Honors students listed by term with title and committee members. Copies of student theses are available for review in the Environmental Studies Office: IBS 5, Suite 10.

Undergraduate Theses Submitted in 2011 and Later

Fall 2010

Sarah Gonzalez
First Generation Biofuels: Recommendations for Policy Makers in Brazil, China and the United States
Steven Vanderheiden, Environmental Studies/Political Science (Chair); Dale Miller, Environmental Studies; Diana Nemergut, Environmental Studies

Wesley Kay
The Clean Development Mechanism Reapplied: Post-Disaster Sustainable Redevelopment Through the CDM
William Travis, Environmental Studies/Geography (Chair); Dale Miller, Environmental Studies; Emily Yeh, Geography

Cassidy Kinnaird
Building a Rancher-Environmentalist Alliance in the American West to Protect Ranch Land Environments from Development
Lisa Dilling, Environmental Studies/Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (Chair); Dale Miller, Environmental Studies; Mara Goldman, Geography

Jordan Osterman
Community Solar Gardens in Boulder County: A Policy Analysis Informed by Community Energy Management Principles
Richard Moutoux, Interdisciplinary Telecommunications (Chair); Dale Miller, Environmental Studies; Benjamin Hale, Environmental Studies/Philosophy

Ryland John Parry
Building Collapse in Haiti During the January 12, 2010 Earthquake: Building Codes, Policy Reform and Enforcement
Dale Miller, Environmental Studies (Chair); Roger Bilham, Geological Sciences; Edward Morey, Economics

Andrew W. Slack
Lodgepole Pine Regeneration Following a Fire: the Influence of Lodgepole Density, Serotiny, and Moisture Availability on Post-fire Establishment in the Routt and White River National Forests
Thomas Veblen, Geography (Chair); Carol Wessman, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology; Dale Miller, Environmental Studies

Spring 2010

Jennifer Bankie
Expectations Toward Sustainable Retirement Among Baby Boomers
Dale Miller, Environmental Studies (Chair); Nicholas Flores, Economics; Diane Martichuski, Psychology

Tevis Blom
Fluvial and Bedrock Incision: Weathering and Roughness Control Analysis by Laser Topography and Erosion Mill Processing
Eric Tilton-Small, Environmental Studies (Chair); Dale Miller, Environmental Studies; Greg Tucker, Geological Sciences

Galen H. Brown
Getting Pumped: Using Produced Waters in Pump Storage Hydroelectric Generation Plants to Provide Power System Regulation for Increased Wind Generation
Nicholas Flores, Economics (Chair); Dale Miller, Environmental Studies; Kenneth Strzepek, Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering

Todd Camnitz
Carbon Control Legislation in the United States Congress: The American Clean Energy and Security Act, Interest Groups and the Carbon Tax vs. Cap and Trade Debate
Lisa Dilling, Environmental Studies/Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (Chair); Maxwell Boykoff, Environmental Studies/Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences; Dale Miller, Environmental Studies

Siobhan Valentyn Collins
Lyme Disease Prevalence in Essex County: Combating the Disease Ground-up through Education Policy in Ipswich, Massachusetts
Dale Miller, Environmental Studies (Chair); Elisabeth Root, Geography; Dave Newport, CU Environmental Center Director

John T. Crawford
Microbial Metabolism of Dissolved Organic Matter Fractions and Ties to Dentrification
Diane McKnight, Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering/Institute of Arctic & Alpine Research (Chair); Dale Miller, Environmental Studies; Rebecca T. Barnes, Geological Sciences/U.S. Geological Survey

Lisa Elliott
Building Sustainable Communities Through Energy Conservation
Dale Miller, Environmental Studies (Chair); Laura Moin, Education; Jamie Nagle, Physics

James Edward Fogg
The Role of Scientific Governance and Public Policy Surrounding the Endangered Species Act of 1973: A Western United States Gray Wolf Case Study
Sharon Collinge, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology/Environmental Studies (Chair); Dale Miller, Environmental Studies; Sarah Krakoff, University of Colorado Law

Molly Geppert
Sustainable Development of the Okavango River in Angola, Namibia and Botswana
Natalie Mladenov, Institute of Arctic & Alpine Research (Chair); Dale Miller, Environmental Studies; Nicholas Flores, Economics

Ariana Gradow
The Environmental History of the Roaring Fork Valley, with a Specific Focus on Aspen, Colorado
Dale Miller, Environmental Studies (Chair); Patricia Limerick, Center of the American West/History; Jeffry Mitton, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Morgan Hill
Effects of Natural Gas Production on Water Quality in Garfield County, Western Colorado
Joseph Ryan, Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering (Chair), Dale Miller, Environmental Studies, Mark Williams, Geography/Institute for Arctic & Alpine Research

Jeff Koppel
Future Baseload Power Sources in a Carbon-Constrained Scenario
Jon Hughes, Economics (Chair); Dale Miller, Environmental Studies; Paul Komor, Environmental Studies/Renewable Energy Initiative

Stephanie Lance
Overfishing and the Implementation of a Sea Ethic on Fishing Practices and Human Consumption of Fish
Daniel Sturgis, Philosophy (Chair); Dale Miller, Environmental Studies; Sharon Collinge, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology/Environmental Studies

Patrick Lyman
There's Something Fishy in the Delaware: A History of Use and Management of the American Shad on the Delaware River
Paul Sutter, History (Chair); Dale Miller, Environmental Studies; Harold Tyus, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences

Jamie L. McGaughran
Future War Will Likely be Unsustainable for Survival and Continuation of Humanity and the Earth's Biosphere
Dale Miller, Environmental Studies (Chair); Lisa Barlow, Environmental Studies; Betsy Forrest, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences; Horst Mewes, Political Science

Meaghan McGrath
Sustainable Food Systems: Using Experiential Learning to Bridge the Gap Between Our Food and Us
Dale Miller, Environmental Studies (Chair); Susan Strife, Environmental Studies; John McKenzie, Environmental Studies; David Youkey, Philosophy

Cortney Owen
Environmental Justice: A Case Study of United States Immigrants
Nancy Billica, Political Science (Chair); Dale Miller, Environmental Studies; Sarah Krakoff, University of Colorado Law/Environmental Studies

Austin T. Rand
Investigating the Factors for Environmental Concern among Undergraduate Environmental Studies Majors
Dale Miller, Environmental Studies (Chair); Susan Strife, Environmental Studies; Peter Blanken, Geography

Nina Russell
An Analysis of Organic Matter in Soil Samples from Gordon Gulch in Boulder Creek Critical Zone
Diane McKnight, Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering/Institute of Arctic & Alpine Research (Chair); Suzanne Anderson, Geography; Dale Miller, Environmental Studies

Fall 2009

Kristin Sanborn Gross
Sustainable Pathways: Advancing Agriculture in the Developing World
Dale Miller, Environmental Studies (Chair); Krister Andersson, Political Science/Environmental Studies; Carew Boulding, Political Science

Ashley Tillman
Women in Academic Leadership
Dale Miller, Environmental Studies (Chair); Patricia Rankin, Physics; Erin Mewhinney, Political Science

Nichole Won
Group Collaboration Within Denver's School Gardens
Jill Litt, Environmental Studies/Colorado School of Public Health (Chair); Dale Miller, Environmental Studies; David Youkey, Philosophy

Spring 2009

Perrin Banks
Community Based Natural Resource Management in South Africa: Balancing Conservation and Development
Lori Hunter, Sociology/Environmental Studies (Chair); Dale Miller, Environmental Studies; Krister Andersson, Political Science/Environmental Studies

Haley M. Carmer
Availability, Accessability and Affordibility: Just Food for a Just Society
Jill Litt, Colorado School of Public Health/Environmental Studies (Chair); Liam Downey, Sociology; Dale Miller, Environmental Studies

Elizabeth W. Daly
Amphibian Decline and Disease: A Study of the Anti-Parasite Behavioral Response
Pieter Johnson, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (Chair); Sharon Collinge, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology/Environmental Studies; Dale Miller Environmental Studies

Cecelia Gilboy
The Potency of Food and Feed: Evolutionary Infringements by Industrial Logic
Dale Miller, Environmental Studies (Chair); Daniel Sturgis, Philosophy; Ben Hale, Environmental Studies/Philosophy

Richard S. Ianniello
Effects of Simulated Flood Disturbances on Didymosphenia Geminata
Dale Miller, Environmental Studies (Chair); Diane McKnight, Environmental Studies/Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering; Sarah Spaulding, Institute of Arctic & Alpine Research

David LaGreca
Sustainable Cities: Paradigm for an Enduring Civilization
Dale Miller, Environmental Studies (Chair); Jim Charlier, Environmental Design; David Youkey, Philosophy

Kate O'Flaherty
Resilience in the Riverina? A Case Study of Farmers, Their Perceptions and Decision Making Amidst Drought
Lisa Dilling, Environmental Studies/Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (Chair); Dale Miller, Environmental Studies; Francoise Duresse, Fine Arts

Hannah Polow
Transit-Oriented Development on College Campuses: A Growing Relationship Between Campuses and a Sustainable Transportation Future
Spenser Havlick, Environmental Design (Chair); Nancy Billica, Political Science; Dale Miller, Environmental Studies

Kimberlee N. Rankin
Protecting Species from the Threat of Unsustainable Trade: An Evaluation of Cities
Samuel Fitch, Environmental Studies/Political Science (Chair); Dale Miller, Environmental Studies; Dave Armstrong, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Trevor Rehm
Affordability in Residential Solar Photovoltaic Markets: an Analysis of Finances Under Key Policy Mechanisms
Dale Miller, Environmental Studies (Chair); Lisa Dilling, Environmental Studies/Center for Science & Technology Policy Research; Paul Komor, Environmental Studies/Renewable & Sustainable Energy Initiative

Emily Megan Schosid
"Edging Mortality Into Our Personal Mornings:" Theatre as a Tool for Environmental Education and Communication
Lisa Dilling, Environmental Studies/Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (Co-Chair); Dale Miller, Environmental Studies (Co-Chair); Michelle Ellsworth, Theatre & Dance

John D. Schrader
The Effectiveness of Ex Situ Chambers for Investigating Controls on Dentrification
William Lewis, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (Chair); Diane McKnight Environmental Studies/Civil, Environmental, & Architectural Engineering

Henry Vogt
A Clean Energy Future for Colorado: Meeting Colorado's Increased Electricity Demand with Wind Power
Dale Miller, Environmental Studies (Chair); Paul Komor, Environmental Studies/Renewable & Sustainable Energy Initiative; Dave Newport, Environmental Center/Environmental Studies

Catherine Wolfe
Color and Shade Preference of Anoura Geoffroyi and Hylonycteris Underwoodi (Phyllostomidae) While Foraging
Dale Miller, Environmental Studies (Chair); Samuel Flaxman, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology; Suzanne Nelson, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Fall 2008

Chad Dionigi
Bike-Sharing Case Studies and a Suitability Scoring System for American Cities
Dale Miller, Environmental Studies (Chair); Kevin Krizek, Environmental Design; Phil Graves, Economics

Spring 2008

Angela Banducci
Alliance of Small Island States: How International Climate Change Treaties are Failing Vulnerable Nations
Dale Miller, Environmental Studies (Chair); Lisa Dilling, Environmental Studies/Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences; James White, Environmental Studies/Geological Sciences

Rebecca Borden
Government and Business in the New Hydrogen Economy
Stephen Lawrence, Leeds School of Business/Environmental Studies (Chair); Dale Miller, Environmental Studies; Keith Stockton, Leeds School of Business; Paul Beale, Physics

Thomas Detmer
The Effects of Mountain Pine Beetle Infestation on the Chemistry of Stream Water in the Central Rocky Mountains
William Lewis, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (Chair); Dale Miller, Environmental Studies; Alexander Cruz, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Justin G. Londer
Trends and Importance of Stream Temperature Measurements Across a Wide Range of Elevations and Drainage Areas Using Observations from 41 Stream Sites in Colorado, U.S.A.
William Lewis, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (Chair); Diane McKnight, Environmental Studies/Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering; Dale Miller, Environmental Studies

Vincent Thomas Nappo
EPA Environmental Justice Shortcomings: A Legislative Fix
Dale Miller, Environmental Studies (Chair); Marilyn Averill, Environmental Studies; Maxine Burkett, University of Colorado Law; Liam Downey, Sociology/Environmental Studies

Carl Reeder
Cultivating Sustainable Urban Community: Bio-Intensive Urban-Based Agriculture in Developing and Industrial Society
Dale Miller, Environmental Studies (Chair); Gary Gaile, Geography; Donna Rubinoff, Geography

Annaliese Seidel
Application of Experiential Education in Summer Camp Programming
Dale Miller, Environmental Studies (Chair); Carol Miyagishima, Chancellor's Leadership Residential Academic Program; Craig Dobkin, Chancellor's Leadership Residential Academic Program

Ricardo Simmonds
Reconciliation Environmentalism
Daniel Sturgis, Philosophy/Environmental Studies (Chair); Benjamin Hale, Environmental Studies/Philosophy; Dale Miller, Environmental Studies

Alexandra Speers
Environmental Education in Colorado: An Analysis of Best Methods for Requiring Sustainability Concepts in Public Education
Dale Miller, Environmental Studies (Chair); Steven Vanderheiden, Environmental Studies/Political Science; Margaret LeCompte, Education

Fall 2007

Amy E. Keegan
Learning from State Action: The Federal Climate Action Lobby and Its Role in Enacting Aggressive Global Warming Legislation
Nancy Billica, Political Science (Chair); Dale Miller, Environmental Studies; Matt Baker, Environment Colorado; Tom Yulsman, Environmental Studies/School of Journalism & Mass Communication

Alexis M. Naar
Retirement Community Resident Willingness to Pay for Environmental Certification
Dale Miller, Environmental Studies (Chair); Philip Graves, Economics; William Kearns, School of Music

Nicole Nejad
Republica de Soja: The Making of Markets and the Undoing of Livelihoods: Rural Woman and the Fight Against Biotechnology in Paraquay
Lorraine Bayard de Volo, Women's Studies (Chair); Dale Miller, Environmental Studies; Paul Strom, Honors Program

Erik Phillips-Nania
A Cultural Climate Change: A Community Based Approach to Greenhouse Gas Neutrality
Dale Miller, Environmental Studies (Chair); Nancy Billica, Political Science; Benjamin Hale, Environmental Studies/Philosophy

Chad Scott Creating Sustainable Local Environmental Projects: A Case Study for Funding Methods of Coral Reef Restoration and Research Projects
Dale Miller, Environmental Studies (Chair); Mel Cundiff, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology; William Lewis, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Spring 2007

Alexander Arensberg
Sustainable Economies in Colorado Through Alternative Tourism
Dale Miller, Environmental Studies (Chair); Patrick Long, Leeds School of Business; Patricia Limerick, History/Environmental Studies

George C. Coleman
Temporal and Spatial Changes in Mineral Source and Variability Along the Southest Greenland Continental Shelf
John Andrews, Geological Sciences (Chair); Dale Miller, Environmental Studies; Anne Jennings, Geological Sciences

Amy C. Harris
No More Silos: Improving Communication Between Traditional Environmentalists and Social Justice Activists for Environmental Justice
Dale Miller, Environmental Studies (Chair); Maxine Burkett, University of Colorado Law; Daniel Sturgis, Philosophy

Amanda L. Hixson
Cattle and Deforestation of the Amazon Rainforest: The U.S. and Other Industrialized Countries' Contribution and Responsibility to Make a Change
Krister Andersson, Political Science/Environmental Studies (Chair); Lee Alston, Environmental Studies/Economics; Dale Miller, Environmental Studies

Kristin Marie Jolly
Nitrogen Effects on the Ecosystems of Rocky Mountain National Park: Evidence for Human Caused Changes in N Deposition, Ecological Processes and an Evaluation of Potential Policy Options
Jason Neff, Environmental Studies/Geological Sciences (Chair); Darin Toohey, Environmental Studies/Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences; Dale Miller, Environmental Studies; Bruce Carmichael, National Center for Atmospheric Research

Alexis Nelson
Living Machines: Treating Our Wastes Differently
Dale Miller, Environmental Studies (Chair); Janet Graff, Leeds School of Business, Hunter Lovins, Presidio School of Management

Jessica L. Steinitz
Going With the Grain: Why Environmental and Human Rights Groups Should Have a Beef With Eating Meat
Dale Miller, Environmental Studies (Chair); Leslie Irvine, Sociology; James White, Environmental Studies/Geological Sciences

Zachariah Tupper
Residential Energy Efficiency Retrofits
Dale Miller, Environmental Studies (Chair); James White, Environmental Studies/Geological Sciences; Paul Komor, Environmental Studies/Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute

Fall 2006

Carrie Gibadlo
Time for a Change: A Look at the Chemical Cleaners Used at the University of Colorado, Boulder
Krister Andersson, Political Science/Environmental Studies (Chair); Dale Miller, Environmental Studies; Edward von Bleichert, Facilities Management; James White, Environmental Studies/Geological Sciences

Spring 2006

Stephanie Booker
HIV/AIDS Prevention for Maasai: Using Oral Narratives for a Culturally Sensitive Approach
Dale Miller, Environmental Studies (Chair); Richard Kraft, Education, Ann May, Anthropology, J. Terrence McCabe, Anthropology/Environmental Studies; Tom Yulsman, Environmental Studies/School of Journalism & Mass Communication

Michael Davidson
Challenges and Approaches to Western Water Reform: The Transition Towards Sustainable Policy
Douglas Kenney, Environmental Studies/University of Colorado Law (Chair); Nancy Billica, Political Science; Dale Miller, Environmental Studies

Laura Johnson
The Future of Business and the Environment: An Introductory Business Course for Enviromental Studies
Dale Miller, Environmental Studies (Chair); Alan Lester, Geological Sciences, Harvey Nichols, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology; David Payne, Leeds School of Business Doctoral Candidate

Kelly Moberly
Ski Areas in Colorado: Their Environmental Impacts and What They're Doing About It
Advisors not indicated on thesis

Ella Wagener
The Cultural Heritage and Natural Resource Management of Indigenous People: A Comparative Study between National Park Policy in New Zealand and Yellowstone National Park
Dale Miller, Environmental Studies (Chair); Nancy Billica, Political Science; Charles Wilkinson, University of Colorado Law

Meghan Katherine Worley
Impact of Atmospheric Deposition on the Sr and Ca Cycles of a Sup-alpine Temperate Forest Ecosystem
Jason Neff, Environmental Studies/Geological Sciences (Chair); Lang Farmer, Geological Sciences; Dale Miller, Environmental Studies

Fall 2005

Sarah Christine Castle
The Foliar Response of Forest Communities to Nutrient Availability in Contrasting Geologic Settings
Jason Neff, Environmental Studies/Geological Sciences (Chair); William Bowman, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology; Dale Miller, Environmental Studies

Thomas Morse
An Analysis of Variance of Winter Teleconnection Patterns
Thomas Chase, Geography/Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (Chair); Dale Miller, Environmental Studies; Balaji Rajagopalan, Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering

Spring 2005

W. Austin Arensberg
A Guidebook for Environmental Conservationists in the Muslim World: How to Use Islam to Increase a Project's Effectiveness
Frederick Denny, Religious Studies (Chair); Dale Miller, Environmental Studies; James White, Environmental Studies/Geological Sciences

Sean Patrick Babington
Water Quality After Industrial Influence: A Use Attainability Analysis on Lake Calumet in Chicago, IL
Joseph Ryan, Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering/Environmental Studies (Chair); Dale Miller, Environmental Studies; James White, Environmental Studies/Geological Sciences

Andrew S. Bailey
The Benefits of Applying Ecological Principles to Green-Building Rating Systems
John Zhai, Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering (Chair); James White, Environmental Studies/Geological Sciences; Dale Miller, Environmental Studies

Rebecca Fisher
Coral Bleaching Prevention and Policy Reconstruction
Advisors not indicated on thesis

Caroline Schley
Rocky Flats Water Contamination: The Health of the Next Generation at Stake
Dale Miller, Environmental Studies (Chair); Nancy Billica, Political Science; Joann Silverstein, Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering

Anna Wagner
Icelandic Proglacial Lake Sediments: Evidence of Seasonal Laminations Provide a Means to Interpret the Holocene Climate on an Inter-seasonal Resolution
Gifford Miller, Institute of Arctic & Alpine Research (Co-Chair); Áslaug Geirsdóttir, University of Iceland (Co-Chair); James White, Environmental Studies/Geological Sciences; Dale Miller, Environmental Studies

Spring 2003

Karin Edwards
Defining Environmental Racism: An Analysis of the RCRA GRPA Baseline Cleanup Program
Advisors not indicated on thesis

Amber Stewart
The Complete Water Pricing Recipe: The Economic Market System for Colorado Water Allocation
Fred Anderson, History (Chair); Philip Graves, Economics; Dale Miller, Environmental Studies; James White, Environmental Studies/Geological Sciences

Spring 2002

Alexander Bashian
Water Demand Management and Ecosystem Evaluation
Advisors not indicated on thesis

Gloria Brownell
Mindset and Materialism: Roots of American Consumption
Advisors not indicated on thesis

Spring 2001

Gerrit J. McGowan
Fighting the Current: The Plight of the Endangered Fish of the Colorado River Below Glen Canyon Dam
Advisors not indicated on thesis

Undergrad Program: