Leadership for Sustainability

XMNR Program (total of 33 credits)

Orientation

This 2-day session (Friday and Saturday) builds a sense of community and commitment to teamwork among the cohort. Activities focus on group dynamics, learning styles, and conflict management strategies. Students meet with XMNR faculty and are introduced to university resources and services including the Library and Institute for Distance and Distributed Learning.

Courses

A series of core courses and learning modules, including professional skill development seminars, provide the foundation for the XMNR program.

Core courses focus on the development of strategic leadership, management, and administration skills for achieving local, regional, and global sustainability goals.

Learning modules and skill development seminars include topics such as: Social Media and Environmental Communications; Energy Efficiency, Conservation and Renewables; Public-Private Partnerships for Green Infrastructure; Urban Ecology and Sustainable Cities; Chesapeake Bay Watershed Management; International Transboundary Water Management and Governance; Regional Environmental Planning and Geospatial Analysis; Ecosystem Services, Environmental Finance and Ecological Economics.

Specific topics and content varies according to the needs of the students in each cohort. Students gain competencies in leading people, leading change, business and political acumen, and demonstrated results for their respective employer. For more information, see the Core Competencies section of this website.

International Residency

The International Residency is a distinctive 10-day experience planned and organized specifically for each cohort. The purpose is to network with international partners and learn about multi-scale strategies for global sustainability. Students gain a better understanding of the opportunities and constraints for working internationally and in an increasingly global society. Specific locations and topics vary but will likely focus on green infrastructure and sustainable development in Brazil, Russia, India, China and/or South Africa (the BRICS countries).

Capstone Project

Capstone Projects take a variety of forms depending on individual student interests and provide an opportunity for each student to reflect on the program and apply lessons learned to their own organization. The final product is the result of a 9-month process where each student works closely with a team of faculty and peer advisors to compete a project of their own design.