News Release

Chemeketa Community College Presents an Inspirational Keynote Speaker to Impress Sustainability in Higher Education

Salem, Ore. September 14, 2009

As part of a 40 year tradition, Chemeketa Community College hosted its annual kick-off event for all returning faculty and staff members. The event was treated as an in-service day and promoted relationship building, employee development and comradely.

This year stood out to employees because of Chemeketa’s featured keynote speaker and Chemeketa’s goals for sustainability on campus. Keynote speaker, Debra Rowe PhD addressed the integration of sustainability in education. Rowe is often a keynote speaker at national and international educational conferences and is the president of the United States Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development. Rowe has been a professor of energy management, renewable energy technology and psychology for over 29 years at Oakland Community College, in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. She also created and teaches energy management and renewable energies in an on-line format with support from the National Science Foundation. 

Faculty and staff listened intently while Rowe serenaded the crowd with rousing messages about sustainability. She challenged faculty and staff to teach sustainable practices in the classroom.

“How can we, as educators expect students to be an agent of change in our world, if we don’t incorporate sustainability in general education coursework?”  Rowe asked.

Chemeketa Community College will set the tone this academic year to incorporate sustainability as a part of their college wide goals. Employees will be encouraged to use sustainable practices in their workplace environments and share sustainable living practices with colleagues. Chemeketa will be developing a method for sharing its sustainability efforts with the public and continue working with the United States Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development.

Chemeketa Community College is a publicly-funded Oregon higher education institution serving Oregon's Mid-Willamette Valley. Chemeketa is dedicated to improving the lives of its students and strengthening the local workforce.

                                                    ###############

To submit a news item please fill out our "News and Event Submission Form".

Updated August 20, 2009 by PR.