Oakland University faculty gather for inaugural Sustainability Teaching Workshop

Faculty members from across Oakland University came together on May 21-22 for a two-day teaching workshop focused on integrating sustainability into the curriculum.

Organized by the Academic Sustainability Committee and co-chaired by Lily Mendoza and Jeffrey Insko, the inaugural workshop marked a significant step in advancing sustainability education at Oakland University. Inspired by the successful Piedmont/Ponderosa Model of Faculty Development, the event brought together 19 faculty members representing a wide range of academic disciplines.

As part of the workshop, participants committed to revising an existing course syllabus to incorporate sustainability principles or developing a new course centered on sustainability-related topics. The initiative supports Oakland University's ongoing efforts to prepare students to address complex environmental, social and economic challenges through their academic and professional work.

Professor Jennifer Law-Sullivan at the inaugural Sustainability Teaching Workshop

Throughout the two-day program, faculty engaged with resource speakers who explored topics including the meaning of sustainability, climate change and infrastructure, practical classroom strategies for sustainability education, and approaches to community engagement. Breakout sessions provided opportunities for participants to discuss their projects, exchange ideas and collaborate on ways to incorporate sustainability concepts into their teaching.

The workshop also included experiential learning opportunities on campus. Participants toured Oakland University's Biological Preserve, led by Scott Tiegs, professor of biological sciences, and visited the Native American Heritage Site with Beth Wallis, librarian and co-chair of the Native American Advisory Committee. These experiences highlighted the University's commitment to sustainability, environmental stewardship and community connection.

Faculty participants represented schools and departments across the university, demonstrating the interdisciplinary nature of sustainability education:

• Rob Anderson, English, Creative Writing and Film

• Elise Brown, Health Sciences

• Szufang Chuang, Organizational Leadership

• Keren M. Escobar, Sociology, Anthropology, Social Work and Criminal Justice

• Rebekah Farrugia, Communication, Journalism and Public Relations

• Diane Hartmus, Political Science

• Jaemin Kim, Management and Marketing

• Laura Landolt, Political Science

• Jennifer Law-Sullivan, Modern Languages

• Rebecca Mercado Jones, Communication, Journalism and Public Relations

• Megan Peiser, English, Creative Writing and Film

• Oscar Omar Rodriguez Quiroz, Theatre

• Steven Stanton, Management and Marketing

• Joshua Tomlinson, Music

• Greg Thrasher, Management and Marketing

• Jiannan Tian, Computer Science and Engineering

• Scott Tiegs, Biological Sciences

• Megan Widman, Social Work

• Ziming Yang, Chemistry

The workshop reflects Oakland University's growing commitment to embedding sustainability across academic disciplines and equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to contribute to a more sustainable future.