Roald Hazelhoff has a proper office in the Southern Environmental Center – right above the center’s award-winning interactive museum – but we consider the Hugh Kaul EcoScape his real office.

If you walk or drive toward the west end of campus, passing the residence halls, the lake, and then the intermural fields, you’ll find the four-acre oasis of native plants and recycled art. The EcoScape garden and outdoor classroom celebrated its 25^th anniversary in 2021 and is one example of Hazelhoff’s work to make BSC a more sustainable and beautiful place.

A Holland native and past resident of Japan and Hong Kong, Hazelhoff has lived in Birmingham since 1988, when he joined BSC as an assistant professor of political science. It didn’t take long to push students outdoors.

“I became feared on campus because there was no chance of passing if you didn’t help plant trees,” he says.

As quickly as Hazelhoff spearheaded environmental efforts on campus, his work was recognized at the national level. The College received the Point of Light Award on Earth Day in 1990 from President George H.W. Bush, who visited campus to honor students, faculty, and staff for their work to beautify surrounding neighborhoods and educate young students in the community.

Hazelhoff formally transitioned to his current role in 1992 as founder and director of the Southern Environmental Center, and he’s made the entire campus greener. Alongside the Hess Center and the Department of Biology, he helped found the major and minor in environmental science; he made campus buildings more energy efficient; with the help of BSC students, he planted more than 1,000 trees; and he beautified areas across campus, including the corner that is now the EcoScape and the landscaping around Clay C. Long Alumni Plaza.

“Now, you have a pedestrian-friendly campus and a reason to be outside,” Hazelhoff says. “The Residence Quad is connected to the Academic Quad. And by virtue of the lake, we are connected to the recreational components.”

In the EcoScape, you’ll find lush greens, native plants, edible plants – like figs and different herbs, depending on the time of year – and maybe a few critters. Hazelhoff recently spotted a red-tailed hawk surrounded by crows.

“There’s always something to see and color throughout the year,” he says. “For fall, you can look for asters that come out, and the crepe myrtles are always beautiful in early fall. As some of the vegetation dies back, you discover and appreciate the things that were once obscured. You can see owls, hawks, rabbits, and our fox family.”

Hazelhoff welcomes everyone to the EcoScape – students, faculty and their classes, and the Birmingham community. All Southern Environmental Center programs are designed for visitors to learn about and enjoy the environment.

“We’ve been given space on campus to do some creative things that benefited the campus as well as the community,” he says.

This story was published in the Fall/Winter 2021 issue of ’Southern, BSC’s alumni magazine.

If you have ideas for our next issue of ’Southern, please email [email protected]. We always welcome stories about outstanding people from the BSC community.

Hazelhoff is currently listening to Jay McShann.