Jennifer Macbeth

Since joining FGCU in 2012, Jennifer Macbeth has demonstrated unwavering commitment to student engagement and interdisciplinary sustainability education. She holds a Master of Science in Biology from Bucknell University and teaches a variety of courses, including IDS 3920 University Colloquium: A Sustainable Future, IDS 3277 Beans & Bugs: Sustainable Food, and IDS 3304 Issues in Environment. Jennifer’s courses are grounded in high-impact practices such as fieldwork, service learning, and collaborative projects. Her approach emphasizes critical thinking, civic engagement, and personal responsibility, guiding students to become environmentally conscious and action-oriented citizens. A pioneer in online education at FGCU, she co-developed the first fully online University Colloquium course and later created the Canvas blueprint for FGCU's Degree Complete program, with a strong emphasis on accessibility and quality standards.

Jennifer Macbeth teaches IDS 3920 University Colloquium: A Sustainable Future, IDS 3277 Beans & Bugs: Sustainable Food, and IDS 3304 Issues in Environment. Her interdisciplinary courses are designed to explore concepts of sustainability as they relate to a variety of considerations. She accomplishes this through high impact practices, such as field trips, service learning, and collaborative learning. Jennifer’s goals in teaching are to promote action on environmental issues; to develop individuals’ abilities to analyze information critically and communicate it effectively; and to cultivate engaged, service-oriented citizens.

Jennifer’s educational endeavors extend beyond the university walls. She is present in our community, serving as a guest trainer for veterinary assistant programs and as a small animal educator at local humane societies. She is the former vice-president for the League of Environmental Educators of Florida (LEEF). 

Jennifer is deeply engaged in both student development and community advocacy. At FGCU, she has been an active supporter of student programs, proudly contributing to the FGCU Food Forest since 2012. She currently serves as chair of the Food Forest Advisory Council. (photo) She has also facilitated sessions for the Lucas Center GEMS program and mentored several students through the FGCU SAGE grant (Student Associates for a Greener Environment). 

Beyond campus, Jennifer’s passion for education and service extends into animal welfare. In 2015, she founded the non-profit Southwest Florida Rabbit Rescue. (photo) The organization is dedicated to educating the public, rescuing and rehabilitating domestic rabbits, and advocating on their behalf. One of her earliest rescues, a rabbit named Fuzzy Pants, received national attention. Read the story here. Since then, Jennifer has helped over 1,000 rabbits find safe, loving homes.

Jennifer teaches with passion, enthusiasm and conviction. She thinks of herself as a facilitator of information where we all learn from each other. She represents the FGCU strategic plan through her innovation in academic excellence. “I want students to have the opportunity to be heard in their own voice and strive to foster an open and respectful atmosphere for learning. I take a hands-on approach to learning because I find this allows the students to come to the information rather than being told. Ultimately this results in change.” – Macbeth. Some examples of this experiential approach include learning about sustainable food by volunteering at a local CSA or doing a semester long food footprint portfolio. Taking a swamp walk is a powerful way to learn about ecosystem functioning. Jennifer embodies being a champion of sustainability and resiliency in her life and work.

Jennifer is deeply committed to making education accessible to all learners. In collaboration with the then-Colloquium Director, she developed FGCU’s first fully online University Colloquium course in 2014 and later designed the Canvas course blueprint for the FGCU Degree Complete program. Her dedication to high-quality online instruction is evident in her efforts to have her virtual courses certified by Quality Matters. She has shared her expertise at several regional conferences, focusing on creating a sense of place in virtual classrooms and building clear roadmaps for student success.

At the heart of Jennifer’s work is a strong teaching philosophy rooted in student success and holistic care. She views teaching as the highest calling and brings her best to the classroom every day, expecting the same commitment from her students. Drawing inspiration from the Latin phrase Cura Personalis, or "Care for the Entire Person," she treats every student with dignity and supports their academic and personal growth. Jennifer fosters a lifelong love of learning through innovative teaching practices, student mentorship, and meaningful community engagement. She encapsulates her teaching ethos by paraphrasing Daniel G. Reiber, a retiring physics professor from Indiana University of Pennsylvania: “I did my damndest with my brain, my hands, and whatever else was available, no holds barred.”