FAIRFIELD, CT — Award-winning author Ann E. Burg visited Fairfield University as part of a campus-wide event focused on ecology, education, and the power of narrative.
The program, hosted by the Connecticut Writing Project – Fairfield, took place under the banner of the university’s newly launched Center for Climate, Coastal, and Marine Studies.
The event brought together students, faculty, and educators to discuss climate justice, environmental education, and storytelling.
Robert Nazarian, PhD, directs the new center and leads its work across disciplines.
Burg’s visit was supported by state funding secured through the School of Education and Human Development (SEHD) and facilitated by Bryan Ripley Crandall, PhD. Her books were distributed in local schools where Fairfield alumni and students are teaching.
Richard Novack, Class of 2006, and Chelsea Leonard, Class of 2021, both hosted Burg in their schools. Donnel Delva, Class of 2026, also welcomed Burg into the classroom.
Novack and Leonard have published research on ecological literacy in K–12 settings. Both are graduates of the SEHD and continue to integrate environmental themes into curriculum design.
Fairfield’s SEHD stated its commitment to preparing educators with the skills to meet complex, real-world challenges. The department emphasized how events like this allow future teachers to engage with topics beyond the classroom.
=Attendees explored how storytelling can raise awareness about environmental issues and build bridges between academic study and community impact.
