NATS 4V90 Leadership in Sustainability

Course Description

This course will cover major theories and models of leadership along with professional and ethical responsibilities of scientists and engineers within the context of sustainability. We will explore personal, interpersonal, organizational, and technical dimensions of leadership and ethics in sustainability. We will use a variety of case studies and examples of sustainability in practice (e.g., considerations for green building sustainable infrastructure systems planning and design).

Course Learning Outcomes

Define, understand, and apply major leadership theories, concepts, and terms within sustainability contexts.
Learn, develop, critique, and evaluate sustainability strategies and initiatives.
Critique and (re)imagine applications of leadership within and beyond sustainability contexts.
Express independent ideas in written and oral form.
Assess and develop your leadership skills and professional development.

Questions we will ask often in class:

Who is telling the story? Which parts of the story are being told?
Who holds the power? Who makes the decisions?
Who is at the table? Who is missing?
What intersectionalities have I noticed, and what does that mean for people with marginalized identities?

Course Expectations

*We will also develop some course expectations together on our first day.

Mural of street art consisting of power fists and the phrase "To exist is to resist"

What you can expect from me:

I will show up to class on time, ready to participate.
I will treat you and our learning space with respect.
I will return your graded assignments in a timely manner.
I will use technology responsibly.
I will do my best to support you and help you overcome learning barriers.
I will be flexible and understanding; life happens.

Tree with DEI words coming from branches: peace, equality, love, and freedom. Children are watering the ground around the tree.

What I expect from you:

You will attend each class, ready to participate. That means having watched, read, or listened to class materials prior to the beginning of class.
If you are unable to attend class due to illness or unforeseen circumstances, please let me know (via Teams/email) as soon as possible.
You will use technology responsibly.
You will treat your peers, learning space, and instructor(s) with respect.
You will be flexible and understanding; life happens.

“The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership.”

~Harvey S. Firestone