News Releases

Monday, Nov. 21, 2011

LAWRENCE — The KU Center for Sustainability presented its fifth annual Sustainability Leadership Awards on Oct. 26 as part of Campus Sustainability Week festivities. Catherine Schwoerer, an associate professor at the School of Business, was among the award recipients.

Schwoerer was recognized with the faculty award for the personal approach she takes with her students to expand their understanding of sustainability. She creates a unique learning environment where students are challenged to define sustainability around what is most important to them and discover their individual roles in advancing sustainability. In the words of her nominator, "Catherine found the seed of caring in each of us and watered the heck out of it."

One of the most important parts about sustainability to Schwoerer is that we're all learning. This allows for people to explore options that are within their expertise and interests.

Sustainability has become a life-long evolving passion for Schwoerer, who believes that it's a time of new opportunity and perhaps also crisis. "Because it's about what 'we' want the world to be. And because a focus on decisions that balance economic, social and environmental concerns is good for business," Schwoerer said.

The Center for Sustainability promotes a culture of sustainability at the University of Kansas in order to protect natural ecosystems, create economic prosperity and treat all people with equality and respect. The center works across campus to support sustainable practices in operations, education, research and campus life. For more information, visit the center's website.

The awards recognize outstanding leadership and creativity in addressing issues of environmental, economic and social responsibility on the KU campus and in the broader community.

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