About Us
Our Faculty Advisor
Dan Fiorino
Daniel J. Fiorino is the founding Director of the Center for Environmental Policy and Distinguished Executive in Residence in the School of Public Affairs at American University. A faculty member in the Department of Public Administration and Policy, he teaches environmental policy, energy and climate change, environmental sustainability, and public management. Dan joined American University in 2009 after a career at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Among his positions were the Associate Director of the Office of Policy Analysis, Director of the Waste and Chemicals Policy Division, Senior Advisor to the Assistant Administrator for Policy, and Director of the National Environmental Performance Track. The Performance Track program was selected as one of the top 50 innovations in American government 2006 and recognized by Administrator Christine Todd Whitman with an EPA Silver Medal in 2002. In 1993, he received EPA’s Lee M. Thomas Award for Management Excellence.
Honors Program Challenge Course
The honors program at American University is a four year program designed to bring together a diverse community of students and faculty to learn in experiential and inquiry-driven ways.
Sophomore honors students take one honors course each semester, HNRS-395: Theories of Inquiry and HNRS-398: Honors Challenge Course. In the first semester, students learn different research methodologies that they then apply in the spring semester.
In a small group of 3-5 students, honors students tackle a research question of their design from multiple disciplines for HNRS-398. The course is guided by a faculty mentor of their choice, identified the previous semester. Students put into practice their skills in interdisciplinary thinking, collaboration, research, communication, and innovation. At the end of the semester, the honors program hosts a Challenge Course Showcase for students to share their research with a larger audience.
Our research began with a collective interest in promoting sustainability within our local community of Washington, D.C. As our research progressed, we chose to focus our attention on PFAS contamination in drinking water to spread awareness for a topic that had not received much attention despite growing concerns from the public and scientific experts.
We met with our faculty advisor once a week along with an additional group meeting to ensure our research was thorough. Over the semester, we interviewed scientific experts, social activists, and local lawmakers to gather a well-rounded perspective on a very complex topic. We conducted water sampling using spots throughout the city to further our initiative of presenting a research project that was unbiased and showcased our desire of scientific exploration.
Throughout this research project, each member gained valuable research skills applicable to any field of study.
Research Team
Anna Gray (she/her) is a second-year student majoring in International Studies with a thematic focus in global and comparative government and a regional focus on Europe and Eurasia. She is originally from Jupiter, Florida and is apart of the American University Honors Program. For the rest of her time at American, Anna would like to continue research that explores the intersection of art and international relations, as she is also an Art History minor.
Kathryn LaLonde (she/her) is a second-year student majoring in International Studies through the School of International Service at American University with a thematic focus in environmental sustainability and global health and a regional focus in Latin America. She is originally from Takoma Park, Maryland and is part of the four-year Honors Program at AU. In the future, she looks forward to studying abroad in Spain.
Takumi Sugino (he/him) is currently a second year student at American University pursuing a bachelor’s degree in the College of Arts and Sciences for Environmental Studies. He is part of the American University Honors Program participating in the AU Honors Challenge course on the topic of PFAS. For the rest of the time at university, Takumi intends to participate in Environmental research and policy advocacy, with future intentions of studying abroad in Kenya as well as work in Japan.
Maddie Young (she/her) is a second-year student at American University majoring in Environmental Studies. She is originally from Evanston, Illinois and is a student in the AU Honors Program. For the rest of her time at AU and after she graduates, Maddie would like to be involved in research and advocacy in areas including environmental accountability and justice.