Gary B. Deason, Ph.D., Interim Director, The Center for Sustainable Environments (CSE) at Northern Arizona University (NAU). Deason completed degrees in chemistry at the University of Texas-Austin and the history and philosophy of science at Princeton University. At NAU, he directs the Center for Sustainable Environments, the campus sustainability program and the ERDENE environmental research program. Deason works with a wide spectrum of community partners in greater Flagstaff and the State of Arizona on programs related to renewable energy, conservation technologies and community planning.
He has taught philosophy and the history of science at New York University, Vanderbilt University, Carleton College and St. Olaf College. During his career, Deason has started a large undergraduate environmental studies program; a statewide program establishing 350 school nature areas and providing environmental education training to over 1000 teachers; and a consortium of ten midwestern colleges providing experiential environmental education in wilderness areas for undergraduates. He served as President and Executive Director of Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center, one of the nation’s largest environmental education centers, serving 18,000 students and adults annually.
