In the second part of our conversation, Steph and I talk about about how institutional rules requiring political neutrality can interfere with discourse about sustainability (especially given that topics such as climate change and racial equity have been made into politically loaded, and often partisan, topics). We also discuss the sort of tools that professional organizations might provide for their members. And, we end this episode musing about the importance of attending more to skills and vocations when we’re thinking about sustainability in the context of higher education.

Stephania Fregosi is a member of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s (AASHE) Advisory Council and one of the original and longest serving members of AASHE’s DEI committee. It seems to me that AASHE is an organization that plays one of the most central roles in shaping discourse about sustainability within the academy and Steph is one of the folks who has done some of the most work in guiding AASHE to really think hard about the importance of equity and social justice. In addition to her work within AASHE, Steph is the Sustainability Analyst for Portland Community College (which is the largest community college in Oregon with an enrollment of almost 90,000 students).

Links: https://www.pcc.edu/sustainability/about-sustainability-at-pcc/district-staff/ https://www.aashe.org/racial-equity-social-justice/ https://www.aashe.org/racial-equity-social-justice/anthology/