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2026 Program Coming Soon

Call for Program Proposals issued - August 14, 2025
Proposal Deadline - October 24, 2025
Program Selection Decisions Announced - November 14, 2025
WOHESC 2025 Program Announced - December 4, 2025

2025 Program

Wednesday, March 5th, 2025
11:00 - 2:00 PM	Student Sustainability Action Challenge Presented by Learn more here. Heidi Sickert \| Faculty, Business & Entrepreneurship Program, Portland Community College Jade Menchaca \| Sustainability Coordinator, Portland Community College Lety Cavazos Sanchez \| Sustainability Assessment Manager, Oregon State University Guest Speaker: Matthew Grafton \| Advisory Board Chair of the Student Sustainability Center, Portland State University
1:00 - 2:30 PM	WORKSHOP: Art in Nature – Cultivating Presence in Nature ▾ An outdoor (or "plein aire") painting workshop led by artist Phyllis Trowbridge, who has been painting plein aire for decades, closely observing the Pacific Northwest landscape as it changes with the seasons and over time due to the climate crisis. This session provides space for participants to be truly present and, under the instruction of the artist, record the natural world on Mount Sylvania, in a painting they will take home with them. No experience required. Space is Limited: Pre-Registration REQUIRED Phyllis Trowbridge \| Artist and Art Faculty, Portland Community College
	TOURS Space is Limited: Pre-Registration REQUIRED
3:00 - 5:00 PM	Lewis & Clark College Experimental Art Research (EAR) Forest Tour ▾ Lewis & Clark College is the proud home of a 16-channel audio system nestled in the trees. Sound walks, auditory experiences, storytelling, musical compositions and more are made available through scheduled programming. The EAR Forest is located behind Lewis & Clark’s Fields Art Building and the Historic Bathhouse of the Estate Gardens. Nestled in the woods you will find 16 speakers mounted to trees along a path. Requirements: The EAR Forest is a rough and uneven path through the woods in Portland, Oregon. In an effort to make this accessible to those who aren’t nearby, or who cannot navigate this type of terrain, the audio works are accessible through binaural recordings of the walks, available through our Soundcloud channel. Tour Leader: Amy Dvorak \| Sustainability Director, Lewis & Clark College
3:00 - 5:00 PM	Portland Community College Rock Creek Walking Tour ▾ Join the PCC Sustainability team for a walking tour showcasing different sustainability programs and initiatives throughout the Rock Creek Campus. This tour will feature the college’s largest Learning Garden, spanning almost four acres, that hosts class projects, food production for the Panther Pantries, an orchard and several natural building structures. We’ll also visit the Washington County Master Gardeners’ demonstration garden, the college’s 500 kw solar array, an active honey bee apiary, the farm (with horses, goats and more!) and the Environmental Resources Center. Along the way you will learn about many of the college’s operational initiatives, including green building practices, Bee Campus and Tree Campus programs and how PCC is electrifying its fleet. We will also see and learn about several student initiatives that were established by PCC’s student sustainability fund - the Eco Social Justice Grant. Accessibility note: This tour spans about a mile of campus, mostly flat, but part of which includes gravel and uneven paths. For accessibility accommodations, please contact sustainability@pcc.edu. Tour Leader: Jade Menchaca \| Sustainability Coordinator, Portland Community College
3:00 - 5:00 PM	Portland Community College Metro Opportunity Center/OC42: A Holistic Approach to Community and Sustainability ▾ Since 1998, the Portland Community College (PCC) Opportunity Center at 42nd Avenue has worked to support a diverse job-ready workforce by providing customized training, career exploration and educational opportunities. The new Opportunity Center will now offer workforce development programs alongside affordable housing, childcare and a health clinic to help position their clients for careers that offer greater economic mobility. The two-story facility is situated between the Cully and Concordia neighborhoods in Northeast Portland. It is an example of how sustainability can be applied to not only the structural components of a building, but also the mental, emotional and physical success of its residents by using trauma-informed design. The tour will provide an overview of PCC’s goals for the project, design considerations, efficient systems, and solar energy generation for the site. Join us for a tour to learn more about this community-focused project, and read about the sustainability design here. Presented by Tour Leader: Adam Holzschuh \| Energy Resources Manager, Portland Community College View the presentation
3:00 - 5:00 PM	Urban Rejuvenation: Portland State University's Oak Savanna and Vernier Science Center ▾ How we design and build collaborative places for student success matters. The journey to reclaim an Oak Savanna in the Portland State University urban landscape for food, medicine and ceremony began more than a decade ago with students seeking sanctuary on campus, a place to come together. It is thanks to the many students over the years that tended to the Oak Savanna that we are currently in the design process for a newly renovated Indigenous Traditional Ecological and Cultural Knowledge (ITECK) Center that will uplift place based and community based learning for the ITECK Certificate Program. Today as we work towards a newly envisioned ITECK Center, we have the opportunity to transform PSU students' interest and success in STEAM majors through the dramatic reinvention of Portland State's Vernier Science Center. Both of these intentionally crafted ecosystems provide culturally affirming spaces and gardens, enabling a new curriculum around ITECK. Join us in seeing how PSU is uniting programs that support the success of first-generation students as well as those from historically underserved groups. Tour Leader: Emma Ruth Johnson \| Indigenous Traditional Ecological and Cultural Knowledge (ITECK) Coordinator, Portland State University
5:15 PM - 7:00 PM	Welcome Reception ▾ Kick off WOHESC 2025 at our Welcome Reception, located at Portland Community College Cascade Campus Student Union at 5575 N Albina Ave in Portland, Oregon. Network and connect with fellow attendees and enjoy light refreshments. You must be a registered conference attendee to join. Portland Community College Cascade Student Union - 5575 N Albina Ave, Portland, OR 97217
Thursday, March 6th, 2025
8:00 AM	Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:00 AM	Welcome to WOHESC 2025 Emcee: Briar Wray \| Associate Dean, Sustainability Strategies, Portland Community College Emcee: Makerusa Porotesano \| Director of Multicultural Services, Portland Community College
9:10 AM	Welcome Address Dr. Adrien L. Bennings \| President, Portland Community College View the presentation
9:20 AM	Indigenous Welcome and Keynote Address - Indigenous Traditional Ecological and Cultural Knowledge (ITECK): Regenerative Practices to Heal the Land and Heal the People Judy Bluehorse Skelton \| Associate Professor (Ret.), Indigenous Nations Studies, Portland State University View the presentation
9:45 AM	Traditional Teachings for a Modern Crisis: Indigenous Climate Solutions ▾ This transformative conversation brings together leaders and advocates from the Pacific Islands and Native American communities to share and celebrate their unique perspectives on sustainability and climate action. As stewards of the Earth for millennia, Indigenous peoples possess a wealth of traditional knowledge rooted in harmony with nature, resilience, and collective responsibility. In this session, participants will explore how ancestral teachings and practices, such as sustainable land management, resource conservation, and holistic community planning, can guide modern responses to the global climate crisis. Through storytelling, dialogue, and collaboration, they will highlight the shared challenges faced by their communities—including rising sea levels, habitat degradation, and environmental injustice—and offer actionable solutions drawn from their cultural heritage. Together, Pacific Islanders and Native Americans will illuminate a path forward that will bridge time-tested practices with innovative climate solutions, inspiring a renewed commitment to protecting our planet for future generations. Moderator: Sophia Agtarap \| Race and Social Justice Lead Advisor, City of Seattle's Office of Civil Rights Brianna Fruean \| Pacific Climate Warrior, Activist and Environmental Advocate Makerusa Porotesano \| Director of Multicultural Services, Portland Community College Gabe Sheoships \| Executive Director, Friends of Tryon Creek Judy Bluehorse Skelton \| Associate Professor (Ret.), Indigenous Nations Studies, Portland State University
10:45 AM	Networking Break
10:45 AM	Cultivating a More Just Construction Industry ▾ There is so much potential to grow and change the Architecture/Engineering/Construction (AEC) industry for greater equity, and higher educational institutions will play a vital role in this movement. This interactive session is applicable to practitioners, campus decision makers and students - tools and initiatives will be offered, but attendees will also share their ideas and experiences via live survey software, with a session share-back document compiled for further action. Presented by Ericka Colvin \| Architect + Director of Sustainable Design, Integrus View the presentation
11:15 AM	Unsettling Environmental Sociology ▾ This session offers reflections on efforts to 'unsettle' environmental sociology curricula by challenging settler colonial concepts and centering Indigenous perspectives. Erika, a White settler instructor, and Jordan, a Tlingit and Haida student/teaching assistant, share their reflections on integrating Indigenous ways of knowing and discuss student feedback on their efforts. They discuss three key concepts guiding their curriculum revisions: the impact of settler colonialism, relationality and reciprocity among all beings, and the value of Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). The session will engage participants to reflect on and discuss how they can apply these concepts in various academic settings. Erika Giesen \| Department Chair of Social Science and Human Services, Rogue Community College Jordan J. Johnson \| Teaching Assistant and Student, Rogue Community College View the presentation	From Inception to Operation: How Oregon Schools Can Utilize Incentives and Support to Reach Ambitious Sustainability Goals ▾ When institutions in higher education reach for more ambitious sustainability goals, building performance and resiliency is key. Hear from successful project leads and Energy Trust representatives on how a structured, intentional early design approach paired with an ongoing relationship with energy-efficiency experts can get the most out of your campus buildings. Attendees will learn how Energy Trust's programs can empower institutions to meet sustainability goals while addressing budgetary challenges, creating lasting impacts for both campuses and their communities. Eric Bessel \| Energy Trust of Oregon, Energy Advisor Ron Prince \| Dean of Campus Services, Clackamas Community College Beth Offensend \| Outreach Manager, Energy Trust of Oregon New Buildings Program John MacLean, CMA \| Finance & Procurement Manager, Planning & Capital Construction, Portland Community College	Actor-Network Theory as a Framework for Impactful Community Engagement: Case Study from Gonzaga Institute for Climate, Water, and the Environment ▾ Karli Honebein, Climate Literacy Program Manager, and Dante Jester, Climate Resilience Program Manager, will share how the Gonzaga Institute for Climate, Water, and the Environment has grown in less than four years from a small, unfunded academic project to a nationally recognized and regionally impactful force for climate literacy and resilience in the Inland Northwest. The session will include lessons learned from the Gonzaga Climate Institute on how to leverage the resources and knowledge of institutions of higher education to connect research with action to empower decision makers, community members, and youth to understand and respond to the climate crisis. The workshop will provide the opportunity for attendees to consider and develop their own actor-network map that can be leveraged to create change. Karli Honebein \| Climate Literacy Program Manager, Gonzaga University Institute for Climate, Water, and the Environment Dante Jester \| Climate Resilience Program Manager, Gonzaga University Institute for Climate, Water, and the Environment View the presentation	The Grove Community Garden: A Case for Student Led Placemaking, Land Stewardship, and Community ▾ The Grove Garden is a student-led community garden run by the Student Sustainability Center (SSC) at the University of Oregon. Our space is a nexus of possibility, and our workshop will explore our history and how student organizers have adapted to changing needs, with the goal of showing students at other campuses that it is possible for them to create the communities they need to thrive. We will look at the importance of student leadership and autonomy, share our process for shaping community values, and show how programming can operate collaboratively. We will also address the institutional limitations that require students to build emerging third spaces in order to feed themselves now and build skills to feed their communities in the future (physically, emotionally, and spiritually). The Grove is evidence that we are the people we need the most, and in coming together we can leverage seemingly small and simple interactions into an ecosystem of support. Valentine Bentz \| Grove Garden Coordinator, University of Oregon Student Sustainability Center Hattie Sterns \| Grove Garden Coordinator, University of Oregon Student Sustainability Center View the presentation	Strengthening Community Engaged Learning Using Impact Network Theory ▾ As growing numbers of students express a deep commitment to sustainability, conservation, and climate action, higher education institutions have a critical opportunity to expand community-engaged learning experiences that prepare them for impactful careers. This session will explore how an impact network approach can enhance local interdisciplinary service learning and strengthen career opportunities in sustainability-focused fields. Through collaborative discussion, participants will develop actionable strategies to enhance academic programs and career readiness initiatives, ensuring that students are better equipped to lead in the transition to a more sustainable future. Taryn Oakley \| Faculty and Community Based Learning Faculty Coordinator, Portland Community College Amy Lubitow \| Professor, Department of Environmental Science and Management, Portland State University Trevor Soponis \| Founder and Chief Learning Officer, The Sustainable Learning Projects View the presentation	Embedding Sustainability Across the Curriculum: A Case Study of Central Washington University’s Apparel, Textiles, and Merchandising Program ▾ The Apparel, Textiles, and Merchandising (ATM) program stands out as a pioneer in integrating sustainability throughout its curriculum at Central Washington University. In this session, we will explore how sustainability has been integrated across a wide range of courses, with tailored content for each class, as well as college-wide strategies to engage students in sustainable apparel practices. Astrid Vidalon \| Assistant Professor, Apparel, Textiles and Merchandising program, Central Washington University College View the presentation
12:30 PM	Lunch Provided in the Main Stage Room
1:00 PM	Energy Conscious Construction (ECC): New Online Programs in Building Energy-Efficiency at Washington State University ▾ This session reports on the new online programs in Energy Conscious Construction (ECC) led by Washington State University's School of Design and Construction and delivered through its Global Campus. The ECC programs were developed using funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and provide an interdisciplinary emphasis in energy-efficient residential buildings, focusing on the state of Washington and covering all phases of the design process from conceptualization through construction and post-occupancy evaluation. The ECC curriculum is shaped by a series of learning modules that each focus on a specific topic. The modules are packaged into courses, and the courses are combined into three offerings: an undergraduate certificate, a graduate certificate, and a professionally oriented master’s degree. The certificates address four areas of knowledge (environmental control systems, building enclosures and structural systems, simulated performance data, and performance benchmarks) whereas the master’s degree addresses three additional areas of knowledge (measured performance data, smart building systems, and comprehensive design) for a total of seven areas throughout the curriculum. These offerings are interdisciplinary and developed in collaboration with the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering and the nationally recognized WSU Extension Energy Program. Presented by David Drake \| Assistant Professor, Co-Director, Reuse Design Laboratory, Washington State University Dr. Omar Al-Hassawi \| Associate Professor Graduate Program Director, Architecture, Washington State University Ella Roney \| Student, Washington State University Magnus Neil \| Student, Washington State University Jeffrey Namba \| Student, Washington State University Aissa Avalos \| Student, Washington State University Adrian Klinkenberg \| Student, Washington State University View the presentation
1:30 PM	Workshop: Building Community Trust Through Transparency: Western Washington University’s Efforts to Increase Sustainability Transparency ▾ Transparency is a critical part of building and maintaining a community that is formed around shared values, like sustainability. Members of the Western Washington University will share their experiences attempting to increase transparency of WWU’s sustainability successes and challenges through accessible ways designed for its diverse community, then lead workshop participants through a set of activities designed to help participants think through trust and transparency at their and other’s institutions. Participants will have the opportunity to plan for ways in which they can increase transparency at their universities and colleges while building connections with participants from other institutions who are working towards similar goals. Kate Beck \| Sustainability Action Plan Implementation Manager, Western Washington University Sam Schimdt \| Student, Western Washington University Kaia Olson \| Environmental Science Undergraduate, Western Washington University Kay Quatsoe \| Urban Sustainability Undergraduate, Western Washington University View the presentation	Empowering Indigenous Voices through Natural History and Food Systems Education in Environmental Studies: Lessons from the Field ▾ Panel discussion centering indigenous voices exploring collaborative teaching in environmental studies curriculum. Our discussion will focus on work being done in natural history and food system education at the University of Washington. Eli Wheat \| Associate Teaching Professor, University of Washington Timothy Billo \| Teaching Faculty, University of Washington Eric Alipio \| Student - Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA), Master of Urban Planning (MUP), University of Washington, Seattle Olivia Horwedel \| PhC, Department of Geography, University of Washington Elizabeth Swanaset KingGeorge \| Consultant, Educator, Artist, Nooksack Warren KingGeorge \| Muckleshoot, Tribal Historian View the presentation	Building a Climate Justice Across the Curriculum Program at your Institution: Insights from Two-Year College's Community of Transformation ▾ This interactive workshop is designed for faculty and administrators looking to launch a climate justice-focused curriculum development program at their institution. Participants will explore successful models from a community of transformation composed of 2-year college faculty in Washington, Oregon, and California, and engage in a step-by-step process to foster similar programs at their campuses. The session will offer practical tools, including sample curricula and professional development frameworks, to support community building and program implementation. By the end, participants will have actionable strategies, resources, and a support network to help launch climate justice and civic engagement initiatives at their colleges. Taryn Oakley \| Environment Science Instructor, Portland Community College Heather Price, PhD \| Professor, North Seattle College Sonya Remington-Doucette \| Faculty, Bellevue College View the presentation	Sustainable Strategies for Student Engagement ▾ This session will focus on strategies for engaging students in sustainability by making environmental, social, and economic issues more accessible and relevant. We will explore methods for fostering interest, building community, and lowering barriers to sustainability education, ensuring students from diverse backgrounds feel welcome. Attendees will learn how to create inclusive, empowering spaces that inspire lasting student involvement. Practical examples and collaborative discussion will highlight how to drive meaningful participation in sustainability efforts. Emily Adams \| Sustainability Engagement and Project Specialist, University of Washington Elena Hamblin \| Outreach and Events Intern, Sustainability, University of Washington Kellie Telis \| Strategic Collaborations Intern, University of Washington's Office of Sustainability View the presentation	Intersectional Student Programming for Basic Needs & Eco-Social Justice ▾ It is all connected: student basic needs, mutual aid and eco-social justice. At Portland Community College, an innovative student leadership development program works to uplift the intersectionality of leadership, sustainability and student support. Our vision is that all Portland Community College students thrive through access to resources and engagement opportunities that support a healthy community in the face of a changing climate. In this session, participants will learn about an innovative student leadership development program as well as sample events, initiatives and resources that address these critical intersectional issues. We will also tour the Panther Pantry, the Basic Needs Hub, and end with an interactive arti-visvim activity. Accessibility note: there will be brief walking involved, including some stairs with elevator access. Jade Menchaca \| Sustainability Coordinator, Portland Community College Chelsea T. Kimmett \| Coordinator - Basic Needs, Sustainability & Leadership, Portland Community College View the presentation
2:45 PM	Break
2:45 PM	Poster Sessions ▾ Posters are displayed for the duration of the conference in our main stage area and highlighted during a dedicated part of the program to showcase a range of ongoing sustainability projects and research. They are a visual presentation of a topic allowing viewers to learn on their own while the presenter shares in one-on-one or small group conversations. Full Poster Submission List
3:15 PM	Leading Justice-Centered Sustainability: An Example of Radical Reclamation and Practice of Sustainability for our Collective Future ▾ Learn how the Campus Sustainability Fund at the University of Washington-Seattle Campus has developed comprehensive justice-centered sustainability programming. Created in 2009 from a grassroots student movement, this small and mighty team was founded to materially change the way the UW campus engages with building a sustainable future and center students in this process. Learn tangible lessons from our 14-year effort to deeply ingrain sustainability in our working process and UW Seattle community. From over $4M of investments in student-led projects, educational programming that promotes narrative change, partnerships that redefine what sustainability can mean, internal processes that uphold sustainable practice, and nurturing a knowledge democracy to broaden our impact, the CSF affirms the critical role of students in creating sustainable communities (on campus and beyond). Boe Zhou \| Campus Sustainability Fund Grant and Project Coordinator, University of Washington Kort Maeda \| Campus Sustainability Fund Outreach and Education Coordinator, University of Washington View the presentation	Jumpstarting Campus Decarbonization Efforts with Electric Vehicles ▾ Electrifying fleet vehicles is an important step in meeting institutional decarbonization and climate action goals. While many schools and organizations are exploring this crucial strategy, there are often many barriers that still make implementation difficult. Cost, stakeholder buy-in, market availability and preconceived notions about electrification are just a few barriers, but there is light at the end of the tunnel! Join us to hear from higher education institutions who will share their progress and efforts to-date, as well as a representative from the Breaking Barriers Collaborative, which offers a Fleet Decarbonization Accelerator program to help organizations decarbonize their fleet. Moderator: Briar Wray \| Associate Dean, Sustainability Strategies, Portland Community College Sara Holzknecht \| Director, Office of Sustainability, Bellevue College Paul Bloom \| Program Director Breaking Barriers Collaborative, Climate Solutions Brandon Lesowske \| Assistant Director, Planning and Sustainability Office, Portland State University Jaime English\| Planning Manager - Planning & Capital Construction, Portland Community College View the presentations: Jaime English, Paul Bloom, Sara Holzknecht	Empowering Gen-Z for Climate Action: Social Innovation, Equity Impact Review and Skills in Securing a Career in the Public Sector ▾ This session connects equity in climate action with career empowerment. Drawing from an Equity Impact Review process applied in King County’s Green Building work, attendees will learn how identity and lived experience drive equity-based sustainability initiatives. The session concludes with a hands-on workshop for students to translate their unique experiences into compelling resumes and cover letters for the sustainability sector. Timothy Randazzo \| Green Building Program Associate, King County Cyril Clement \| Student, University of Washington, Seattle Melissa Banales Mejia \| Equity and Social Justice Project/Program Manager, King County Solid Waste Division	Empowering Students in E-Waste Reduction: A Case Study from Central Washington University ▾ This session will explore a practical approach to repurposing unused electronic devices. Attendees will learn how to assess, reuse, and recycle electronic components, transforming e-waste into valuable resources for the community. The presentation will highlight our step-by-step process and creative solutions to environmental challenges while emphasizing the importance of sustainability in technology. Susan Rivera \| Faculty Mentor, Central Washington University Srijita Gurung \| IT Management student, Central Washington University	The Parking Game: A Dialog Facilitation Tool for Sustainable Transportation Outreach and Planning on Campus ▾ Transportation Services at Oregon State University developed the Parking Game in 2019 as an outreach tool while developing OSU’s Sustainable Transportation Strategy. Participants in this workshop will experience planning for increased commuting to campus while balancing competing priorities including carbon emissions, community relations, land preservation for research, education and recreation, as well as affordability and access for students. Participants play in small groups using interventions and strategies to influence and accommodate commuter transportation mode choices. The game elements are designed to simulate real-world transportation events, constraints, and opportunities, and to include each player in decision-making. Sara Hamilton \| Outreach Coordinator; Division of Finance and Administration IT, Oregon State University Sarah Bronstein \| Sustainable Transportation Manager, Oregon State University Transportation Services View the presentation	Break It, Remake It, and Take It Away ▾ Working on sustainability in academic environments can be heartbreaking challenging work, unless we make space for fun, creativity and community. STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) Centers (aka makerspaces) offer fun, uplifting spaces in which to fold these components into sustainability work. Participants will rotate through different stations, each demonstrating creative and interactive ways to recycle, upcycle, and repurpose. This session provides opportunities for hands-on participation with a variety of makerspace equipment and material. Participants will be growing their skills and networking, while building community and doodads. Please meet at the WOHESC registration desk at 3:10 p.m. to walk to the breakout session room together. Sean Rooney \| STEM Center Coordinator, Portland Community College Peter Ritson \| Environmental Center Coordinator, Portland Community College
4:30 PM	Break
4:45 PM	Keynote Address – The Return Home ▾ A sustainable future isn't just a vision of our future, but a memory of our past. This reminds us of the importance of indigenous values and solutions to the climate crisis. Brianna Fruean \| Pacific Climate Warrior, Activist and Environmental Advocate
5:15 - 7:00 PM	Networking Reception ▾ Wrap up WOHESC 2025 day one with an evening of connection and community! Join us at the Portland Community College Sylvania Health Technology Building Gym located on floor 2 for meet ups, networking, beverages and light fare while connecting with peers and sustainability leaders. You must be a registered conference attendee to join.
	MEETUP \| Energy Efficiency on Campus - How it Works and Why it Matters ▾ Educating students and staff on energy dependence and its use is critical for understanding the complexities and origins of all our most vital resources. Providing an Energy Studies education is a great way to gain a real-world understanding of some of our planet’s biggest problems, and delivers a compelling perspective for students interested in not only environmental science but protecting the planet. Encouraging young students to learn under a "Forward-Thinking" learning model is exactly what Energy Studies promotes and as a 3rd year Energy Science and Technology major, BreAnna will share insight and skills she has gained from this incredible program. BreAnna Mennenoh \| Student, Western Washington University
	MEETUP \| Supporting Early Career Professionals & Building Networks ▾ This meet up will allow new sustainability professionals to make meaningful connections and find support with their peers. Upcoming sustainability leaders will be able to meet and interact with other sustainability staff, administrators, faculty, or students who are also interested in growing their connections and finding support within sustainability in higher education. As new professionals continue to move into the field of sustainability it is important to provide a welcoming space and offer each other guidance and resources to help us persevere in the early stages of our careers. This will be an opportunity to discuss challenges as emerging leaders, share resources, and build a strong network. Jade Menchaca \| Sustainability Coordinator, Portland Community College
	MEETUP \| Sustainability in the Face of Scarcity: Where to Turn When the Funds Just Aren't There ▾ This meetup is for sustainability practitioners who have found themselves saying, "I'd love to, but there's only one of me!," or have felt defeated by lack of funding for their work. This is a gathering to focus on what we can do in the short-term to move our work forward in the face of scarcity, and share creative solutions and examples of where to turn when the funding isn't there." Lexi Brewer \| Director of Sustainability, University of Puget Sound
Friday, March 7th, 2025
8:00 AM	Breakfast and Registration
9:00 AM	Opening Remarks
9:05 AM	Host Partners Sustainability Roundtable ▾ WOHESC 2025 Host Partners from regional higher education institutions will share the latest in sustainability and climate action priorities on their campus. Join in the action and get ideas for your campus or organization from these highly esteemed university leaders. Briar Wray \| Sustainability Manager, Portland Community College Brandon Lesowske \| Assistant Director, Materials Management Services, Portland State University Becs Walker \| Director of Sustainability, Southern Oregon University Steve Mital\| Director of Sustainability and Utilities and Energy, University of Oregon Lisa Dulude \| Director of Sustainability, University of Washington View the presentation
9:30 AM	Keynote Address: The Role of Emotions in Climate Advocacy ▾ In this talk, Dr. Ray will explain how important emotions are in the higher ed classroom and in climate work. Drawing on her recent books, A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety: How to Keep Your Cool on a Warming Planet and The Existential Toolkit for Climate Justice Educators, she will offer tools that help foster a sense of collective efficacy and climate wisdom in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges. Sarah Jaquette Ray \| Author, Field Guide to Climate Anxiety View the presentation
10:00 AM	Authors Plenary: Intersections and Constellations – On Being Human Now and in the Future Presented by Moderator: Sarah Stoeckl, PhD \| Director, Office of Sustainability, University of Oregon Thea Prieto \| Author, From the Caves Sarah Jaquette Ray \| Author, Field Guide to Climate Anxiety Madeline Ostrander \| Author, At Home on an Unruly Planet
11:00 AM	Break
	Author's Book Signing
11:30 AM	Sustainability Action Challenge Pitch Fest ▾ This is a challenge event for students as an introduction to the process of tri-sector innovation thinking as a means to develop solutions to complex problems including: empathizing, defining, ideating, prototyping, and iterating. We challenge you to generate ideas and find creative solutions built for people who will actually use them. Outcomes of this process might come in the form of programs, actions, processes, or artifacts - physical or digital. This experience provides students with a valuable skill set to use in the future along with a creative, productive way to tackle complex sustainability focused issues. Higher education institutions are invited and encouraged to recruit one or more student teams of 3-4 students to participate in this challenge! Mentor: Marsha Willard \| Faculty Chair, Presidio Graduate School Susan Rivera, PhD \| Faculty Mentor, Central Washington University Brandon Trelstad \| Sustainability Officer, Oregon State University Wilson Nitunga \| Faculty, Business & Entrepreneurship Pathway, Portland Community College	Building Sustainable Communities through Leadership and Engagement ▾ Now in it’s third year, the UO Student Sustainability Center’s Leadership Engagement Program (LEP) is consistently meeting its targeted goal of developing sustainability leaderships, and we’re also seeing robust, emergent communities form amongst its volunteer teams. These communities have been a blend of accidental and intentional: both organic and designed. We’ll give an overview of the LEP program, discuss how it’s designed to create community from its first meeting, and then hear from student program leads about what that unique community looks like in their specific programs. Taylor McHolm \| Director, Student Sustainability Center, University of Oregon Keara Monique Alonzo-Lopez \| Food Equity Program Lead, Student Sustainability Center, University of Oregon Amelia Shaw \| Habitat Restoration Lead, Student Sustainability Center, University of Oregon Sadie Creemer \| Leadership and Engagement Program Lead, Student Sustainability Center - University of Oregon Makenna Smith \| Climate Anxiety & Resiliency Program Lead, Student Sustainability Center, University of Oregon Mateo Reynaud \| Environmental Justice Program Coordinator, Student Sustainability Center, University of Oregon View the presentation	Salmon Recovery with Compost BURritos: Lessons Learned ▾ In this session, Bellevue College Sustainability Office staff will share their work supporting salmon recovery through stormwater filtration. In collaboration with campus faculty, the National Wildlife Federation, Cedar Grove Compost, and student volunteers, the project removed invasive plants, replanted native plants in the area, and installed a series of biofiltration devices known as compost BURritos (Bioretention Urban Retrofits). These BURritos filter stormwater toxics, and in particular the tire additive 6ppd-quinone, which is correlated with coho salmon mortality. Sara Holzknecht \| Director, Office of Sustainability, Bellevue College Elissa Gordon \| Associate Director of Sustainability, Bellevue College View the presentation	How An Indigenous Lens Reimagined Sustainable Design at Portland State University ▾ Science facilities on campuses have the power to attract or hinder students entering the STEM workforce, making it vital that we examine how design can welcome, reach and inspire students of all backgrounds and cultures. For the design of the Vernier Science Center at Portland State University, engaging a BIPOC cohort to foreground underrepresented voices significantly impacted the project’s goals and sustainable strategies, prompting a deeper connection to people and place. Combined with the University’s commitment to equity and inclusion, this inclusive, hands-on approach shifted design outcomes in unexpected ways, with successful results that will inform future campus projects. Todd Rosenstiel \| Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Portland State University Leina Naversen \| Associate, Bora Architecture & Interiors Athena Rilatos \| Indigenous Architectural Designer, PLACE; Former BIPOC Student Advisory Board, Portland State University View the presentation	Washington Building Efficiency and Clean Operations Network (BEACON) Project ▾ In 2019, Washington passed the first-in-nation statewide Clean Building Performance Standard (CBPS) to reduce costs and greenhouse gas emissions from the state’s existing large commercial and multifamily buildings. Despite the significant financial resources mobilized by state agencies, energy utilities, and technical assistance organizations, there is a clear need for more to be done for under-resourced and disadvantaged communities. To fully realize the opportunity of the CBPS, the state must invest in educating and training a clean buildings workforce, opening up partnership opportunities with higher education and training institutions. The WA Department of Commerce is launching the Washington Building Efficiency and Clean Operations Network (BEACON), a project designed to make a tangible difference in underserved communities. Discover the state’s approach to providing enhanced technical assistance to building owners while partnering with SEI's Climate Corps program to expand the workforce. The BEACON project aims to create a workforce pipeline for folks entering the fields of clean building and energy management. This project will recruit and deploy 60 passionate, diverse, and highly trained Fellows, aiming to increase the diversity of the region’s buildings workforce. Our goal is to have 50% of BEACON Fellows be women or non-binary, and have 40% of BEACON Fellows be from or be placed to serve disadvantaged communities. Annalyn Bergin \| CBPS Compliance Lead, Washington State Department of Commerce Steven King \| Program Director,Climate Corps, SEI: Building Leaders for a Resilient World Paul Johnson \| Senior Advisor and Connector, Strategic Energy Innovations (SEI) Cyrus Parra Allen \| Associate Program Manager, SEI, Inc. View the presentation	Learning Gardens And You! Connecting Students Across The Curriculum To Campus Gardens ▾ We will be hosting short descriptions of creative ways faculty can use a learning garden and continue with interactive conversations to further explore engagement and expanding on students’ existing knowledge by working with a learning garden. Come hear about a wide range of courses that have used the gardens and then engage with both colleagues and presenters on strategies, activities and approaches to support authentic student learning and engagement. Taryn Oakley \| Environmental Studies and Resources Faculty and Community-Based Learning Faculty Coordinator, Portland Community College Peter Ritson \| Environmental Center Coordinator, Portland Community College Moonrose Doherty \| Learning Garden Coordinator, Portland Community College Andrea Mull \| Learning Garden Specialist, Lane Community College Skye Stevens \| Student, Portland Community College View the presentation
12:45 PM	Lunch Provided in the Main Stage Room
1:15 PM	Closing Remarks and 2026 Announcement Briar Wray \| Associate Dean, Sustainability Strategies, Portland Community College
1:30 PM	Embodied Practices for Climate Anxiety Programming ▾ Climate anxiety is prevalent among those who study and work in sustainability in higher education. Students, staff, and faculty who experience climate anxiety can benefit from the chance to explore and engage with their emotions in the context of their sustainability work. This session will provide participants with the opportunity to reflect on their emotions related to climate change and sustainability. We recognize that the work we do as sustainability practitioners is inherently emotional and that we do not always have professional spaces where we can explore our emotions with curiosity and tenderness; thus, this interactive session will incorporate embodied activities and practices meant to engage and explore our emotions, such as mindfulness, reflection, and discussion with other participants. This session will also share some of the lessons learned from the UO Student Sustainability Center’s student-run Climate Anxiety Program. Participants will have time to connect with their colleagues around programming at their own institutions. Megan Schneider \| Assistant Director, Student Sustainability Center, University of Oregon Makenna Smith \| Climate Anxiety & Resiliency Program Lead, Student Sustainability Center, University of Oregon View the presentation	Climate Solutions Simulation ▾ This workshop presents a climate solutions simulation activity for classroom use. The workshop both takes participants through the simulation as well as provides the publicly available instructions and materials for replicating it in the classroom. The simulation is applicable to both graduate and undergraduate courses. It can be implemented in face-to-face classrooms as well as in virtual settings. It challenges students to grapple with the choices available for addressing the climate problem while taking into consideration cost as well as environmental, social and political impacts. Marsha Willard \| Faculty Chair, Presidio Graduate School View the presentation	Cultivating Connections: Designing a Hub for Community-Centric Education ▾ The Chemeketa Community College Agricultural Complex exemplifies a community-centered approach to education and sustainability. Serving as the home for the Agricultural and Horticultural program, the building is also a hub for the community, fostering connections between students, faculty, industry partners, community members, and local businesses. This session will explore how a building and the programs it supports can contribute to and include the community. Tim Ray \| Dean of Agriculture and Horticulture, Chemeketa Community College Edward Running \| Partner, FFA Architecture and Interiors Holly Nelson \| Workforce Innovation and Community Engagement Chief Officer, Chemeketa Community College	Solarpunk and You: How We Can Change the World ▾ In a world often dominated by dystopian narratives, the "Solarpunk and You" workshop aims to reimagine our collective future by exploring Solarpunk, a growing media genre and social movement focused on envisioning sustainable, equitable, and hopeful worlds. This interactive session will introduce participants to Solarpunk, as well as Tabletop Role-Playing Games (TTRPGs), as a vehicle for fostering creativity, climate action, and personal empowerment. Through guided exercises in societal imagination, participants will reflect on their individual strengths and explore practical tools for building a brighter, greener future. Whether navigating climate anxiety or seeking ways to engage in climate action, attendees will leave with actionable insights on how to harness their unique abilities to contribute to a Solarpunk-inspired world. This session welcomes students, educators, sustainability advocates, and anyone curious about rejecting dystopia in favor of collective innovation and hope Michael Joseph \| Assistant Director, MPA Student, Center for Climate Action and Sustainability (CCAS)	Hands-on Activities to Decrease Eco-Anxiety and Climate Change Grief: Building Resilience through Community ▾ Across the globe our changing climates are triggering anxiety and bringing on a sense of loss and mourning. The Pacific Northwest is experiencing the impacts of increased wildfires, record-breaking heat waves, unprecedented ice storms and the looming threat of a large subduction-zone earthquake. We can find ways to decrease our anxiety and improve our mental well-being and we can do it together by becoming more prepared and welcoming co-created tools and skills in a collective and community-driven process of sharing and adapting. This session will give participants a chance to work together and engage in several activities to increase our resilience as a community. Activities will include a seed saving in community workshop, exploring small scale garden design, disaster preparedness kit-building & resource sharing, identifying climate change emotions, aromatherapy, art and more! Taryn Oakley \| Environmental Studies and Resources Faculty and Community-Based Learning Faculty Coordinator, Portland Community College Moon Doherty \| Learning Garden Coordinator, Portland Community College Peter Ritson \| Environmental Center Coordinator, Portland Community College Madeleine Stratton \| Basic Needs, Sustainability, and Leadership Ambassador, Portland Community College View the presentation	The Reciprocity Garden: A Sustainability-Centered Approach to Creating Community Space for Students of Color ▾ In both public and private university settings, students of color often feel isolated from their communities and culture. The Reciprocity Garden at Oregon State University’s Oak Creek Center for Urban Horticulture serves as a sanctuary for students of color of all backgrounds, abilities, and skill levels to practice urban horticulture and grow culturally relevant foods for themselves and their community. This session we will discuss the history of the garden, the complexities of navigating bureaucratic institutions as a group of students of color, and provide insights into methodology for establishing a similar community space at one’s own institution. Charlotte Epps \| Garden Coordinator and Founder, The Reciprocity Garden, Oregon State University Kailey Legier \| Student, Oregon State University
3:00 PM	WOHESC Ends

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