On September 6, Nicole Darnall was formally installed as the Arlene R. and Robert P. Kogod Eminent Scholar Chair in Sustainability, a role sitting within both the Kogod School of Business and the School of Public Affairs (SPA). This appointment underscores American University’s longstanding commitment to sustainability and notably is AU’s first-ever joint endowed chair. This prestigious position was created through the support of Bob and Arlene Kogod, whose vision and contributions continue to shape AU's future.
The Kogod School of Business’s mission is to build a more sustainable world through business, and the school continues to invest heavily in sustainable operations, industry-leading faculty hires, and robust curricular offerings. Kogod’s longstanding commitment to sustainability is further demonstrated by its Sustainability Advisory Council of cross-industry experts, its first-place Page Prize honor for best sustainability curriculum, and the continued growth of its flagship MS in Sustainability Management program, within which Darnall will teach.
The School of Public Affairs, through its Center for Environmental Policy (CEP), focuses efforts on governance and management in energy, sustainability, and climate policy. Darnall’s work in sustainable procurement, both at the organizational and individual levels, and her focus on sustainability governance, innovative technology, and policies that enhance environmental, climate, energy, and sustainability practices, will bolster CEP’s efforts to advance research in energy, sustainability, and climate policy.
“I’m particularly happy that, Nicole, you brought together folks from across the university to highlight how interdisciplinary sustainability studies are for students and scholarship,” said Kogod School of Business’s Dean, David Marchick.
Her appointment marks a significant step in AU’s journey to advancing sustainability education, which began with the signing of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment in 2008.
“When I first started teaching at AU 20 years ago, I taught a class called Social Welfare Policy. We discussed which sector should be responsible for anti-poverty programs. We never really touched on the private sector,” began School of Public Affairs Dean Alison Jacknowitz. “I’m proud to say that this discussion would be very different today. ...This joint appointment between SPA and Kogod reflect our gains in public affairs education and the recognition that all sectors need to contribute to solving the wicked problems of today.”
During the September 6 installation ceremony, Darnall shared a formative story from her childhood on a small farm in southern New Mexico, where she learned some of her earliest lessons about sustainability.