Dr. Susan Caplow is an associate professor of Environmental Studies at University of Montevallo. She also coordinates the Environmental Studies program and sustainability initiatives at UM. She received her Ph.D. in Environment and Ecology from UNC-Chapel Hill, her M.Sc. in Environmental Sciences and Policy from Central European University, and her B.A. in Public Policy Analysis/Biology from Pomona College.
Dr. Caplow teaches courses that explore the interface between humans and the environment, and she incorporates field-based activities and service learning into her courses as much as possible. She teaches the introductory environmental studies course as well as courses focusing on environmental sustainability, policy, education, and ethics.
Dr. Caplow’s research focuses on how people interact with conservation interventions (including policies, projects, or education) and how those interactions can lead to environmental/social change that supports conservation efforts. She has conducted research in the U.S., Tanzania, Belize, Sri Lanka, and Hungary. Her most recent research project examines how environmental values, beliefs, and norms are communicated in animal-themed education programs in North Carolina. In 2023 UM awarded Dr. Caplow the Faculty Service Award for her impact on and off campus.