Future Generations University

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Franklin, WV
Future Generations University

Global institute of higher learning with a mission toward inclusive and sustainable community change.

Future Generations University promotes research, learning, and action through its academic and community engagement programs. It offers a Master of Arts in Applied Community Change and various certificate programs. The unique coursework builds the knowledge, skills, and capacity of community leaders working to find solutions to today's most challenging problems. Future Generations' pedagogy blends

online learning with regional and international residential experiences, allowing students to remain in their jobs and home communities while simultaneously learning from faculty scholars and practitioners from around the world. Whether a student is passionate about food security, improving access to healthcare, building peace, or conserving natural resources, a Future Generations program can help them achieve their goals.

08/22/2026

Staff Introduction Series: Meet Bryan Simmons

We're excited to welcome Bryan Simmons, our new Agroforestry & Land Use Associate, to the Future Generations University team!

Bryan combines expertise in sustainable agriculture, producer education, and applied research with a passion for strengthening rural communities. Through educational programming, technical assistance, and partnerships with landowners and community organizations, he helps advance agroforestry practices that support healthy ecosystems, resilient landscapes, and thriving local economies throughout Appalachia.

Bryan's work reflects Future Generations University's commitment to community-led environmental stewardship and sustainable rural development—helping communities build on their natural resources while creating opportunities for future generations.

Learn more about Bryan: future.edu/bryan-simmons

08/21/2026

The Barun Biomeridian Research Project continues to advance ecological monitoring, community engagement, and conservation in Nepal.

Recent work includes field monitoring, long-term data collection, camera-trap, climate, and bioacoustic monitoring, as well as the Tri-Sensory Ecological Monitoring Framework. BBRP is also strengthening citizen science and collaboration with communities, government agencies, and Makalu-Barun National Park.

08/20/2026

Out of the Woods is on summer hiatus this month! In the meantime, we invite you to explore more than 60 episodes on our dedicated YouTube playlist at https://bit.ly/OutOfTheWoodsPlaylist.

The (free!) series returns September 17, 2026 - we look forward to seeing you then.

08/19/2026

Celebrate International Photography Day with Future Generations University

A photograph has the power to do more than capture a moment—it can tell a story, preserve culture, inspire conservation, and connect us to communities around the world.

This International Photography Day, we invite you to explore a remarkable collection of images contributed by Dr. Robert L. Fleming, Future Generations University's Endowed Professor of Equity and Empowerment in Conservation. Throughout his distinguished career as a natural historian, conservationist, and educator, Dr. Fleming has documented the incredible biodiversity, landscapes, wildlife, and cultures of the Himalayas and many other regions of the world, creating a visual legacy that reflects the beauty and diversity of our planet.

Take a virtual journey through these extraordinary photographs and experience the places, people, and environments that have inspired decades of research, conservation, and community-based learning.

Explore the gallery: https://bit.ly/DrRobertFlemmingCollection

Happy International Photography Day!

08/18/2026

Staff Introduction Series: Meet Ashley Infante

We're pleased to welcome Ashley Infante, our new Administration & Finance Associate, to the Future Generations University community!

Ashley brings more than a decade of experience in administration, customer service, business operations, and organizational management. Her attention to detail, commitment to excellence, and passion for serving others help strengthen the daily operations that support our students, faculty, and global programs.

Behind every successful institution is a dedicated team working to ensure everything runs smoothly. Ashley's expertise helps build the strong operational foundation that enables Future Generations University to continue empowering communities around the world.

Learn more about Ashley: future.edu/ashley-infante

08/17/2026

SEED-SCALE in Action: Rohan Sagar & Digital Heritage GY

How can communities preserve cultural heritage while creating new opportunities for learning, participation, and innovation?

Future Generations University alumnus Rohan Sagar (Class of 2011) is putting that question into practice through Digital Heritage GY, an initiative dedicated to preserving and sharing Guyana’s rich musical and cultural heritage.

Digital Heritage GY is building a digital repository of Guyanese musical artifacts and heritage, transforming these materials into accessible audio-visual resources that can support education, musical curricula, cultural performance, and continued engagement with Guyana’s living heritage.

We are highlighting Digital Heritage GY as an example of SEED-SCALE in application. Rather than treating cultural knowledge simply as something to be archived, the initiative builds upon existing community knowledge and cultural assets, uses technology to expand access and participation, and creates opportunities for that knowledge to be shared across generations.

It is a powerful example of how local heritage can become a foundation for continued learning and community-driven change—connecting community assets, local knowledge, partnership, and scaling in ways that reflect the principles of SEED-SCALE.

Explore Digital Heritage GY and see Rohan’s work in action:
https://digitalheritagegy.com/

We’re proud to see our alumni continuing to apply approaches rooted in community strengths while finding innovative ways to preserve knowledge for future generations.

Photo Credit to Rohan Sagar

08/16/2026

World Honey Bee Day | Community Development in Action

On World Honey Bee Day, we're celebrating more than the incredible role bees play in sustaining our ecosystems—we're celebrating the people who are building stronger communities through apiculture.

Future Generations University proudly recognizes Zerihun Lemma (Class of 2017), Country Director of the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) Ethiopia, whose leadership is helping transform Ethiopia's beekeeping sector through the Mass Youth Employment in Apiculture (MaYEA) program.

Since 2024, the five-year MaYEA initiative, implemented by IIRR in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and collaborating organizations including the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), the Organization for Rehabilitation and Development in Amhara (ORDA), and other local partners, has been creating dignified employment opportunities for young people while strengthening one of Ethiopia's most important agricultural sectors. The program aims to enable more than one million young people—with 80% of participants being young women—to access meaningful work, while tripling Ethiopia's honey and beeswax production through improved skills, market access, value addition, and sustainable apiculture practices.

MaYEA demonstrates how community-led development can create opportunities that extend far beyond honey production. By investing in young entrepreneurs, supporting women to overcome long-standing barriers to participation, strengthening local value chains, and promoting environmental stewardship, the program is helping rural communities build more resilient and prosperous futures.

At Future Generations University, we are proud to see our alumni applying the principles of community-led development to create lasting impact around the world.

Learn more about the MaYEA program:
https://iirr.org/mayea/

Photo Credit to IIRR Ethiopia

'sEmpowerment

08/15/2026

Staff Introducation Series
Meet Juliet Nyamao - Advancement Coordinator

We're delighted to welcome Juliet Nyamao, our new Advancement Coordinator, to the Future Generations University team!

Juliet brings an impressive background in international development, human rights, democratic governance, grant management, and strategic partnership building. Her experience working with leading international organizations and advocating for justice and community-driven solutions strengthens our ability to cultivate meaningful relationships with partners and supporters around the world.

Through her work in Advancement, Juliet helps expand opportunities that support our students, faculty, alumni, and global initiatives while advancing the University's mission of community-led development.

Learn more about Juliet: future.edu/juliet-nyamao

08/14/2026

Leadership in Action

Future Generations Himalaya Board members recently visited Himalayan communities to learn from local climate-change adaptation initiatives and connect with community members and local stakeholders.

The visit strengthened shared understanding of community-led solutions and helped identify opportunities to inform future planning and expand the use of the Success Mapping approach.

08/13/2026

Fall Course Spotlight Series
PRC 603 – Monitoring & Evaluation

Taught by Dr. Tom Hammett

How do we know if a community initiative is truly making a difference?

In PRC 603 – Monitoring & Evaluation, students learn how to transform data into meaningful insights that strengthen communities. Guided by Dr. Tom Hammett, the course demystifies monitoring and evaluation by showing students how to collect, simplify, analyze, and interpret data in ways that inform decision-making and demonstrate real impact.

Rather than viewing data as just numbers, students learn how evidence can tell the story of community change, helping organizations improve programs, measure progress, and ensure that development efforts create lasting results.

At Future Generations University, we believe that meaningful change is strengthened by evidence—and that thoughtful evaluation helps communities continue learning, growing, and leading their own development.

Address

400 Road Less Traveled
Franklin, WV
26807

Telephone

+13043582000

Website

http://www.future.edu/

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