James Robinson is director, Deignan Institute for Earth and Spirit at Iona University and teaches courses as clinical lecturer in religious studies. He invites students in and beyond the academy to reflect on the intersection of religion, ecology, and social justice. His academic work is rooted in the fields of Ecotheology and Religion and Ecology. In addition, he has devoted much of his work to engaging with the insights of Thomas Merton and Rosemary Radford Ruether. He is actively involved in a number of lay Catholic communities committed to ecology and social justice, including Agape Community in Hardwick, MA, Benincasa Community in Guilford, CT, and Maryhouse Catholic Worker in NYC.