Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment

Website: http://www.wildcatcompost.com/

Education:

• M.A., History, Appalachian State University (in progress)
• M.S., Appropriate Technology, Appalachian State University 
• B.A., Religious Studies, Appalachian State University 

Professional:

• College of Fine and Applied Arts Outstanding Teaching Award (2024)

• Certified Compost Operator

• At-Large Faculty Senator (2021-2025)

Teaching Specialties: 

• Science, Technology, and Society (STS)
• History of energy and technological development
• History of nuclear weapons and energy development
• Systems-thinking approaches to achieving a low-carbon future
• Technology-based climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies
• Anthropogenic existential risk management
• Life-cycle thinking
• Sustainable waste management
• Compost operations

Courses Taught:

• TEC-2029 – Society and Technology
• TEC-2601 – Energy Issues and Technology
• TEC-3535/UCO 2535 – Climate Response and Response-Ability
• TEC-3605 – Sustainable Waste & Resource Management
• UCO-1200
• Energy Transitions in US History
• Our Global Energy Future
• Contemporary Green Living
• Our Renewable Energy Future

Research Projects:

• Community and farm-scale composting

• Compost system design

• Anaerobic digestion

• Wasted food recovery and diversion

Publications:

• Houser, J.B., Gamble, K.J., Hambourger, M., & Hoepfl, M.C. (2015). Anaerobic digestion from the laboratory to the field: An experimental study into the scalability of anaerobic digestion. Proceedings of the 2015 American Society of Engineering Educators (ASEE) South Eastern. Annual Conference, 2nd Quarter, Spring.

Courses Taught:

• UCO-1200 – Energy Transitions in US History

• UCO-1200 – Our Global Energy Future
• UCO-1200 – Contemporary Green Living
• TEC 2029 – Society and Technology
• TEC 2601 – Energy Issues and Technology
• TEC 3535 – Climate Response and Response-Ability

• TEC 3605 – Sustainable Resource Management