FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Crystal Simmons
Bulletin Editor & Program Manager
Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education
awards@aashe.org
Announcing the Winners of the 2026 AASHE Sustainability Awards
(April 13, 2026) – The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) is excited to announce the 16 winners of the 2026 AASHE Sustainability Awards.
AASHE’s prestigious annual Sustainability Awards honor achievements at the individual and institutional levels. By showcasing dedicated leaders and innovative projects, the awards program amplifies the visionaries driving sustainability progress within higher education, aiming to inspire further progress toward a sustainable future. Through the dedication of volunteer judges, the program highlights outstanding projects and student leadership that are making tangible contributions toward environmental, social, and economic wellbeing. This is the second cohort of AASHE Fellows, honoring mid-career professionals who are making significant strides in advancing sustainability within higher education.
Lifetime Achievement Award
- AASHE is proud to celebrate Dr. Debra Rowe, president of the U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development and member of the AASHE Advisory Council since 2006. Debra facilitates multi-constituent coalitions globally to improve inclusive transitions to green and sustainable societies. Meet Debra.
Campus Sustainability Achievement Awards
- Johnson County Community College for its Sustainability Distinction Program, an academic program that embeds sustainability across degree pathways—without adding a new major, minor, or certificate.
- McGill University for institutionalizing climate resilience through first assessing the university’s vulnerabilities to climate change then establishing a foundation for effective risk management and adaptation strategies.
- The University of Texas at Arlington for the Urban Resilience Fellows Program, a pioneering interdisciplinary initiative that connects university students and faculty with local government and industry partners to develop solutions for the region’s most pressing sustainability challenges.
- Washington University in St. Louis and 15 other midwestern universities and colleges for the Midwest Climate Collaborative, a multi-sector collaborative addressing climate change at a regional level.
These awardees will participate in the Campus Achievement Award Showcase held every Wednesday in May from 2-3:00 p.m. ET. Register today.
Student Sustainability Leadership Award
- The student award goes to Michael Brand and Melina Tisopulos for Building a Sustainable Internet: A Student-Led Interdisciplinary Environmental Course, a record-breaking student-taught course at the University of California, Berkeley, focusing on the hidden environmental costs of AI. In fall 2025, 350 students enrolled in the course, breaking the university’s record for enrollment in a student-taught course in a semester.
AASHE Fellows
We also congratulate the second class of AASHE Fellows, 10 mid-career professionals making notable contributions to sustainability in higher education:
- Aaron Durnbaugh at Loyola University Chicago
- Brandon Trelstad at Oregon State University
- Daniela Shebitz at Kean University
- Elaine Durr at Elon University
- Eundeok Kim at Florida State University
- Jean Wu at Franklin University Switzerland
- Krista Hiser at Kapi’olani Community College
- Mark Kelly at Atlantic Technological University
- Shane Stennes at University of Minnesota
- Stephen Ellis at Boston University
Additionally, 25 institutions and student initiatives received Outstanding Case Study designation. Check them out!
“The 2026 AASHE Sustainability Award winners each reflect a powerful commitment to advancing sustainability in higher education. I commend these winners for leading transformative change across their campuses, showcasing dedication, innovation, and vision,” said AASHE Executive Director Meghan Fay Zahniser.
About AASHE
AASHE empowers higher education administrators, faculty, staff, and students to be effective change agents and drivers of sustainability innovation. AASHE enables members to translate information into action by offering essential resources and professional development opportunities to a diverse, engaged community of sustainability leaders. We work with–and for– higher education to ensure that our world’s future leaders are equipped and motivated to solve sustainability challenges. For more information, visit www.aashe.org. Follow AASHE on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.
###