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Goshen College professor awarded Fulbright fellowship for sustainability research in Indonesia
Dr. John Mischler, associate professor of sustainability and environmental education, has recently been honored with a Fulbright fellowship.
Do you have a passion for improving our human relationships to the environment and
each other? Are you a creative problem-solver who wants to tackle some of the biggest challenges of our time? Do you love thinking about the connections between science, the arts, humanities, and the natural world? Then a major or minor in Sustainability at Goshen College might be for you!
Sustainability will prepare you to think deeply and act effectively for positive change in
our modern world. At heart, it’s a way of understanding the world that will help you see
connections, and build solutions that will help us all live more lightly and joyfully on this
precious planet.
Studies in Sustainability are even more effective when paired with another major or
minor that helps to round out your skills and pursue your passions. In the last few years,
students have graduated from Goshen connecting Sustainability through their choice of
majors & minors with Accounting, Art, Biology, Computer Science, Engineering Physics, Environmental Science, History, Music, and more. Reach out to any of the faculty in our program if you’d like more ideas about how to best bring your interests together.
SPECIAL NOTE: A lot of students are a little confused at first about the differences
between Sustainability, Sustainability Management, and Environmental Science /
Studies. That’s OK! There is a lot of overlap in these, although they each equip you with different tools for analyzing and tackling problems. And because these programs use a lot of the same classes in the first two or three semesters at Goshen, you’ll have some time to figure out what is the best path for you.
Goshen College is committed to sustainability, and that commitment is evident in
everything from our food services to our core courses. Sustainability students have many
chances to get involved on-campus, in the region, and even internationally, as leaders to
help our communities create and implement solutions.
We also want to make sure you come out of college with solid experiences that prepare
you well for the workplace, and life in general. In any given semester, you will go on
various field trips to learn how professionals and community members do their jobs and
how they connect to sustainability. Along the way, you will also learn practical skills
like baking bread, preserving food, and canoeing as a form of local tourism.
No matter what your interests are, our experienced faculty will help you find a way to connect to sustainability. You’ll get to know each other quickly with small class sizes and low student-to-teacher ratios. Our professors challenge students to think deeply about the issues that matter most, helping you develop the systems-thinking skills you need to be a leader in the natural and social sciences.
Environmental health is crucial work that will make a difference in the global community, and we’re proud to be playing a part in training tomorrow’s sustainability professionals.
The Sustainability Semester at the Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College is for any major interested in making a positive change in their community. It is also the foundation of the sustainability major and sustainability minor. During this 13-week program, you will:
We believe that the best learning happens not in the classroom, but embedded in real life – seeing how things work and how people get stuff done in marshland, prairies, conference rooms, and kitchens. Even our classroom time is usually outdoors being close to the rest of Creation!
Regardless of what you want to do after college — whether pursue further studies in one of many sustainability-related fields or dive right into the challenging and thrilling work of solving problems in communities — studying sustainability at Goshen will prepare you for it!
In the sustainability program, you will learn to:
Learn more about the Sustainability Semester, a key part of the sustainability major or sustainability minor. (The video references an older term for this semester, but many of its pieces are still right on point!)
Dr. John Mischler, associate professor of sustainability and environmental education, has recently been honored with a Fulbright fellowship.
Since November 2024, Ben Beachy has worked in the White House as a Special Assistant to President Biden for climate policy, industrial sector and community investment.
Professor of Economics Jerrell Ross Richer ’85 has been at the forefront of revitalizing the global economics minor at Goshen College, infusing it with a focus on climate change and sustainability.
Goshen College has been recognized as a “Tree Campus USA” school by the Arbor Day Foundation
One of the greenest colleges in the country – Sierra Magazine
Acres of land to explore at GC’s Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center
Ranking among the 40 best college farms, according to CollegeRanker.com
Learn more about Goshen College's exceptional academic outcomes and national rankings.
Noemi Salvador, a 2017 peace, justice and conflict studies graduate from Quito, Ecuador, is passionate about raising awareness of environmental issues in Ecuador.
Noemi's storyWhen Ryan becomes Goshen College’s first sustainable food systems graduate in 2019, his resume will include familiarity with both small scale sustainable farming and conventional farming practices.
Ryan's storyBekah’s major was environmental science, but she has a particular passion for food systems. Bekah helped to develop the garden outside of Goshen College’s cafeteria and led the campus composting program.
Bekah's storyBryan Hernandez Rodriguez ’23, a computer science and sustainability studies double major, dreamed of coming to Goshen College as a kid. Now, he’s dreaming of working for Tesla.
Bryan's storyKhampha Stempel, a '21 sustainability studies major, reflects on faith and learning.
Khampha's storyJose is a multi-talented sustainability studies and sociology double major who has found ways to be a leader at Goshen College.
José's storyJonathon Schramm
Professor of Sustainability and Environmental Education
Contact me with questions!
John Mischler
Assistant Professor of Sustainability and Environmental Education & Director of ASI
Ruth Mischler
Assistant Professor of Sustainability and Environmental Education
Luke Kreider
Assistant Professor of Religion and Sustainability
Jeremiah Sharp
Residence Life Coordinator & Environmental Educator