Thomas Mackey he/him/his

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Outdoor Education

Portrait Tommy Mackey, faculty member
Office:312 Wheeler Hall
Email:Send a message...
Telephone:516-509-9106

Biography

Earned and Honorary Degrees

PhD in Environmental Education and Interpretation, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Certificate of Advanced Studies in Food Studies, Syracuse University
MEd in Urban Science Instruction, Boston College
BA Colgate University

Background

I am a Place-based educator attentive to inequity, diversity, urban ecology, and environmental justice. I also have a background in indigenous science (as epistemology) and two-eyed seeing.

I grew up in New York City but spent most of my adult life in the treaty-defined Onondaga Nation (part of "upstate" New York). I am very excited to be part of the Ashland community, a resident of the Lake Superior watershed, and an agitator for Ojibwe Land rights. I am motivated by human relationships to places, especially in support of anti-colonialism, the right to migration, and community sustainability. I advocate for Palestinian liberation and the return of native land.

Courses

OED 385: Urban Outdoor Education
OED 279: Access and Diversity in Outdoor Education
OED 489: Advanced Topics in Diversity and Inclusion in Outdoor Education
OED 261: Foundations of Environmental Education
OED 228: Wilderness Writers and Philosophers
OED 265: Teaching and Facilitation Skills
OED 361: Interpretive Planning and Design
OED 365: Advanced Teaching Techniques

Additionally, I am the program coordinator for the Environmental Education Minor, which is accessible to all students regardless of their major.

Presentations

Conference Presenter; Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education; Indian Community School, Milwaukee, WI
Title: City kids in the backcountry: Critical approaches to wilderness education
November, 5, 2022

Facilitator; New York State Outdoor Education Association
Workshop titles (2 distinct events):
Equity Access and Inclusion November 8, 2020, Virtual
Race and Outdoor Education: From Inclusion to Transformation July, 2019, New York City

Panel Creator and Moderator; The Adirondack Experience; Virtual
Panel Title: Lack of Racial Diversity in American Wilderness Parks
October 13, 2020, Virtual
Recording can be found at: https://www.theadkx.org/events/the-black-experience-in-the-adirondacks/

Facilitator; North American Association for Environmental Education Annual Conference;
Lexington, KY
Workshop title: Indigenous and Western Science: Can we Learn to See with Both Eyes?
October 17, 2019

Facilitator; Skä•noñh- Great Law of Peace Center; Liverpool, NY
Workshop title: The Thanksgiving Address for Teachers: Teaching Haudenosaunee Environmental Perspectives
August 2017, 2019

Outreach

I am an active member of the Wisconsin Associate of Environmental Education (WAEE) and serve on their Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion committee. I enjoy talking to people about the robust professional networks in environmental education. Please feel free to reach out!

Interests

A sizable portion of my free time is spent working with my partner, who is a diversified vegetable farmer. I enjoy both playing and spectating sports. I play hurling and gaelic football for clubs in the twin cities and the northeast during summer seasons.