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Professional Development

Hear from university employees and students about their professional development experiences related to sustainability.

Jamie Johnson’s Experience with Karen Pryor Academy Comprehensive Dog Trainer Program Guest PostsProfessional DevelopmentSDG15SDG4Sustainability in Action

Jamie Johnson’s Experience with Karen Pryor Academy Comprehensive Dog Trainer Program

By Jamie Johnson* Last year I was given the opportunity to complete the Karen Pryor Academy Comprehensive Dog Trainer Program, and to sum it up, it has completely changed my outlook. I was interested in taking this course for several reasons and I am happy that I did. For starters,…
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February 6, 2026
Ben Raines “America’s Amazon” Tour of Upper Mobile-Tensaw River Delta Professional DevelopmentSDG17Sustainability in ActionUncategorized

Ben Raines “America’s Amazon” Tour of Upper Mobile-Tensaw River Delta

By Christopher Keirstead* In early November of 2025 I participated in a group tour of the Upper Mobile-Tensaw River Delta led by environmental journalist, photographer, and documentary filmmaker Ben Raines. Raines is also the author of two books that grow out of his deep knowledge of the history and ecology of the…
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November 11, 2025
Learning and Growing at the National Sustainability Society Conference Professional DevelopmentSDG17SDG4Sustainability in ActionUpdates

Learning and Growing at the National Sustainability Society Conference

By Emily Moore* On October 20-22, 2025, the staff of the Auburn University Office of Sustainability attended the second annual National Sustainability Society (NSS) Conference held at the University of Notre Dame. Our crew of intrepid travelers included Program Manager Amy Strickland, Outreach and Communications Manager Jen Morse, and their student intern team:…
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October 29, 2025
Sustainability in Transportation: Insights from the 2025 Annual Meeting of Transportation Research Board Professional DevelopmentSDG11SDG12SDG9

Sustainability in Transportation: Insights from the 2025 Annual Meeting of Transportation Research Board

By Dr. Huaguo Zhou   Dr. Zhou at the TRB Annual Meeting. The Transportation Research Board (TRB) serves as a platform for addressing transportation challenges, bringing together experts, researchers, and policymakers to explore solutions in how people and goods move—whether by car, train, plane, or bicycle. This year, I had the…
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March 20, 2025
Navigating Toward Sustainability at the 2024 ITAA Annual Conference Professional DevelopmentSDG12SDG4

Navigating Toward Sustainability at the 2024 ITAA Annual Conference

By Dr. Amrut Sadachar Dr. Amrut Sadachar (left) and Dr. Srikant Manchiraju (right) presenting poster on linkages between morale identity, emotional intelligence, and unethical consumer behavior From November 20 to 23, 2024, I had the privilege of attending the International Textiles and Apparel Association (ITAA) Annual Conference in Long Beach,…
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December 3, 2024
The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education 2023 Conference Guest PostsProfessional DevelopmentSustainability in Action

The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education 2023 Conference

By Jesse Teel* Jesse in Boston I attended The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) annual conference in Boston at the end of October. The timing was perfect for a visit to Boston, with many trees displaying vibrant autumn colors, a hint of winter in the…
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January 19, 2024
Sustainable, Functional Nanocomposites for Energy Applications Professional DevelopmentSDG7SDG9Sustainability in Action

Sustainable, Functional Nanocomposites for Energy Applications

By Xinyu Zhang* Functional nanocomposites are composed with different combinations from a large selection of nanomaterials, such as nanocarbons, metal oxides/chalcogenides, carbides, phosphides, polymers, etc., which possess superior mechanical, thermal and electrical properties, leading to broad applications in smart structures, chemical sensors, energy storage and nano-electronic devices. However, the high…
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January 12, 2024
Energy Efficiency is in the Air Guest PostsProfessional DevelopmentSDG11SDG12Updates

Energy Efficiency is in the Air

By Betsy Farrell Garcia* Extending the applied research in housing access and affordability conducted by faculty and students at Auburn University Rural Studio, the faculty-led Front Porch Initiative works with not-for-profit builder partners across the southeast offering housing products and technical assistance to build houses to beyond-code standards. As of…
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April 28, 2023