University of Saint Francis Sciences Division Director Dr. Louise “Lou” Weber is featured in the upcoming book, “Love Your Mother: 50 States, 50 Stories, and 50 Women United for Climate Justice,” by Mallory McDuff.
McDuff’s book highlights women from every state, with Weber’s story representing Indiana.
“Mallory asked if she could include me after hearing the story of how I transformed my ecology course at USF to better reach pre-med students,” Weber said. “I struck gold with the health pre-professionals when I began addressing nature’s ability to heal self while healing Earth. Spending more time outdoors and experiencing the awe of nature has tremendous healing properties, for ourselves and the climate, if we incorporate simple practices. Filling our yards with native plant species and gardens is not only beautiful and brings more animals into our lives, the entire process of working the land heals our souls and provides climate change solutions.”
Weber began teaching nature-related courses at USF as a full-time professor in 2012. She is the Eco Club moderator and oversees the management of the tallgrass prairie and woods on campus. She has a book of her own coming out in April, “Understanding Nature: Ecology for a New Generation.” It is an ecology textbook which incorporates the ecopsychology and ecotherapy themes that McDuff describes. More about Weber can be found at louiseweber.net.
“Women are also disproportionately impacted by climate change and thus are critical to transforming society away from dependence on fossil fuels and toward renewable energy and environmental equity,” McDuff said. “From Alabama to Alaska, from Wisconsin to Wyoming, these women are poets, physicians, climate scientists, students, farmers, writers, documentary filmmakers and more. Their work lights the way for conversation and collective action in our homes and in the world. It’s time we follow their lead.”
McDuff teaches environmental education at Warren Wilson College in the Swannanoa Valley near Asheville, North Carolina. With her two daughters, she lives in a 900-square foot rental on campus with a view of cows, sheep and a donkey named Tallulah. She has a doctorate in environmental education and is the author of four other books and over 50 published essays. Find her at mallorymcduff.com.
“Love Your Mother” will be published by Broadleaf Books on April 11.
Founded in 1890 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, the University of Saint Francis offers more than 60 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs through the College of Health Sciences and the College of Arts, Sciences and Business. In addition to its traditional programs, USF designs focused curricula for working adults in Fort Wayne, Crown Point and online. USF Downtown houses the music technology program while offering enhanced internship and networking opportunities for students. The University of Saint Francis, recognized as an NAIA Five-Star Champion of Character institution, has 18 athletic programs boasting two individual and four team NAIA national championships. Approximately 1,900 students from a broad geographic region attend USF.