Past Profiles
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Hudson McFann
When Hudson McFann gets dressed in the morning, he’s thinking about more than style: he sees each piece of clothing as a “series of social and environmental processes. The shirt may be made of cotton, grown naturally or with pesticides, and by someone working in healthful or hazardous conditions.” This ability to see and appreciate the interconnectivity of politics, environmentalism, and personal health permeate almost every aspect of Hudson’s life. His inspiring ability to communicate his vision to others, and change the way we imagine environmentalism, have made him a leader on and beyond Ohio State’s campus.
In his research, for instance, Hudson studies the complex relationships that impact environmental policy. He spent the summer examining local opposition to governmental environmental projects in Appalachian Ohio. For his thesis, Hudson asks how the local perception of government agencies as “outsiders” guides community responses to these projects, perhaps coloring the community’s understanding of health and environmental concerns. Hudson’s case-studies extend further; he hopes that his work will enlighten the way we envision and implement environmental policy. Other researchers have recognized this potential, and he was invited to present his work last spring at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers in Las Vegas.
While Hudson’s academic achievements are impressive, they account for only a small portion of his activism. He serves as the President of Ohio State’s Students for a Sustainable Campus; founded “Green Beans,” a discussion series on ecological change; and organized the Scarlet, Grey and Green Environmental Fair on campus. Moreover, when Hudson discovered that President Gee was on the Board of Directors for Massey Energy, a company whose policies were environmentally questionable, he requested, and was granted, a sit-down with the President. Not only did Gee retire from this particular board position in June of 2009, he has since invited Hudson to work on University Task Forces on the environment. This impressive influence also extends well-beyond campus. While working in a local furniture store, Hudson organized a recycling program for other local businesses. He now serves as the director of Greenovate, an environmental consulting firm and building supplier in Columbus, even receiving his LEED certification over the summer.
Clearly, Hudson’s passion and intelligence have served him well during his undergraduate career. Looking beyond Ohio State, his future looks even brighter. He recently received a Beinecke Scholarship to continue his work in graduate school, and it is no surprise that he is considering some of the most competitive geography programs in the United States and beyond. He is considering the University of California-Berkeley and the University of Toronto for his PhD, after which he plans to teach at the university level. But, as usual, he also plans to take his research beyond academia by starting “a nonprofit organization devoted to engaging and empowering local agents to address environmental health issues in populations lacking socioeconomic power.”
Hudson is currently preparing his application for a Fulbright scholarship. He plans to research and study the politics of landfills in Canada while working with prominent geographers at the University of Toronto. We wish him luck in the coming months, and anticipate more great things from Hudson as he continues to advocate for safe, sustainable, and economic environmental policy.
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