Baruch College shows students that business growth and sustainability are not mutually exclusive. As part of their coursework in the Susan Locke Interdisciplinary Capstone in Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change, co-taught by Professor Lin Peng, PhD and Associate Professor Jean Gaffney, PhD, students explored 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, a certified sustainable luxury get-away for travelers.
“These field trips provide practical, real-world examples of how businesses can implement sustainable practices while remaining profitable,” says Peng. “For Zicklin students, it demonstrates how sustainability integrates with finance, marketing, and operations. For Weissman students, it shows how scientific principles of sustainability are applied in real-world scenarios.”
On their visit, students discovered how buildings could be crafted from recycled materials without sacrificing luxury. They studied carafes crafted from recycled wine bottles, lush green spaces, and locally sourced, reclaimed furniture. The now-alumni carried what they learned about sustainability beyond graduation.
“At Baruch, I learned about climate change and the importance of caring for our environment,” says Gabriela Aguilar Castillo (’24). “Now I implement sustainable practices, such as using reusable glass bottles and educating others about reducing meat consumption. I’m a business technology solutions analyst, but I aspire to become an ESG consultant to help companies find effective ways to measure their carbon emissions and develop sustainability policies.”
Baruch shows a steadfast commitment to improving sustainability and climate change, such as with the Baruch College Annual Conference on Climate Research, Teaching, and Collaboration; the Climate Studies Faculty Cluster; and the Climate Scholars Program that started at Baruch and later expanded to include other CUNY colleges.
“Under the guidance of Provost Essig and President Wu, the current Baruch College strategic plan includes goals focused on sustainability,” says Professor Mindy Engle-Friedman, PhD, who teaches courses in environmental psychology and spearheaded the Climate Scholars Program.
“The program is thriving and growing. Dozens of undergraduate students are involved as researchers in climate change research labs across Baruch’s three colleges.”
Through experiential education, coursework, and campus initiatives, Baruch is tackling climate change by fostering a sustainable mindset in its campus community.
— Erin Davis