Dr. Claudia J. Ford is a professor of Environmental Studies at State University of New York, Potsdam, a Fellow of the Panel on Planetary Thinking at Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany, a Fulbright Scholar, a SUNY PRODiG Faculty, and a Research Professor and Distinguished Visiting Faculty at the University at Buffalo. Claudia began her career as a midwife and international women’s health specialist spanning four decades and all continents. Claudia is the author of a memoir and co-author of the text, Introduction to Environmental Studies (Cognella Academic Publishing, 2021). Claudia’s essays and articles have appeared in Art Review Oxford, Journal of the American Herbalists Guild, Journal of Global Ethics, Journal for the Study of Radicalism, Legacy, Manual, Orion Magazine, and the Journal of Theory in Action. Her new book project entitled Grandmother Epistemology: Ecology, Culture, Spirit is funded by a research grant from the Kalliopeia Foundation. In this upcoming book, Claudia reveals African American environmental wisdom and traditions for the purpose of planetary healing at this time of environmental crisis.
Claudia holds degrees in biology, medicine, business administration, fine arts, and a PhD in environmental studies. Claudia has held faculty positions at Antioch University, Goddard College, Rhode Island School of Design, University of Virginia, and the University of the Witwatersrand. Her transdisciplinary scholarship reflects her ongoing commitment to racial, gender, environmental, food, and class justice. Claudia is sought after for public speaking and lectures, and she teaches and creates responsive mixed media and collage visual arts projects across the subjects of traditional ecological knowledge, spiritual ecology, entheogenic plant medicine, women’s reproductive health, and sustainable agriculture. Claudia has presented in exhibits at Rhode Island School of Design, Johnson & Wales University, Justus Liebig University Germany, Vermont College of Fine Arts, and SUNY Potsdam.
Claudia has been the recipient of numerous awards including: SUNY PRODiG Inaugural STEM Faculty; the President’s Award for Excellence in Fostering a Welcoming and Inclusive Campus Climate at SUNY Potsdam; the Millennium Leadership Initiative for Public and HBCU University Presidencies; The John R. Frazier Award for Excellence in Teaching at Rhode Island School of Design; the Environmental Excellence Alumna Award at Antioch University New England; the Knoll Farm Better Selves Fellowship; the Millicent Carey McIntosh Award for Feminism at Barnard College; the Barnard College Alumna in Action award; The Sojourner Truth Memorial Award for Excellence in Research on Gender and Race in the Academy at George Mason University; and The Vice Chancellor’s Teaching Award as Team Leader for Excellence in Community Service Learning Pedagogy at the University of the Witwatersrand.
Contributions to Humans & Nature Press:
• The Ground Beneath Our Feet: The Spiritual & Cultural Ecology of Soil (forthcoming)
A video presentation in response to “What can we learn from the soil about our fundamental interconnectedness?”
Additional Noteworthy Links:
• Dr. Claudia J. Ford at University of Buffalo
Learn more about Dr. Ford’s work and teaching.
• The Gift of Touch
Read an essay by Dr. Ford at Orion Magazine.
• Introduction to Environmental Studies
Read Dr. Ford’s co-edited textbook of interdisciplinary readings.
Photo credit: Tracey Eller
