A cold drizzle poured over the University of Maryland campus as students crossed the red-brick pathways between stately academic halls. Patches of snow lingered along the edges of walkways, remnants of winter clinging to the early days of March. Yet inside classrooms and gathering spaces, the campus buzzed with warmth and curiosity—students and faculty eager to engage with the urgent environmental questions shaping our time.
On Tuesday, March 3, 2026, Joy Reeves, Director of Policy and Strategic Development for the Rachel Carson Council (RCC), visited the University of Maryland to connect with students, faculty, and environmental leaders across campus. Her visit focused on growing collaborative pathways to interdisciplinary environmental education and marked the beginning of an exciting new partnership.
The day began in Professor Joanna Goger’s Introduction to Environmental Policy (ENSP 102) class, where Reeves delivered a guest lecture exploring the intersection of environmental storytelling, policy advocacy, and public engagement. As part of the session, students screened the documentary Wood Pellet Wasteland, prompting a lively discussion about the rapidly expanding wood pellet industry and its implications for forests, climate, and frontline communities.