6. Dotzour, A.; Houston, C.; Manubay, G.; Schulz, K. and Smith, J. (2002) Promoting conservation behavior at the Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, IL.
7. Boerschig, S.; Carney, S.; Dillenbeck, A.; Elster, M.; Horst, S.; Kleiner, B.; and Thomson, B. (1992) Recycling in multi-family dwellings: Increasing participation and decreasing contamination.
8. Duncan, A.; Frank, J.; Gill, N.; McCormack, F.; Rothman, S.; Shenot, J.; Shotkin, A.; and Zweizig, M. (1991) Individual source reduction behavior: A study of the effects of environmental and economic motivational information.

Notes: [1] Co-chaired with Bob Grese, School of Natural Resources and Environment. [2] Co-chaired with Rachel Kaplan, School of Natural Resources and Environment.

Master’s Capstone: Theses

1. Levine, K. (2006) Some benefits of nearby nature for hospital visitors: Restorative walks in Nichols Arboretum.
2. Poux, D. (2005) Volunteerism in the GM Green mentor program. [2]
3. Pereira, E. (2004) Design and human well-being: A Detroit case study.
4. Clark, C.F. (1998) Internal and external influences on behavior: Provision of environmental public goods through green electricity consumption. [1]
5. Irvine, K. (1997) Stewardship in the management of private non-industrial forests: Some psychological dimensions. [2]
6. Nagar, O. (1996) Green events management: Applying waste reduction strategies at the University of Michigan athletics facilities. [3]
7. Comeau, W. (1996) Green events management: Applying waste reduction strategies at the University of Michigan athletics facilities. [3]
8. Carlson, J. (1996) Green events management: Applying waste reduction strategies at the University of Michigan athletics facilities. [3]
9. Ochterski, J. (1996) Why we protect land: Motivations underlying real estate donations to land conservancies. [6]
10. Lawson, D. (1994) The effects of volume-based pricing on residential solid waste collection. [4]
11. Susskind, Y. (1994) Patterns and predictors of environmentally responsible behavior of ninth graders.
12. Gilbert, M. (1994) Forest management on Colorado’s western slope: Past, present and future. [5]
13. Wynne, R.(1994) The emperor’s new eco-logos?: A critical review of the scientific certification systems “Environmental Report Card” and the “Green Seal” certification mark programs.
14. Kearney, A. (1993) Promoting ride sharing: A cognitive perspective on the effect of information on knowledge structure.
15. McCann, L. (1992) Unearthing the land ethic: A study of farmer’s values, beliefs and practices. [6]
16. Sullivan, S. (1992) Unearthing the land ethic: A study of farmer’s values, beliefs and practices. [6]
17. Hartman, J. (1990) Organizing “Recycle UM”: A University of Michigan student group.
18. Rothdeutsch, K. (1989) A guide to integrated waste management.

Notes: [1] Co-chaired with Michael Moore, School of Natural Resources and Environment. [2] Co-chaired with Rachel Kaplan, School of Natural Resources and Environment. [3] Co-chaired with Jonathan Bulkley, School of Natural Resources and Environment. [4] Co-chaired with Richard Porter, Department of Economics [5] Co-chaired with Julia Wondolleck, School of Natural Resources and Environment. [6] Co-chaired with Donna Erickson, School of Natural Resources and Environment.

Undergraduate Honors Theses

1. Woodward, T. (2022) Climate Resilience: A Modern Settlement House Movement. [1]  [Resilience.org article]
2. Vigrass, J. (2015) Can Social Media Encourage Environmentally Responsible Behavior: Using Facebook to Encourage Waste Reduction on Campus. [2]
3. Emmett, B. (2003) Neighborhood Design and Psychological Well Being. [3]
4. Schaffer, K. (2003) An Exploration of Green Building Committees and Housing Markets across the U.S. and their Effectiveness. [4]
5. Pierce, K. (1999) Motivations for membership in a voluntary simplicity group.

Notes: [1] Co-chaired with Myles Durkee, Department of Psychology.  [2] Co-chaired with Jason Duvall , Program in the Environment. [3] Co-chaired with Donna Erickson, School of Natural Resources and Environment. [4] Co-chaired with Tim Fort, Ross Business School.