From the Dean 2022
From the Dean
Over the past two years, our university community has endured a global pandemic, witnessed political turmoil, violence, and war, and confronted horrific reminders of the racial injustice that persists in our society. Meanwhile, the increasing frequency of wildfires and extreme weather events remind us of the urgency of acting on climate change. In the face of these dramatic events, we have recommitted ourselves to making a positive difference in the world.
At Loyola University Chicago, we draw inspiration from our Jesuit mission of care for the poor and commitment to social justice. We answer the call of Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’s encyclical appealing to us to care for the Earth, our shared home. At the School of Environmental Sustainability (SES), we are putting Laudato Si’ into action. We are developing solutions to critical ecological problems, working toward environmental justice, and training the next generation of sustainability leaders.
Several milestones have marked our progress since Loyola elevated the Institute of Environmental Sustainability to the School of Environmental Sustainability in September 2020.
In 2021, Loyola finalized a strategic plan that will guide our development as a university. The plan identifies “Care for Our World” among the university’s six enduring values, reaffirming Loyola’s commitment to making environmental sustainability a central part of our educational programs, research, and campus operations.
After pivoting to remote learning in March 2020, our students returned to campus in the fall of 2021. SES students, faculty, and staff reunited, and, once again, our labs and classrooms buzzed with activity. Students enjoyed participating in hands-on learning experiences as regular activities resumed in our campus greenhouse, gardens, and Searle biodiesel lab.
Our dedicated students, faculty, and staff have shown remarkable resilience throughout this challenging time, continuing to make vital contributions to our school and our mission of social justice and environmental sustainability. We have added excellent new talent to our faculty and staff, increased student enrollment, and expanded our curriculum, and we look forward to many more meaningful accomplishments in the years to come.
Nancy C. Tuchman, PhD
Founding Dean
School of Environmental Sustainability
Over the past two years, our university community has endured a global pandemic, witnessed political turmoil, violence, and war, and confronted horrific reminders of the racial injustice that persists in our society. Meanwhile, the increasing frequency of wildfires and extreme weather events remind us of the urgency of acting on climate change. In the face of these dramatic events, we have recommitted ourselves to making a positive difference in the world.
At Loyola University Chicago, we draw inspiration from our Jesuit mission of care for the poor and commitment to social justice. We answer the call of Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’s encyclical appealing to us to care for the Earth, our shared home. At the School of Environmental Sustainability (SES), we are putting Laudato Si’ into action. We are developing solutions to critical ecological problems, working toward environmental justice, and training the next generation of sustainability leaders.
Several milestones have marked our progress since Loyola elevated the Institute of Environmental Sustainability to the School of Environmental Sustainability in September 2020.
In 2021, Loyola finalized a strategic plan that will guide our development as a university. The plan identifies “Care for Our World” among the university’s six enduring values, reaffirming Loyola’s commitment to making environmental sustainability a central part of our educational programs, research, and campus operations.
After pivoting to remote learning in March 2020, our students returned to campus in the fall of 2021. SES students, faculty, and staff reunited, and, once again, our labs and classrooms buzzed with activity. Students enjoyed participating in hands-on learning experiences as regular activities resumed in our campus greenhouse, gardens, and Searle biodiesel lab.
Our dedicated students, faculty, and staff have shown remarkable resilience throughout this challenging time, continuing to make vital contributions to our school and our mission of social justice and environmental sustainability. We have added excellent new talent to our faculty and staff, increased student enrollment, and expanded our curriculum, and we look forward to many more meaningful accomplishments in the years to come.
Nancy C. Tuchman, PhD
Founding Dean
School of Environmental Sustainability