Andrew Hargrove isn鈥檛 waiting for a better world 鈥� they鈥檙e helping students create it. An educator, environmental leader, quantitative methodologist, social philosopher, and assistant professor of instruction in the 草莓视频鈥檚 Judy Genshaft Honors College, Hargrove focuses on the intersection of climate action, environmental sociology, and engaged citizenship.
Hargrove earned a doctorate in sociology from Stony Brook University in 2021 and a bachelor鈥檚 degree in psychology from Gonzaga University in 2010. Since joining USF in 2021, they have taught a wide range of courses across the arts and humanities, natural sciences, and geographic perspectives. This spring, they are offering three of their most popular classes: What is the Environment?, Solarpunk: Imagining Sustainable Futures, and How to Save a Planet.
Transformative Teaching
One of the biggest challenges in climate education is navigating competing perspectives. Hargrove鈥檚 What is the Environment?, a natural sciences course, introduces students to a broad base of knowledge to help them skillfully engage in contemporary environmental debates. Students explore how to reconcile competing priorities 鈥� like economic development, infrastructure expansion, and environmental justice 鈥� in pursuit of climate solutions.
Solarpunk: Imagining Sustainable Futures draws from the arts and humanities to connect students emotionally with environmental issues. The course centers on the solarpunk movement, an artistic and literary genre that envisions a sustainable, interconnected future for people, technology, and the planet. Students examine this vision through pop culture media including songs, films, and video games.
"To Dr. Hargrove鈥檚 future students, I would say: prepare to be transformed" - Honors Student, Luana Martins Niewelt
鈥淥ur choices of media deeply influence what we consider possible or impossible,鈥� Hargrove said. 鈥淚n Solarpunk, we鈥檙e imagining what a sustainable future could look like if we all just did what we could.鈥�
Meanwhile, How to Save a Planet is focused on the present. This geographic perspectives course is rooted in hands-on collaboration and explores Project Drawdown鈥檚 鈥�100 Solutions to Climate Change That Already Exist,鈥� such as plant-rich diets, onshore wind power, and educating women and girls. The class empowers students to take immediate action, even if that begins with changing personal habits or improving their own communities.
While the courses share similar themes, Hargrove said their distinct focuses are key to welcoming students from all disciplines and backgrounds into the climate movement.
鈥淐limate change is a team sport 鈥� you can鈥檛 solve it alone,鈥� they said. 鈥淔or us to live in a better world, it鈥檚 going to take everyone doing the thing they鈥檙e good at. For me, that鈥檚 teaching 鈥� synthesizing information and passing it on to my students.鈥�
Offering three unique courses also allows students to choose the experience that resonates most deeply. One of Hargrove鈥檚 former students, biomedical engineering major Luana Martins Niewelt, shared how Solarpunk reshaped her worldview.
鈥淲hen I enrolled in Solarpunk, I was looking for something different 鈥� kind of an escape from my more rigorous classes,鈥� Niewelt said. 鈥淚 didn't anticipate how deeply this course would reshape my understanding of the world, my values, and my sense of purpose.鈥�
鈥淭he solarpunk philosophy gave me hope during a time when conversations about the environment felt overwhelming,鈥� she added.
鈥淭he cool thing about Dr. Hargrove is they show us we don鈥檛 have to change a lot to change the world. Their simple yet profound message 鈥� 鈥楲ove the planet, love yourself, and love others鈥� 鈥� has deeply resonated with me and will continue to guide my actions. To Dr. Hargrove鈥檚 future students, I would say: prepare to be transformed.鈥�
Beyond the Classroom
Hargrove鈥檚 leadership extends well beyond the classroom. They lead many of the college鈥檚 sustainable futures projects like the annual USF Climate Teach-In, the Central Florida Sustainability Study Away experience, and help support the Honors community garden.
鈥淚 have a deep desire to live in a better world,鈥� said Hargrove when asked about projects beyond the classroom. 鈥淎ll my professional and personal activities are aimed toward that goal. I want to empower Honors students to do what they have the right and the ability to do 鈥� take action now to create the sustainable future that we all want to live in.鈥�
The 2025 USF Climate Teach-In will take place from April 7 to 13, 2025, featuring events such as campus cleanups, art exhibitions, a research fair, and public lectures