Winter 2025

Seattle U Gives: Support CEJS Student Fellowships

Seattle U Gives is on March 4 and CEJS needs your support! Gifts to CEJS will fund the Gary L. Chamberlain and Francis Student Research fellowships, allowing students to work on solutions to global sustainability problems through dedicated research, experiential learning, and faculty mentorship. Forging a sustainable relationship between humankind and planet earth is an unprecedented challenge facing us all. Your support for CEJS cultivates that relationship by giving talented, passionate students the chance to research sustainability at SU, in the greater Seattle area, and around the world. Please visit Seattle U Gives on March 4 and help us meet our goal of $5,000 for Student Fellowships. From all of us at CEJS: Thank you!

Ecological Economics: Socially Responsible Investing Working Group

Seattle University recently created the Laudato Si’ Socially Responsible Investing Working Group dedicated to advancing socially responsible investing (SRI) within the university’s endowment and retirement plans. The group’s focus is on engaging with university stakeholders—including the Investment Committee, the Outsourced Chief Investment Officer, the Retirement Plan Investment Committee, and faculty, staff, and students—to enhance SRI options and integrate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) considerations into investment decisions. With the creation of this working group, SU accomplishes one of its 27 sustainability goals as adopted in the university’s “Laudato Si’ Action Plan” (2023).

Alumni Spotlight: Former EPA Superfund Attorney

Meet Donna Shahbazi (J.D., ‘24). Donna was a CEJS Gary Chamberlain Student Research Fellows in 2021-2022. Until recently, she worked as a superfund attorney for the EPA Region 7. The focus of her work was to protect human health and the environment by cleaning up contaminated sites, make responsible parties pay for cleanup work, involve communities in the process, and return Superfund sites to productive use. Donna pursued a law degree to make a tangible impact: “I am driven by a deep sense of responsibility to future generations, and I know that law is a powerful tool to achieve meaningful change.” Her fondest memory from her days at SU: “Homecoming. My dad (pictured, right) is a Seattle U alum (BS ’82) and we enjoy spending those weekends together.” Read Donna’s interview.

Sustainability Teaching: 500 Sustainability Courses 

An important sustainability goal in SU’s “Laudato Si’ Action Plan” is the inventory of sustainability courses. The CEJS and the Institute for Catholic thought and Culture (ICTC) partnered to create an online repository that lists all sustainability courses offered at SU (between 2021-2023). It includes courses that provide students with the knowledge and skills to help address sustainability challenges. The courses are mapped to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Laudato Si' Action Platform Goals. View the sustainability courses here.

Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Carlyn Ferrari

Meet Dr. Carlyn Ferrari, assistant professor of English. Dr. Ferrari's research and teaching focuses on Black women’s relationship to the natural world. Her research points to the long tradition of Black women’s writing about the natural world, the bodies of knowledge they have created, and to dispelling the myth of Black environmental apathy. Her first book, Do Not Separate Her From Her Garden: Anne Spencer’s Ecopoetics, offers a new interpretation of Harlem Renaissance poet Anne Spencer,  who was dismissed for writing about nature. Currently, Dr. Ferrari is researching the tradition of Black women’s gardens and gardening practices focusing on how gardens have been central to Black women’s creativity, knowledge, and ability to create a sense of place. She is also working on a co-edited volume titled Black Women’s Gardens as Art and Practice, which is under contract with Dumbarton Oaks/Harvard University Press. Be sure to keep your eyes open for her Race, Gender, and the Environment course!

Campus Engagement: Race to Zero Waste 2025

Campus Race to Zero Waste (formerly Recyclemania) is an 8-week waste reduction and diversion competition (February 3–March 31, 2025) between colleges and universities across North America. Campuses compete to see how well they are doing in their zero waste efforts and gauge how they compare against other institutions. SU Facilities' Recycling and Compost team and the CEJS are calling on SU's community to engage and be the change. A series of events are happening on campus to raise awareness and get involved, such as: Community Recycling Days, the "What Goes Where" education table, e-waste collection month, and a book donation event. Find out more.

Sustainable Art: Sculptures from Recycled Materials

For anyone visiting campus, a detour by the Lee Miley Rain Garden (adjacent to the Saint Ignatius Chapel) is a must! You'll find two beautiful wooden animal sculptures, constructed from recycled materials. These works emerged through a collaboration between Professor Trung Pham, S.J. (Fine Arts), his students from the WQ'24 3D Printed Sculpture class, the SU mail center, a local construction company, and Home Depot. For the artistic element, the students used driftwood from Alki Beach. By using natural shapes carved by the waves over the years, they were able to create artwork that blends with nature. These artworks exemplify sustainable art making through thoughtful material choice, interactive design, and awareness of environmental impact.  Read more here.

Student Spotlight: Sustainability at Redhawk Dining

Meet Hannah Jacobs, a fourth-year Environmental Studies Major specializing in Urban Sustainability. This year, Hannah works for Redhawk Dining as a Sustainability Intern. Her goal is to encourage students to make more sustainable dining choices on campus. During her time as an intern, Hannah has aided in the transition to reusable OZZI Boxes in the dining hall, as well as planning and creating student engagement and outreach opportunities to promote sustainable behavior among the student body. Her passion: "sustainable solutions and the arts through upcycling and creative reuse." Learn more about sustainability at Redhawk Dining here.

Stewardship: SU Recognized as a Tree Campus

The Arbor Day Foundation has recognized Seattle University as a 2024 Tree Campus for its dedication to enhancing community well-being through tree education, investment, and community engagement. SU has earned this designation each year since 2017. To earn Tree Campus recognition, colleges, and universities must uphold five core standards including maintain an advisory committee, set a campus tree care plan, verify annual investment in the tree care plan, celebrate Arbor Day, and create a service-learning project aimed at engaging the student body. Learn more here.

Upcoming Events 

LAST DAYS TO APPLY: Give a 5-minute Earth Talk on Earth Day 2025 

When: Proposal Deadline: March 3, 2025. Earth Talks event: April 22, 2025 
Where: Submit proposals to cejs@seattleu.edu
Description: Submit your proposal to give a 5-min presentation at SU's 6th annual "Earth Talks" (on Earth Day, April 22, 2025) focusing on the theme of “Care for our Common Home”. Keynote Speaker at Earth Talks this year will be Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal. More details here.

LAST DAYS TO APPLY: Seattle University Students and Faculty: Apply for a CEJS Research Fellowship. 

When: Proposal Deadline: March 3, 2025
Description: Each year CEJS awards two faculty fellowships and two student fellowships to conduct research on environmental justice and sustainability. The deadline for fellowship applications is March 3. Check out the application details here.

TODAY: Obermiller Lecture in Marketing Sustainability

When: Wednesday, February 26, 3:30-5:30PM
Where: Sinegal Center 200, Seattle University
Description: This Obermiller Lecture panel discussion will focus on behavioral interventions that can encourage sustainability among consumers. Dr. April Atwood will facilitate the discussion, featuring Dr. Karen Winterich and Cleo Escarez.

THIS WEEK: The Northwest Jesuit Advocacy Summit and Sacred Salmon Town Hall

When: February 27, 28 and March 1
Where: Seattle University
Description: The summit will focus on standing with Native peoples in collaboration on care for common home. Registration for the Summit is here.
Can’t make it on Feb.27-28? Join for the Sacred Salmon Town Hall, March 1st 2025 10-11:30 in STCN 160. Inspired by the Washington State Catholic Bishops' Call for Plan to Care for Creation and the Common Good in the Lower Snake River, this collective action, led by Jesuit students and Native peoples, will be an opportunity for faithful collective action to public officials, along with prayer, ritual, and next steps to take the work home. Registration for the town hall is here. 

THIS WEEK: 5 Point Film Festival (FREE screening)

When: March 1, 2025. Doors open: 5:00PM. Film starts: 6:00PM.
Where: Pigott Auditorium
Description: Join UREC Outdoors for a free screening of the 5 Point Film Festival. Featured Films: Solo, Above the Noise, Canyon Chorus, Strong Grandma, Slides on the Mountain, Suspended in Space, 26,000 Days, Fall Harvest. Please email outdoor@seattleu.edu with any questions. 

THIS WEEK: Reimagining Climate Futures: Join Cadence Video Poetry and filmmaker Kamila Kuc (CEJS 2024-2025 Student Fellow) for a series of poetry and film workshops.

When: March 1 and 9, 10:00AM-2:00PM. March 2 and 8, 10:00AM-4:30PM.
Where: Common OBJECTS, 2601 1st Ave., Seattle
Description: Reimagine your relationship with the climate crisis and transform feelings of powerlessness into creative action. Join Cadence Video Poetry and filmmaker Kamila Kuc (CEJS 2024-2025 Student Fellow) for a series of ecological identity, dreams, poetry, and film workshops designed to engage with the climate crisis through creative storytelling and collective reflection. Through poetry prompts and guided filmmaking, together we will make a poetry film that functions as a love letter to the future. For more information visit here. For registration visit here.

Food Justice and Action Summit

When: March 7, 2025 at 10:00AM-2:00PM
Where: Pigott Auditorium
Sponsors: Center for Social Transformation and Leadership, Wellness & Health Promotion Department, and Black Student Union (BSU)
Description: Join for the 4th Annual Food Justice and Action Summit, themed "Recipe for Change." Together, we will actively confront food injustice at Seattle University and in our surrounding communities. Engage with fellow students, dedicated faculty, influential community leaders, and visionary change-makers as we tackle urgent issues surrounding food access, sustainability, and empowerment. Guest Speaker: Angel Swanson, Chief Executive Officer at Feeding Feasible Feasts. Find more event info on Instagram at @wellnessatsu

E-waste Collection Month

When: March 1-31, 2025, all month
Where: Lobby of all residence halls and Student Center HUB desk
Description: Donate any broken electronics and other E-waste you might have. Professionals will properly dispose of e-waste for you, keeping hazardous material out of our landfills and oceans. This event is part of Seattle University' participation in the annual Campus Race to Zero Waste competition.

Book Donation Day

When: March 12, 2025, all day
Where: Lobby of all residence halls and Student Center HUB desk
Description: Donate any books you no longer read; books collected will be donated to Better World Books. This event is part of Seattle University' participation in the annual Campus Race to Zero Waste competition.

Annual Community Recycling Day

When: March 19, 2025, 8:00AM-1:00PM
Where: Bellarmine Turnaround
Description: Get your spring cleaning done early and bring in your dorm, home, or office items to SU for FREE recycling and donation! Sign up to volunteer here. View and download the Community Recycling Days event flyer. This event is part of Seattle University' participation in the annual Campus Race to Zero Waste competition.