A Dialogue on

Sustainability
Leadership

Judy L. Rogers
Professor, Student Affairs
in
Higher Education
Miami University

Definitions
Sustainability focuses on the intersections of
people, profits and the planet.

Sustainability encompasses an ecological

perspective that recognizes how everything in
our universe is connected to everything else.

The critical questions sustainability scholars

explore revolve around what it means for
human societies to flourish in the context of
ecological limits (Jackson, 2011).

Sustainability Leadership

We have to rethink our views on progress

and we need the right leaders to help us do
so (Hooper, 2011).
Traditional leadership models are not
adequate.
Need a new generation of leaders who are
longer-term thinkers, who have more
vision, who are more persistent, more
adaptable and more connected (Immelt,
2011).

Sustainability Leadership qualities:

The Cambridge Program for Sustainability

Leadership (Courtice, 2011) identified seven
defining characteristics evident in the
leadership of those who successfully tackle
sustainability issues.

Systemic interdisciplinary understanding

Emotional intelligence and a caring attitude
Values orientation that shapes culture
A strong vision for making a difference
An inclusive style that engenders trust
A willingness to innovate and be radical
A long term perspective on impacts (pp. 1217)

Session Goal

The purpose of the dialogue is to explore this

model of leadership for sustainability and how
and where it is and might be practiced in
student affairs/higher education.

Questions to guide the dialogue:

What do you think sustainability is?

What does sustainability look like in higher
education? In student affairs?
What are key principles of sustainability
leadership?
What are the implications of sustainability
leadership for student affairs?
Is it currently evident in student affairs
practice? If so where and how?
How can we develop leaders who practice
sustainability leadership?
What research would assist us in expanding
the knowledge and practice of sustainability
leadership?

References

Courtice, P. (2011). The challenge to business as usual. In A journey of a

thousand miles: The state of sustainability leadership 2011 (pp. 12-21).
University of Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership. Retrieved
from http://www.cpsl.cam.ac.uk/Resources/State-of-SustainabilityLeadership.aspx
Gilding, P. (2011). The great disruption. . In A journey of a thousand miles: The
state of sustainability leadership 2011 (pp. 24-28). University of Cambridge
Programme for Sustainability Leadership. Retrieved from
http://www.cpsl.cam.ac.uk/Resources/State-of-Sustainability-Leadership.aspx
Hooper, L. (2011). Developing the leaders of the future. In A journey of a
thousand miles: The state of sustainability leadership 2011 (pp. 46-55).
University of Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership. Retrieved
from http://www.cpsl.cam.ac.uk/Resources/State-of-SustainabilityLeadership.aspx

Immelt, J. (2011). Competitiveness in the 21st century. In A journey of a

thousand miles: The state of sustainability leadership 2011 (pp. 58-66).
University of Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership. Retrieved
from http://www.cpsl.cam.ac.uk/Resources/State-of-SustainabilityLeadership.aspx
Jackson, T. (2010). Prosperity without growth:Economics for a finite
planet.London: earthscan.

Wilkinson, R. & Pickett, K. (2010). The spirit level: Why greater equality makes