WILLIAM FORBES is an Associate Professor of Geography and Director of the Center for a Livable World at Stephen F. Austin State University. He teaches classes in world regional geography, biogeography, economic geography, physical geography, political geography, and study abroad. Dr. Forbes received his PhD, MS, and MA from the University of North Texas and a BS and BA from Humboldt State University. His dissertation revisited Mexico's Rio Gavilan, where "perfect" land health was noted by conservationist Aldo Leopold in the 1930s. Dr. Forbes publishes research on historical-environmental geography and environmental ethics.

The Center for a Livable World is a new research center on humanities and social science aspects of sustainability, so far producing two anthologies and an interdisciplinary pilot project that examined livability of a small East Texas city.