Foggy Bottom Connections: Climate Leadership at George Washington University

A crisp March chill lingered over the George Washington University (GW) as students hurried between classes under a bright, early spring sunlight. With its campus woven into the fabric of downtown Washington, D.C., GW serves as a natural place for conversations about sustainability, policy, and justice. That commitment is reflected in the university’s sustainability leadership, expressed through the interdisciplinary GW Alliance for a Sustainable Future, which connects research, education, and cross-sector collaboration to advance practical climate solutions.

Against this backdrop, the Rachel Carson Council (RCC) spent the day deepening relationships with students, faculty, and partners committed to building a more just and sustainable future.

On Wednesday, March 18, RCC’s Director of Campus and Civic Engagement Diego Tovar and Director of Policy and Strategic Development Joy Reeves joined Prof, Michael Svoboda for a full day of engagement across GW’s sustainability community. The visit opened with an appearance in class SUST 2002: The Sustainable City, taught by Prof. Sandra Whitehead, where Tovar and Reeves spoke with students about RCC’s work at the intersection of environmental justice, storytelling, and policy. This culminated with sharing about the National Environmental Leadership Fellowship to empower GW students to bring forth new environmental justice projects on their campus.

Svoboda, Reeves, and Tovar.

From there, the conversation continued in SUST 3093: Grateful Death and SUST 3097: Culminating Experience in Sustainability, where students considered how sustainability takes shape both in the classroom and through hands-on work such as internships, research, and community engagement. Together, these conversations highlighted the importance of translating academic knowledge into real-world impact, reinforcing RCC’s mission to support students as they navigate careers that integrate environmental protection, social equity, and health.

Woman with bird, reminiscent of Rachel Carson.

The day’s midpoint brought a gathering at the GW Alliance for a Sustainable Future headquarters, where faculty, staff, and students came together over coffee and cookies. Through its work connecting academic research, student learning, and cross-sector collaboration, the Alliance for a Sustainable Future helps position GW as a hub for practical climate leadership. It provided a fitting setting for conversations about expanding student opportunities and strengthening institutional partnerships. RCC met with Executive Director Donna Attanasio, Program Manager Erin Carlin, and Professors Margaret Gonglewski (Director of Academic Programs, Monica Lee, and Svoboda, alongside students interested in RCC fellowships and collaborative opportunities.

Later in the afternoon, Tovar and Reeves joined SUST 2004: Introduction to Sustainability Communication, taught by Prof. Lee, where they discussed how effective communication can bridge the gap between science, policy, and public engagement. The visit concluded with a final conversation among Svoboda, Reeves, and Tovar about ways to deepen RCC’s relationship with GW and expand opportunities for student engagement. By the close of the day, the George Washington University was formally welcomed as RCC’s 94th Rachel Carson Campus Network member, marking an exciting step toward future collaboration between RCC and GW’s robust sustainability community.