The events and activities sponsored by CC&E partner the arts with place and civic life. This work is based on the principle that culture is not a permanent edifice but rather a process tied to the natural world and sustained through continuing acts of creativity and imagination. The program encourages citizens and students to involve the arts in the tasks of building the human and bioregional community.

The Program in Community, Culture and Environment offers opportunities for cooperation and learning that go beyond the university. Encouraging diverse stakeholders to work together in cooperative ways, the program supports interactive learning that involves the leaders of community and cultural organizations with citizens and students. Workshops, symposia, exhibitions, issue forums and other sponsored activities provide opportunities for citizens to engage each other in collaborative teaching-learning.

As part of the emphasis on environment, CC&E supports courses of instruction, workshops, issue forums, conferences, and exhibits that help students, residents, and professionals conceptualize interdisciplinary solutions for the challenges of sustainable living. This work is based on the guiding principle that conceptual strategies promoting inclusive policy forums are preferable to single issue approaches.

      Dr. Max Oelschlaeger has recently completed his work as NAU’s first Frances B. McAllister Chair in Community, Culture, and Environment, the Program CC&E’s Director. Many heartfelt thanks to him for his tremendous contribution to the Program, to NAU, and to the Flagstaff community!

     The McAllister Chair is housed in the Department of Humanities, Arts, and Religion within the College of Arts and Letters at Northern Arizona University. The Program in Community, Culture and Environment is coordinated by Tamara Ramirez.