معرفی
Professor Cynthia Frantz holds dual appointments in the Department of Psychology and Environmental Studies and Sciences at Oberlin College, College of Arts and Sciences. She earned her BA from Williams College (1991), and MS and PhD from the University of Massachusetts Amherst (1996, 2000). Her research integrates social and environmental psychology to address sustainable behavior and human-nature connectedness. Key projects include the Environmental Dashboard initiative—using real-time feedback technology to promote conservation and systems thinking—and the Community-Based Social Marketing Research Project, which develops behavior change programs to reduce Oberlin’s carbon footprint. Frantz has received prestigious recognition, including Fellow status in the American Psychological Association (2021) and an Ohio EPA Outstanding Project Award (2024).
- Education:
- BA, Psychology, Williams College, 1991
- MS, Psychology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 1996
- PhD, Psychology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2000
- Research Focus:
- Human-nature connectedness
- Systems thinking in climate adaptation
- Feedback technology for sustainability
- Pro-environmental messaging
Her publications emphasize behavioral interventions, climate communication, and the role of metaphor in shaping environmental thought. Recent work explores how systemic metaphors (e.g., “earth as home”) redefine humanity’s relationship with nature and how hyper-localized climate information motivates action. She collaborates widely, engaging faculty, students, and communities in transdisciplinary projects.
Awards highlight her national impact: the APA Fellowship recognizes her contributions to environmental psychology, while the Ohio EPA award celebrates the Dashboard’s role in fostering pro-environmental behaviors among students. Frantz’s teaching spans social psychology, systems thinking, and research methods, mentoring students in both classroom and fieldwork settings.
- Grants & Projects:
- Environmental Dashboard development (collaboration with Professors Petersen and Shammin)
- National Science Foundation grants for systems thinking research
- Community-based behavior change programs
- Labs & Teams:
- Community-Based Social Marketing Research Project
- Oberlin Environmental Dashboard Initiative
- Cross-disciplinary sustainability teams with arts and sciences faculty
