The Western Kentucky University (WKU) Center for Human GeoEnvironmental Studies (CHNGES) is an interdisciplinary Center of Excellence in the WKU Ogden College of Science and Engineering Applied Research and Technology Program. The mission for CHNGES is to establish itself as a leader in applied research and student engagement at the national and international levels to address human-geoenvironmental challenges. The Center is founded in the environmental geosciences with its focus at the nexus of climate, water, sustainability, and human-environmental interactions. We integrate applied research, education, outreach, and communication to address socio-environmental problems, provide student engagement opportunities, and increase public understanding and stakeholder awareness of important environmental topics. The Center houses multiple labs, including, HydroAnalytical, a commercial water quality analysis lab, and, EnviroLOS, an environmental education/eye-tracking studio. We emphasize applied research and outreach, both nationally and internationally, to produce meaningful outcomes that foster positive changes in behavior and understanding of socio-environmental challenges.