Sustainable Impact Academy
Make a difference through the Sustainability Impact Academy
The Sustainable Impact Academy offers a unique opportunity for students to become the next generation of changemakers, equipped to lead in a rapidly evolving world. This credit-bearing program integrates social science, systems thinking, circularity, industrial ecology, and sustainable business into a cohesive curriculum. Through hands-on, experiential components, students practice what they learn by working on real-world projects in faculty-, staff-, and student-led teams—deepening their understanding and strengthening their leadership skills.
Students participate in projects aligned with one of three focal areas: urban resilience, the sustainable bioeconomy and regenerative systems, or sustainable industrial systems and the circular economy. These areas are interconnected, and students are given opportunities to collaborate across teams while leveraging Virginia Tech and the broader Blacksburg community to explore impactful solutions.
If you're a student, keep reading to learn how to get involved. If you're a community partner, alum, or supporter, find out how you can host a future cohort or make a gift to help sustain and grow this transformative experience, learn more about how you can make an impact.
Students develop sustainable impact solutions for a greener campus
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An interest session about the Leadership Institute will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Register for the session. Current participants and the instructor will be present to answer questions, talk more about what happens in the program, and explain the application process. Application materials are due no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, March 10, 2023. If you have specific questions, you can contact the program director, Brian Bond.
How to start your journey
A virtual interest session for the fall semester will take place on Thursday, Aug. 14 at 6:30 p.m. Sign up for the interest session to learn more about how to get involved. A second session will be held in September for the spring semester (date TBD).
Anyone interested in learning more about the Academy is encouraged to reach out to Kiara Winans at kswinans@vt.edu.
To participate, you must meet the following requirements:
- Be a rising sophomore in any major. Graduate students may also apply and receive graduate credit.
- Have a strong desire to lead and make a difference in sustainability, environmental resilience, and community well-being.
We are grateful for your support of the Sustainable Impact Academy
If you’re interested in hosting a future cohort of Sustainable Impact Academy students at your agency or organization, please contact Kiara Winans, the program’s director, at kswinans@vt.edu.
To support the Academy’s ongoing impact through a philanthropic gift, please reach out to Andrew Ickes, assistant dean of advancement, at aickes@vt.edu.