Strategic Initiative in Sustainability

Bernie Machen, University of Florida President

I am pleased to announce the creation of a new Strategic Initiative to develop an academic program in sustainability at the University of Florida. This initiative will complement our nationally recognized commitment to operational sustainability, spearheaded by Director Dedee DeLongpre and the University’s Office of Sustainability.

I have asked architecture professor Kim Tanzer to work through my office with law professor Thomas T. Ankersen who currently serves as the provost’s Faculty Fellow for Sustainability. The two will work with the University-wide Sustainability Committee and interested faculty from across campus to develop the initiative.

The goal is to create a nationally recognized interdisciplinary academic program that balances teaching, research and academic service and capitalizes on UF’s wide range of resources in this area. The Water Institute and the Florida Institute for Sustainable Energy, for example, reflect UF’s focus on interdisciplinary research, while the Program for Resource Efficient Communities demonstrates UF’s leadership in statewide outreach. Many of UF’s colleges and centers have academic concentrations in sustainability, and this fall, UF launched an interdisciplinary undergraduate minor that is already popular with students.

I know the University of Florida has the talent and commitment to be a leader in this young field of interdisciplinary studies and research.