EDUCATION
Ph.D. in Philosophy (candidate),
School Of Education, James Cook University. (Australia)
Graduate Diploma in Workplace Conflict Resolution and Mediation candidate,
Griffith University, 2011. (Australia)
Graduate Diploma in Sustainability Tropical North Queensland
TAFE, 2009 (Australia)
M.A. in Environment, Development and Public Policy,
Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex - England. 1997. (UK)
Post-graduate Certificate in Vocational Teaching,
Lake Washington Technical College, 1998. (USA)
Post-graduate Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language,
Seattle University, 1993. (USA)
B.A. in Political Science and International Relations.
Pacific Lutheran University, 1989 (USA)
Junior Year Abroad—Development and Economics,
University of Dar es Salaam, 1988 (Tanzania)
Summer Abroad,
CASTE University - Kingston, 1986 (Jamaica)
TEACHING
I hold close to 20 years of teaching experience at the post-secondary, vocational and undergraduate levels. I was a SFS Lecturer at the Centre for Rainforest Studies is Socio-ecological and Economic Valuation between 2003 and 2004. I went on to work for the Australian government with Regional Natural resource Management but returned to SFS as the Australian Centre Director in 2009. In addition to being intricately engaged and trained as an educator and researcher, I am primarily a practitioner concerned with measurable outcomes and real life learning programs in relation to Education for Sustainability initiatives.
• Socio-Economics and Valuation course instructor from 2003-2004; Wet 2010
• Social Science Directed Research (2003/2004; 2010)
• Guest Lecturer in Managing Protected Areas, James Cook University
STAFF PROFILE
International Study Abroad has defined my life, living and livelihood; myself a student abroad during much of my academic career. At seventeen, I did a summer abroad to Jamaica prior to my college entry to introduce myself to a world outside of my “growing up”. A year later, upon completion of my freshman year at uni, I headed off to Tanzania for a year to study at the University of Dar es Salaam. These experiences defined my career aspirations and upon graduation I served as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer in Sri Lanka. Peace Corps defined my spirit of service which was later rewarded with a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship that allowed me to pursue my graduate studies in England. My years in England provided me more than an education and graduate degree—I also returned “home” with an Australian husband.
In 2001, I moved permanently to Australia with my Australian husband and daughter. I became a citizen in 2008 and though still honoured to be an American, have embraced the collective egalitarian spirit of Australia and though I still speak as a yank, would define myself as a true Aussie character—Fair Dinkum
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
• Chairperson: Wet Tropics Management Authority (World Heritage) Community Sector Liaison Group 2005-present. Member of Wet Tropics Management Authority Board.
• Board Member, (Education) Central Wet Tropics Aboriginal Institute 2009-Present.
• Research reviewer, Terrestrial Biodiversity Network within the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF)-Griffith University 2008-present.
• Cape York Future Leaders Steering Committee (Great Barrier Marine Park Authority) 2008-present.
• Australian Tropical Expertise Management Committee (Advance Cairns/State Development/Queensland) 2009-present
• Al Gore/Australian Conservation Foundation South East Asian Climate Training Facilitator, Climate Project 2009.
• Executive Committee Member, Leaders for a Cool Planet-2008-present.
• Education for Sustainability M. A. Program Development, James Cook University, Education for Sustainability Advisory Board-2007-present.
• North Queensland Climate Alliance Steering Committee – 2007.
• Department of Environment and Resource Management Education Advisory Committee - 2007-present.
• Community Education and Climate Committee – Earthwatch Institute – 2005-2008.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
I enrolled in my PhD research with James Cook University, Australia, in the School of Education. Prior to enrolling in a PhD, my Professional works included teaching, environmental education and policy (NGO’s) and natural resource management planning. I recognised that a Doctorate of Education would culminate my career focus in the realm of International Education and the Environment. My areas of academic focus are education, international study abroad and social capital, natural resource management policy, governance and social inclusion and socio-ecological resilience planning. My doctoral research examines these concerns through the work of regional natural resource management initiatives to strengthen socio-ecological resilience across the Wet Tropics for reef catchment farmers to maintain their livelihoods in the wake of the decline of industries (sugar, tourism, timber), due to policy interventions such as Water Quality Improvement Plans and Reef Rescue. Additionally, my work provides a critique of triple-bottom line accounting, one standard for measuring the success of sustainable development initiatives. While my PhD research takes place in the Wet Tropics, it explores a growing trend in international sustainable development programs, including the development of linkages among local residents and international conservation development projects.
RESEARCH PROJECTS
Grants and Awards
PhD Scholarship: Reef and Rainforest Research Collective Scholar
Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar
Al Gore Climate Facilitator
PUBLICATIONS, THESES, AND REPORTS (last updated December 2011)
Community in Context: Local Learning in Education for Sustainability. 2008.
Carlisle, M. and Dale, M. Australian Association of Environmental Education. Engaging Schools in Pest Management Education, Department of Natural Resources and Water, Queensland Government. 2007. 16pp. Climate Impacts on the Wet Tropics: Building Community Resilience (Environment Section.) Department of Environment, Australia.2008.
Carlisle, M. and Terrain NRM/ Sinclair Knight Mertz. Perth. 36 pp. Co-writer, Volunteer for conservation (Brochure) Terrain NRM/Earthwatch Institute, 2007
Enterprise Education (Brochure + MERI (Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Improvement) Evaluation, Natural Resources and Water, Queensland, 2007. 6 pp.
Learn about Nature in North Queensland (Teachers education resource) Earthwatch Institute, Terrain NRM., and NSDA. 2006. 4 pp.
An Assessment of the Status of World Heritage on Ecotourism Initiatives across Developing Economies. 1996.
Smith, P., Grubb, D. and Carlisle, M. Key Issues for Research. USAID Technical Reports. Native Vegetation on Farms Survey 2005.
Research Report 3/98, Land and National Research and Development Program on Rehabilitation, Management and Conservation of Remnant Vegetation, Australian Department of Conservation and Land Management/Queensland University of Technology. 88 pp.
Native Vegetation on Farms Survey 2005. A Survey of Farmers Attitudes to Remnant Vegetation and Land Care. 2005.
Integrated Environmental Planning for Optimum Resource Management in Developing Economies. 1997.
Masters Thesis, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex. England. 80 pp. Community climate change education fact-sheets: 5 topics- 2007
Public Consultation for the Greater Project Cattana Wetlands Development Area (Australia) Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, Department of Environment and Resource Management. 2008.
