Our Story

ECO (Engaging for Climate in Oxford) is a group of people who want to make a positive change in our community. Most of us are classically trained scientists who have both studied and witnessed the effects of climate change on various systems throughout the world. We have learned firsthand that the science alone will not make a difference, and we want to engage distinct populations in the dialogue of climate change. It is a problem that will not only affect all of us, but is also the responsibility of everyone to change it. ​
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It is essential to change the dialogue from “if it exists” to “what we all can do about it". We want to encourage people of all ages to understand the challenges and think about climate change. The overarching goal is to engage local groups (such as school students) and citizens (such as artists, farmers, etc.) on climate change from multiple perspectives infused with arts, natural history, humanities, and human stories.

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Our Founders

T H E   T E A M

Shafkat Khan

Katie Feilen

Shafkat Khan received his Ph.D. from the University of Georgia’s Odum School of Ecology in August 2016. He completed his B.A. in environmental studies at Goshen College in Indiana. Shafkat’s ecological interest lies at the intersection of anthropogenic factors and plant communities. A native of Bangladesh, Shafkat came to work at Miami University, Ohio by way of de-glaciated northern Indiana, the Piedmont of Georgia, and the southern mountains of Costa Rica. He currently teaches courses for Miami University's Project Dragonfly program.

Katie Feilen is a primatologist and conservation biologist, who has chased 12 monkey species through the jungles on three continents.  Katie received an M.A. and a Ph.D. in Biological Anthropology from the University of California-Davis and a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She currently teaches courses for Miami University's Project Dragonfly program.

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Amy Sullivan

Shara Clark

Amy Sullivan earned her Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolution from the University of Illinois Chicago where her dissertation work focused on vole foraging and how it affects tall-grass prairie remnants and restorations.  She earned a master’s degree in wildlife and range resources from BYU, where she studied the effects of wildfire on small mammal communities and invasive plants in sagebrush grass steppe communities.  She holds a bachelor’s in conservation biology from the same institution. Amy currently teaches courses for Miami University's Project Dragonfly program.

​Shara Clark, APR, received her B.A. in Speech Communication through Miami University and is currently completing a Master of Arts in Biology through Miami University’s Project Dragonfly. Clark is a visiting instructor in Miami University’s Media, Journalism & Film department where she teaches strategic communication courses. She focuses on providing communication strategy for the team.  

                                                                                                           Stephanie Danker 

Stephanie Danker is passionate about preparing future art educators to contribute in meaningful ways towards growth in their students and communities. She is committed to creating integrated learning experiences with students and colleagues, and dedicated to expanding awareness, critical thinking and empathy through art experiences. Stephanie earned her Ph.D. in art education from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is an Assistant Professor of art education at Miami University.

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