Julie Phillips has been teaching nature-based field and classroom environmental courses and programs for over 30 years. Julie taught biology, ecology and environmental courses in the community college system commencing in 1988. Julie Phillips authored, developed and taught Environmental Science and Environmental Studies courses and created the ES Department at De Anza College (Foothill-De Anza Community College District) from 1988 to 2015. Julie served as the coordinator/chair of the Environmental Studies Department and became the Morgan Family Chair of the Environmental Studies Department at De Anza College in 1998 and served as the Morgan Family Foundation (MFF) Chair until Fall 2012. Julie worked with others including faculty, staff, administrators and community leaders including Dr. Martha Kanter, Mike Brandy, Dr. Stephanie Sherman, Dr. Judy Miner, Dave Deppen, Pat Cornely, Kristin Jensen Sullivan, Diana Martinez, Ryan Phillips, John Swensson, Paul Setziol, Steve and Michelle Kirsch and Becky and Jim Morgan to institutionalize Environmental Science (ESCI) and Environmental Studies (ES) courses and programs as well as lead the effort to build the first LEED Platinum Green Building in the California Community College System, the Kirsch Center for Environmental Studies. Julie and Stu took college students to Costa Rica to study the Rainforests of Central America through the Campus Abroad Program over a 10 year period beginning in 1991. On those educational trips students learned about Rainforest Ecology, Preservation and the critical role of Education in saving the World’s remaining Tropical Forests.