Visiting Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies
B.S., Middle Tennessee State University; M.P.A., American University; Ph.D., University of Tennessee
Daniel Carter is currently teaching courses in Environmental Policy, Introduction to Environmental Studies, Environmental Education, and Land-use Policy. Daniel was born, raised and currently lives on a cattle and sheep farm in the Sewanee region and has a passion for land conservation. He spent several years prior to his current academic service as a county government consultant with the University of Tennessee’s County Technical Assistance Service, working with rural local elected officials in Tennessee. Daniel is currently the President of the Tennessee River Gorge Trust, a land trust responsible for protecting approximately 17,000 acres in the scenic and biologically diverse Tennessee River Gorge. His research involves analyzing the cultural, financial, and environmental impacts of land-use change in the south Cumberland Plateau as timber companies have divested thousands of acres for development purposes in recent years.
Recent Project Work with Local Governments
Tennessee/National Wildlife Federation- Coordinated education and outreach efforts to promote federal clean energy and natural resource legislation on behalf of state and federal non-profit conservation organizations.
Forum on Tennessee’s Future- Working in conjunction with the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations to identify Tennessee’s 10 most important challenges, through a targeted and coordinated feedback process from leaders in business, education, and government in Tennessee- The ultimate goal is to direct research funding to specific policy goals.
Development, Land-Use Policy, and the Future of Agriculture, Forestry, and Hunting in the South Cumberland Plateau- Worked on behalf of the Tennessee Wildlife Federation and the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency to provide data on land-use changes on the South Cumberland Plateau to local governments and state agencies. See Final Report at tnwf.org
South Cumberland Project- Tennessee Rural Lands Institute- December 2007-December 2008 - One year project to set up a rural lands institute in Tennessee funded by the Lyndhurst Foundation and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, administered by the Tennessee Wildlife Federation.
Environmental-Related Research
Sequatchie River TMDL Project- Served as one of the lead investigators on a study conducted by the Sewanee Landscape Analysis Lab and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) Environmental Research and Mapping Facility (ERMF) on behalf of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Division of Water Pollution Control (WPC) to assist with a watershed-based water quality management study. The project identified, located, and confirmed the geographic distribution of point and non-point sources of pollution in the Sequatchie River Watershed. My primary role involved organizing and presenting data to state, federal, and local citizens and officials to help build a case for clean water.
Other Activities
2010-present Sewanee Men’s Rugby Coach
