Build the knowledge, skills and community to lead sustainability impact – wherever your path takes you.
Find Your Path to Sustainability Leadership
What does it take to lead with sustainability in mind?
The Sustainability Leadership Workshop Series is an interdisciplinary professional development opportunity for University of Minnesota graduate students from all degree programs and campuses who want to strengthen their ability to create positive environmental and social change.
Through interactive workshops, participants will learn practical tools and ways of thinking that support effective sustainability leadership across sectors, disciplines and careers.
Whether you are pursuing a career in research, business, government, community engagement, health, design, education or another field, sustainability leadership skills can help you navigate complexity, collaborate and move ideas into action.
Workshops are provided free of charge to University of Minnesota graduate students and take place in person on the St. Paul campus.
2026–27 Workshop Series
The 2026–27 series focuses on four core planning competencies that are essential to sustainability leadership: values thinking, systems thinking, futures thinking, strategic thinking.
Each workshop is a standalone learning opportunity. Participating in the full series offers a more connected foundation in sustainability leadership and the opportunity to build on your learning over time.
The series contributes to development across eight core sustainability leadership competencies.
Workshop Schedule
All workshops take place on Fridays from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. in LES 350 on the St. Paul campus. A free lunch is provided from noon – 1 p.m.
| Date | Workshop | Focus | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 16, 2026 | Values Thinking | Consider how ethics and values influence sustainability decisions | Learn more & RSVP |
| November 13, 2026 | Systems Thinking | Examine connections across ecological, social and economic systems | Coming soon |
| January 29, 2027 | Futures Thinking | Imagine and prepare for multiple possible futures | Coming soon |
| February 26, 2027 | Strategic Thinking | Develop pathways from ideas to short and long term action | Coming soon |
Students may register for one or more workshops. You do not need to attend every session to participate.
Is This Series for You?
This series may be a good fit if you:
- Are a graduate student at any University of Minnesota campus or in any graduate degree program in the 2026–27 academic year.
- Can participate in person on the St. Paul campus on select Fridays.
- Want to build leadership skills related to sustainability, climate, environmental justice or related social and environmental challenges.
- Are working on or plan to work on a sustainability related project where you can apply these skills.
- Want to learn in community with other graduate students from a range of disciplines, backgrounds and career interests.
What You Will Gain
Through the Sustainability Leadership Workshop Series, you can:
- Join an interdisciplinary community that stretches your sustainability thinking and complements your disciplinary degree program.
- Build competencies applicable to careers across public, private and nonprofit sectors and community organizations.
- Choose to complete requirements toward a UMN digital badge that recognizes your learning and participation.
Digital Badges
Participants have the option to earn a UMN digital badge for individual workshops. Digital badges provide a shareable way to document the knowledge and skills you develop through the series.
Badge requirements and instructions will be shared at the beginning of each workshop. Participation in a workshop does not require completion of the badge process.
Stay Connected
Questions or accommodation requests? Email [email protected].