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Ellen Abell, Prescott
College human development
faculty member, was the conference
keynote speaker. Abell
holds a doctorate of education
in counseling psychology from
Northern Arizona University.
She has worked as a faculty
member at Goddard College
and has had a private practice
in counseling and organizational
development since 1992.
She has created programs for
local schools on dating violence,
sexual harassment, and
sexual assault prevention and
has created national seminars
on communications skills, personnel
law, and conflict management
skills for women.
“I spent the eight months
leading up to the conference
constantly putting my heart on
the line, taking risks, and feeling
vulnerable,” Osterfelt said.
The Chronicle of Higher
Education mentioned
the Eco League in the
May14 issue in a brief titled “A
League of their Own.” The
Chronicle called the Eco-
League “a coalition of small
institutions…that share what
they call a ‘deep commitment’
to the environment.”
Prescott College is a member
of the Eco League—a consortium
of six liberal arts colleges
that share similar missions and
value systems based on environmental
responsibility, social
change, and educating students
to build a sustainable future.
The Eco League institutions
have strong programs in environmental
science, marine biology,
outdoor studies, education,
and other programs. These colleges
all stress experiential,
hands-on education so that students
are prepared to take on
“Without the courage to be vulnerable
the conference would
not have been as successful. If
each of us were to dip into our
past, we would see that the
teachers, community workers,
and organizations that really
made a difference in our lives
were those who were real and
raw, the people who were
accessible, passionate, and
human to us.”
Osterfelt said it would have
been much easier to have
picked a senior project that
“was already lined up.”
“It would be convenient to
settle for some random project
that you are not really interested
in—not passionate about,”
she said. “But if I have one
piece of advice to offer someone
who is deciding on a senior
project I say pick something
that your heart is truly invested
real world challenges when
they graduate.
Members of the Eco League
are: Alaska Pacific University,
Antioch University, College of
the Atlantic, Green Mountain
College, Northland College,
and Prescott College.
In this inaugural year, one
Prescott College student (Casey
Greenstein ’06) opted to spend
a semester at Green Mountain.
Two students—one each from
Alaska Pacific University and
Antioch University— chose to
attend Prescott College for the
fall semester.
In the spring 2005 semester,
two Prescott College students
will study at other member
schools. One will visit Alaska
Pacific University and the other
will spend a semester at
College of the Atlantic.
Additionally, three students
will come to Prescott College:
in. Pick something so great that
the mere idea of engaging in
such a project makes you excited
and hungry for learning.”
For more information about
WEB!, see http://websrv.
prescott.edu/~costerfelt/
Eco League makes education news
two whose home school is
Alaska Pacific and one from
College of the Atlantic.
Students at any member institution
may spend up to two nonsequential
semesters at any Eco-
League institution during their
sophomore and junior years.
Students continue to pay fulltime
tuition to their home institution.
Lab, course fees, and
room and board are paid to the
institution the student is visiting.
The student pays travel costs.
Credits earned at the Eco
League institution are transferred
back to the home institution,
where students are
expected to return upon completion
of the Eco League
semester(s).
Fall 2004Transitions
Photo by Constance Hockaday
Prescott College student and
conference staff member Liz
Cooney takes part in the art
program with participants of
the WEB conference.
For more information
about the Eco League,
see www.ecoleague.org
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