ESPM Mission Statement:

The Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management (ESPM) is a community of natural and social scientists working together to improve the quality of our environment. The mission of ESPM is to advance our knowledge and understanding of natural resource systems in order to develop innovative solutions to complex environmental challenges. Approaching this goal through multidisciplinary research, teaching, and extension, the department focuses on ecosystem stewardship; environmental governance; global change; organisms and biodiversity; and science, technology and environment. Our faculty is organized into three divisions representing research that builds from individuals and populations of organisms (Organisms & Environment), to biological communities and their interaction with the physical environment (Ecosystem Sciences), and human communities and societies in the context of environment (Society & Environment). ESPM is at the forefront of environmental research; our faculty and alumni provide leadership at local, national and international levels.

The largest of the four departments in the College of Natural Resources, ESPM currently has 59 faculty, 15 extension specialists, 2 Professors of the Graduate School, 34 postdoctoral fellows, 230 graduate students, over 400 students enrolled in our undergraduate majors, and 32 administrative support staff.