Headshot of Daniel  Hart

Daniel Hart

Associate Director of Sustainability and Environmental Justice
Adjunct Lecturer of Geography, Sustainability, and the Environment
Adjunct Instructor, SPCS, Nonprofit Studies
  • Profile
    As a community planner, educator, facilitator and sustainability practitioner, Daniel’s work supports the creation of conditions for a more equitable, just, and livable world and explores the questions of: “how does social change happen?” and “what can the natural world teach us about individual, organizational, and broader social change?”. His previous experience includes working as sustainability coordinator and adjunct faculty at the University of Cincinnati, serving as vice-chair of the Board Directors of the Cincinnati Permaculture Institute and on the City of Cincinnati’s Environmental Advisory Council, working at the University of Colorado Environmental Center and at Environmental Stewardship Concepts, and doing a fellowship at Dancing Rabbit EcoVillage. Outside of UR, Daniel currently serves as an appointed Commissioner on the City of Richmond’s Sustainability and Resilience Commission and is faculty affiliate in the School of Environment and Sustainability at the University of Cincinnati.
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    • Presentations

      “An Invitation to Meeting the Moment: Education for a Changing World”, Baltimore, MD Fall 2026 


      “Intersections: Climate Justice and Organizational Change”, Richmond, VA Fall 2026


      “Many Hands Forum”, A Changing Climate, - a public forum recorded to podcast in front of a live audience in Richmond, VA Spring 2026


      “City Commission Collaboration: Expanding Democracy Through Sustainability and Capacity Building” Science Museum of Virginia, Fall 2025


      ''Symposium on Global Education and Climate Action: Leadership Strategies for an Uncertain Future'' Ireland’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, New York City, New York 2025


      2024 State of Sustainability, Climate Action, and Resilience, City Hall, Richmond, VA 2024


      Conflict at Home: Coalition Building in Changing Landscapes, University of Richmond, 2024 


      Conflict at Home: Challenges and Opportunities of American Democracy, University of Richmond, 2024 


      Building a Greener Richmond, Fireside Chat w/ Mayor Levar Stoney, City of Richmond, VA 2024


      Natural Forces: Sustainability Across the Curriculum, Faculty and Staff Research Symposium, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA 2024 


      Conservation Land Management and Equity Minded Practice, Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education Conference, Boston 2023            


      Living Into Transformative Change, Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit 2021 


      Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education 2019 


      Sustainability and Climate Action Planning, University of Cincinnati Sustainability Summit, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 


      Waste Diversion and Society, International Re*Use Connex 2018 

    • Community Service

      • Commissioner, Sustainability and Resilience Commission
        • City of Richmond, 2022 – present
        • Vice Chair from 2022-2024, and Chair from 2024-2026
      • Inclusive Community Council - University of Richmond, 2025- present
      • Climate Justice Faculty and Staff Committee - University of Richmond 2023-present
      • Environmental Studies Advisory Council Member -University of Richmond, 2023-present
      • Advisory Council Member - Storefront for Community Design, 2022 - 2024
      • Advisory Committee Member - Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee, University of Richmond, 2022

  • Selected Publications
    Additional Publications

    “Climate Fiction and Social Change”, Contingencies, The Journal of Global Pedagogy, Special Issue on Unsettling Environmental Studies, Spring 2025

    University of Cincinnati Sustainability and Climate Action Plan 2019

    Green Cincinnati Plan 2018

    “Our Time is Now” - Elephant Journal, 2015

    “What Kind of World Do We Want to Live In?” - Elephant Journal 2015