Vanessa Fabien is a scholar who received her Ph.D. in Afro-American Studies from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2014. Her dissertation focused on African American environmental ethics between 1850-1965. She has taught courses on race, gender, ethics and environmental justice at Brown University. Fabien has received several fellowships including a Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship in Race and the Environment at Brown University from 2014-2016. Her research examines the historical construction of environmental inequality in the United States and its role in triggering integrated campaigns for environmental protection and social justice.

1. Vanessa Fabien
Brown University * Box 1904
Providence, RI 02912
(401) 863-3137 * vanessa_fabien@brown.edu
Education
Ph.D. awarded September 2014. Afro-American Studies, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Dissertation: “African American Environmental Ethics: Black Intellectual Perspectives, 1850-1965.”
Committee: James E. Smethurst (Chair); Françoise Hamlin; John E. Higginson; Manisha Sinha.
May 2010 - M.A. Afro-American Studies, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
May 2006 - B.A. Women’s Studies, University of Florida.
May 2006 - Certificate. African American Studies, University of Florida.
May 2002 - High School, Maritime and Science Technology Academy, Miami, Florida. Major- Oceanic and
Atmospheric Sciences, (Academic Ranking of 30th
in United States in 2000). Graduated #8 in class of 135.
Teaching Experience
Fall 2015- Teaching fellow, Race, Gender, Ethics, and Environmental Justice, Brown University.
Fall 2015- Teaching fellow, Slave Resistance and Moral Order in Environmental History, Brown University.
Fall 2014- Teaching fellow, Race, Gender, Ethics, and Environmental Justice, Brown University.
Fall 2012 - Teaching Assistant, History of the Civil Rights Movement, U. of Mass., Amherst.
Summer 2011 - Adjunct Lecturer, Introduction to African American Studies, U. of Florida, Gainesville.
Spring 2011 - Teaching Assistant, Investigating Higher Education, U. of Mass., Amherst.
Fall 2010 - Adjunct Lecturer, Introduction to Comparative Ethnic and Gender Studies, Westfield State U.
Fall 2010 - Instructor, Introduction to African American Literature and Culture, U. of Mass., Amherst.
Spring 2009-Spring 2010 - Instructor, Multicultural Experience in America 171, U. of Mass., Amherst.
Fall 2008-Fall 2009 - Instructor, Multicultural Experience in America 170, U. of Mass., Amherst.
Fall 2009 - Teaching Assistant, Race, Ethnicity, & Gender in U.S. History, (On-Line) U. of Mass., Amherst.
Spring 2008 - Teaching Assistant, African American Literature and Culture, U. of Mass., Amherst.
Fall 2007 - Teaching Assistant, Black U.S. and Native American Experience, U. of Mass., Amherst.
Grants, Fellowships, and Academic Awards
Fall 2014-Spring 2016- Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship, Race and the Environment, Cogut Center for the
Humanities and Department of Africana Studies, Brown University.
Fall 2012-Spring 2013 - University of Massachusetts, Amherst Dissertation Academic Fellowship.
Fall 2011-Spring 2012 - University of Massachusetts, Amherst Diversity Dissertation Fellowship.
Spring 2009 - National Council of Black Studies (NCBS) Travel Grant Recipient, NCBS Annual meeting.
Summer 2004-Spring 2006 - Ronald E. McNair Scholar, University of Florida.
Summer 2005-Spring 2006 - University Scholar, University of Florida.
Spring 2005 - Gorenberg Scholar, University of Florida.
Spring 2003-Fall 2004 - Presidential Scholar, University of Florida.
Spring 2004 - Golden Key Inductee, University of Florida.
Fall 2002-Spring 2006 - Florida Medallion Scholar, Florida Bright Futures Program.

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Conference Papers, Presentations, and Lectures
Spring 2015- “The Lonesome Valley: Recovering the Foundations of African American
Environmental Thought in the Antebellum and Early Postbellum South” at the Center for the Study
of Race and Ethnicity in America (CSREA), Brown University, Providence, RI.
Fall 2014- “The Historical Construction of Environmental Inequality in the United States During the 19th
and
20th
Century and its Role in Triggering an Integrated Crusade for Environmental Protection and Social
Justice from 1945-1984” at Cogut Center for the Humanities, Brown University, Providence, RI.
Fall 2014- “Environmental Discourses: Transnational Political Thought and Activism in Environmental
History” at Rhode Island Youth Summit on the Environment, Providence, RI.
Fall 2011 - “Du Bois, Fortune and Ida B. Wells: Revolutionary Environmental Leaders of the Nineteenth
Century” at National Association for the Study of African American Life and History Conference,
Richmond, VA.
Fall 2010 - “Black Arts and Green Consciousness: A Re-interpretation of the Black Arts Movement through
an Environmental Perspective” at Art and Power Movement Conference, Amherst, MA.
Fall 2009 - “Heroines in The Southern Tenant Farmers’ Union: Black Women’s Intellectual
History and Political Activism in the Union” at National Association for the Study of African
American Life and History Conference, Cincinnati, OH.
Spring 2009 - “The New Civil Rights Movement: The Rise of Environmental Justice and the
Pursuit of Environmental Quality for All” at National Council of Black Studies Conference, Atlanta, GA.
Spring 2007 - “History of Goodwin Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church: 1825-2007,” Amherst, MA.
Spring 2006 - “Correlation Study on Environmental Injustice and Its Impact on the Reproductive
Health of Women of Color in Alachua County From 1972-1980” at University of Florida’s
Scholars Conference, Gainesville, FL.
March 2005 - “Florida and Superfunds: History of Cabot/Koppers and its Disparate Environmental
Impact on Gainesville Residents” at National Black Graduate Student Association Conference, Las Vegas,
NV.
April 2004 - “Environmental Justice and Ecofeminism: A Transnational Conversation on Women
of Color and Reproductive Health” at Undergraduate Women’s Studies Conference at Emory
University, Atlanta, GA.
March 2004 - “New Historical Paradigms: The Intersection of Black Women’s Liberation,
Environmental Movement and the Black Power Movement” at National Black Graduate
Student Association Conference, Cincinnati, OH.
Spring 2004 - Public Lecture of “More than Just Housewives: The Political Activism of
Coretta Scott King, Myrlie Evers and Betty Shabazz” in Interdisciplinary Perspectives on
Women course at University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
Fall 2004 - “Not in my Backyard: The Rise of Superfund Sites in Underserved Communities” at
Florida’s Regional Women’s Studies Association Conference, FL.
December 2003 - “A New Philosophical and Historical Discourse: Conversations Between Angela
Davis, Darlene Clark Hine, Carolyn Merchant and Vandana Shiva” in Undergraduate Research
Symposium at University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
Spring 2002 - Public Lecture of “Stories Untold: Black Women’s Political Activism in the
Civil Rights Movement” in Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Women course at University of Florida,
Gainesville, FL.
Professional Service and Professional Development
Fall 2011-Spring 2013 - Publicity Committee Member, Afro-American Studies, University of
Massachusetts, Amherst.
Fall 2011 - Chaired Panel “Divine Providence and the Legacy of Black Women Activists” at National
Association for the Study of African American Life and History Conference, Richmond, VA.

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Fall 2007-Spring 2008 - Co-Chairperson, Black Graduate Student Organization, University of
Massachusetts, Amherst.
Spring 2007 - Organized and moderated panel discussion, “Still Lifting as We Climb: Offering Applicable
Solutions Toward Improving the Socioeconomic Position of Blacks in the U.S.” at University of
Massachusetts, Amherst.
Fall 2003-Spring 2006 - Program Assistant in African American Studies Program, University of Florida.
Fall 2005 - Moderated University of Florida and Gainesville Community's “Remembering Rosa”
Ceremony.
Fall 2004 - Academic Excellence Director for Haitian Students Association.
Fall 2004 - Policy Debater, (4-2 in first competition. Competed in open-round division as a novice debater).
Spring 2003 - Co-wrote history of University of Florida African American Studies Program.
Fall 2002 - Wrote history of University of Florida African American Studies Program.
Publication and Research
Fall 2002-Fall 2003 - Research Assistant in African American Studies Program, U. of Florida.
Spring 2006 - Publication: “Evaluation Study on Effectiveness of Communication Between
Alachua County Government Officials and Community Members on Cabot/Carbon Koppers
Superfund Site from 1977-1980” published in University of Florida Journal of Undergraduate
Research.
This study examined the environmental injustice experienced among people of color and
economically disenfranchised communities. It provided a summative and analytical evaluation of the
effectiveness with which Alachua County officials informed constituents of local environmental
hazards. It interrogated Alachua County’s effectiveness in informing residents of the hazards
associated with Superfund Site Cabot Carbon/Koppers. Parameters were established based upon the
residential service area of the Floridan Aquifer. Through the Freedom of Information Act, I accessed
public water records located in Alachua County‘s Environmental Protection Department. I studied
water records because there is a stronger link between its impact on the community and the material
that can be produced to address community health concerns.
Spring 2015- “The Lonesome Valley: Recovering the Foundations of African American
Environmental Thought in the Antebellum and Early Postbellum South” in progress .9,921 words.
Works in Progress To Submit for Publication
Book project tentatively titled, Red, Black, and Green: African American Environmental Thought
and the Historical Construction of Environmental Inequality
Community Service
Spring 2007 - Researched and Co- published “A History of Goodwin Memorial African Methodist
Episcopal Zion Church of Amherst, Massachusetts, (1825-2007) with Dr. Adrianne Andrews.”
Fall 2003-Present - United Way of Miami-Dade County Trustee.
Summer 2001-Spring 2002 - United Way of Miami-Dade County Executive Board Member.
Professional Affiliations

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Association for the Study of Environmental History, National Council of Black Studies, American Historical
Association, National Women’s Studies Association, Association for the Study of African American Life and
History, Association of Black Women Historians, American Studies Association
Academic References
(Additional References Available Upon Request)