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Undergraduate Adult & Continuing Studies Graduate
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The world is increasingly grappling with complex environmental and social problems, and the need for professionals skilled in navigating these issues has never been greater. At Goshen, you’ll learn to think deeply about these issues in our society, but you’ll also have many chances to practice what you’ve been learning through real-world problem-solving. In any given semester you’ll go on a variety of field trips to learn how professionals and community members do their jobs and how they connect to sustainability, but you’ll also be learning practical skills like baking bread, preserving food and canoeing as a form of local tourism.
The Sustainability Leadership Semester, at the Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College, is for any major interested in making a positive change in the community they live in. It is also the foundation of the sustainability studies major and the sustainability minor. During this 13-week program, you will live with other students in sustainable LEED Platinum-certified “green” buildings, cook food from produce raised on site and make group decisions about limiting consumption — all while learning about societal and environmental problems. You’ll spend your days learning about the local watershed by investigating Merry Lea’s diverse 1,189-acre nature preserve — and a week canoeing on the Elkhart and St. Joseph Rivers. Much of your learning will happen outside of the classroom: in marshland, prairies, living rooms and kitchens.
Whatever you’d like to do after college — whether it’s pursuing further studies in one of many sustainability-related fields or diving right into the challenging and thrilling work of solving problems in communities — studying sustainability at Goshen will get you ready for it!
Learn more about the Sustainability Leadership Semester, a key part of the sustainability studies major or sustainability minor.
Aaron Sawatsky-Kingsley '97 is Goshen's city forester, working at revitalizing Goshen’s urban forest with a tree canopy assessment, tree plantings and maintenance coordination. Leah Thill '12 is the senior environmental planner with the Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG).
Bee City USA® has renewed Goshen College’s Bee Campus USA certification for 2019 following a rigorous renewal application process. GC was named Indiana’s first Bee Campus USA for its work in supporting pollinators such as bees.
José Chiquito is in his third year as a Sustainability Studies major at Goshen College. He was born in Mexico and has lived in Goshen, IN since he was three years old. Currently he is dedicated to developing his newly launched podcast on ecojustice, identity, and food called Ecotiva Radio.
Ranking among the 40 best college farms, according to CollegeRanker.com
Goshen College has been recognized as a “Tree Campus USA” school by the Arbor Day Foundation
Acres of land to explore at GC’s Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center
One of the greenest colleges in the country – Sierra Magazine
Learn more about Goshen College's exceptional academic outcomes and national rankings.
Noemi Salvador, a 2017 peace, justice and conflict studies graduate from Quito, Ecuador, is passionate about raising awareness of environmental issues in Ecuador.
Noemi's storyJose is a multi-talented sustainability studies and sociology double major who has found ways to be a leader at Goshen College.
José's story"Peacemaking begins with understanding our world and our connection to it -- promoting peace is increasingly about caring for ecological systems on which humans depend."
Ryan's storyReena is an environmental science major with an ecology focus who is involved in EcoPax, the Tree Care Committee and Student Senate, and is also a stage manager in the Music Center.
Reena's storyHannah Barg first thought seriously about sustainability when she took the Sustainability Leadership Semester (SLS) at Merry Lea, Goshen College’s nature center. Now, Hannah is a network organizer
Hannah's storyJess, an environmental science major from Indianapolis, dreams about having her own farm some day with ducks and goats and many different crops.
Jess' storyJoel Pontius
Assistant Professor of Sustainability and Environmental Education
Director of Sustainability Leadership Semester
Contact me with questions!
Luke Gascho
Director
Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center
Professor of Sustainability/Environmental Education
Jonathon Schramm
Associate Professor of Sustainability and Environmental Education
Ryan Sensenig
Professor of Biological & Environmental Science
ES Program Director
& Lindsay Teaching Fellow
Dave Ostergren
Director of Graduate Program in Environmental Education
Danielle Pagoria
Administrative Assistant
Tom Hartzell
Merry Lea Coordinator for Residential Programs & Environmental Science Educator
