About
I've published two books on the natural and environmental history of the New York City and Long Island region: City at the Water's Edge: A Natural History of New York (2007) and At the Glacier's Edge: A Natural History of Long Island from the Narrows to Montauk Point (2024). In slide-illustrated talks on New York's nature and environment, I not only highlight the beauties of the natural world that still exists in this urbanized region, but also offer a deep historical perspective on how humans have radically changed the region's land and waters--and the creative roles we may play in their restoration. I have a PH.D. in American Literature (George Washington University, 1989) and am retired from my position as English professor at Kingsborough College of the City University of New York, where I co-founded the annual Kingsborough Eco-Festival, winner of the CUNY Sustainability Award. I've been a resident of New York City and Long Island for over 40 years.
Featured Work
At the Glacier's Edge: A Natural History of Long Island from the Narrows to Montauk Point
Growing out of more than thirty years of exploring the rich natural world of her home island, At the Glacier's Edge tells the fascinating story of how Long Island emerged from the ice age, how its diverse habitats evolved through the millennia since the last glacier receded, and how humans have radically altered the landscape. Combining science writing, environmental history, and the author's personal encounters with Long Island's natural world, the book covers the geological formation of Long Island and describes six different habitats, namely its beaches, wetlands, grasslands, forests, rivers and maritime waters. It explores each of these habitats and describes the ways we have degraded them as well as our efforts to restore them.
