School of Global Environmental Sustainability

Updated August 7, 2008

A first for the state, the School of Global Environmental Sustainability is an umbrella organization that encompasses all environmental education and research at the university.


Professor Diana H. Wall, an established leader in environmental research, will serve as founding director of the school. Over the next year, Wall will form advisory committees to help create curriculum and programs for the school, which could start offering new courses as early as 2010. Focal groups on Global Change issues will also be developed during the school year.

Addressing global challenges

The school will position CSU to address the multiple challenges to global sustainability through broad-based research, curricular, and outreach initiatives. Areas emphasis will include food security, poverty, inequality, water management strategies and desertification, globalization, industrial ecology, sustainable engineering, population growth, and urbanization.

This approach will capitalize on the University's historic strength in environmental research and education, and will build upon the education and research that already exists within all eight colleges on campus; from the Warner College of Natural Resources to the College of Business.

"This new school builds on CSU’s long history as a world leader in education and research on issues that affect our land, water, and energy supplies," said U.S. Senator Ken Salazar.

"The university’s new programs will help train the next generation of researchers, engineers, entrepreneurs, and big thinkers who will help propel the clean energy revolution that is already underway."

New "green" workforce

Students will have the opportunity to complement their majors with environmental courses, preparing them to enter the "green" workforce. Demand is building for such well-rounded workers, with recent studies suggesting the renewable energy job market nationwide could create 40 million new jobs by the year 2030.

"As a proud Colorado State alumni, I have seen first-hand the world-class education our institution offers at the undergraduate and graduate studies level," said U.S. Senator Wayne Allard. "I am confident the creation of the new School of Global Environmental Sustainability will maintain our proud tradition of excellence and prepare students to help the world meet the global environmental challenges."

The School will prepare students to be trained in areas such as:

  • Biodiversity loss
  • Climate and atmospheric change
  • Land use change
  • Society and environment
  • Sustainable enterprise
  • Geospatial science
  • Public policy
  • Soils and carbon cycling
  • Human, plant and animal disease
  • Crops and global food economies
  • Water management
  • Economic issues including carbon offsets
  • Land and forest conservation and management
  • Renewable and sustainable energy technologies

More information

Dr. Diana H. Wall
Director, School of Global Environmental Sustainability
Professor of Biology and Senior Research Scientist, Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory
email: diana.wall@colostate.edu

General inquiries about the school
email: soges@colostate.edu