The origin story and people behind…

MAJOR SUSTAINABILITY

Major Sustainability is the result of a “major” effort by over 30 faculty and students from across the Smeal College of Business, led by the Center for the Business of Sustainability. We began in 2017 with a simple question, “What should business schools be teaching students about sustainability?” We decided to answer that question for each major. Thus, “Major Sustainability” was born–the idea that each major plays a role in sustainability. Later, we decided to add minors as well.

After taking two years to identify sustainability learning objectives by major, we decided to create a resource to make them accessible for all business schools. A student and faculty advisor(s) worked on each business major and minor to create content to make the learning objectives concrete, practical, and credible for students and faculty. Each set of webpages for a particular major was user-tested by current students, and reviewed by faculty and by an industry expert.

The site continues to be maintained by the Center for the Business of Sustainability, and was made possible with generous support from its donors.

Travis Lesser, Director of the Center for the Business of Sustainability, is responsible for the vision, strategy, and outreach of the Center’s initiatives, including high-impact research, sustainability education, and programs that advance sustainable business practices and impact entrepreneurship.

Tracey Mariner, Education and Student Program Coordinator, is responsible for leading sustainability education initiatives, student engagement, and co-curricular programming, including curriculum integration, experiential learning, and program development.

Anita Schilegel, Administrative Support Assistant, provides vital administrative, financial, and logistical support to ensure smooth Center operations. Serves as the first point of contact and supports all staff in scheduling, communications, and event coordination.

Erik Foley, Former Director of the Center for the Business of Sustainability

Megan Nollman, Former Program Coordinator for the Center for the Business of Sustainability

Brent Ambrose, Professor of Real Estate

Lisa Bolton, Professor of Marketing

Dave Cather, Clinical Professor of Risk Management

Dan Cahoy, Robert G. and Caroline Schwartz Professor, Research Director of Center for the Business of Sustainability

Shelley Curling, Assistant Teaching Professor of Accounting

Carolyn Dang, Assistant Professor & Cook Fellow in Ethics

Mark DesJardine, Former Assistant Professor of Management and Organization

Dan Guide, Smeal Chaired Professor of Operations & Supply Chain Management

Christoph Hinkleman, Former Clinical Associate Professor of Finance

Ed Jenkins, Professor of Practice in Accounting

Ron Johnson, Associate Teaching Professor of Management and Organization

Art Jones, Associate Teaching Professor of Management Information Systems

Kyle Kaplan, Clinical Assistant Professor of Business Law

Maurie Kelly, Director of the Pennsylvania Spatial Data Access, Instructor of Risk Management

Akhil Kumar, Professor of Management Information Systems

Mallory Meehan, Assistant Clinical Professor of Real Estate

Jeanette Miller, Associate Director of Farrell Center for Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Assistant Clinical Professor of Entrepreneurship

Celeste Newcomb, Instructor of Management and Organization

Lisa O’Hara, Associate Clinical Professor of Management and Organization

Beth Phillips, Programmer, RIIT Group

Lisa Posey, Associate Professor of Risk Management