WWU's Office of Sustainability now the Sustainability Engagement Institute

Western Washington University is pleased to announce the establishment of the Sustainability Engagement Institute. The new institute, which replaces the Office of Sustainability, will comprehensively focus Western’s sustainability and climate engagement efforts in three essential functions—education, co-curricular activities, and operations. The academic program in sustainability will also be housed within the institute. Grace Wang, chair of the Department of Urban and Environmental Planning & Policy at Western, will serve as institute director, and Lindsey MacDonald as associate director.  

The Sustainability Engagement Institute will develop educational opportunities and systems-change for a more sustainable, just future by engaging in initiatives that create economic vitality, promote well-being, protect the environment, and uphold social justice. The creation of the new institute fulfills a significant element of the university’s Sustainability Action Plan; it will be responsible for supporting further implementation of the plan and advancing the university’s actions to combat the climate crisis. 

The Sustainability Engagement Institute is located in 25 High Street Hall; find out about its programming and sign up for its newsletter at sustain.wwu.edu or contact Communications Manager Johnathan Riopelle for more information.