Two Gifts Will Support Next Generation of Climate Leaders

October 17, 2023

For decades, Middlebury students and alumni have been at the forefront of the climate action movement—fostering student activism; shifting to carbon neutrality; fighting for divestment from fossil fuels; promoting investment in renewable energy; and founding 350.org, a global movement to address the climate crisis.

Two students stand in a garden with large buckets of produce. — Previous Climate Action Fellows Remi Welbel ‘22.5 and CJ (Christine) Nabung ‘22.5 show off some abundant produce from the Knoll. (Credit: Megan Brakeley )

A new partnership with Erol and NextWorld Philanthropies will build on Energy2028, Middlebury’s hallmark climate-action plan, and lay the groundwork for educating the next generation of transformative leaders. Energy2028 has as one of its core principles a commitment to integrating environmental literacy into the curriculum; since 2019, faculty, students, and staff have been leading the way.

Now Erol, a philanthropic foundation, has pledged up to $3 million over 10 years to support expansion of the College’s Climate Action Program (CAP). NextWorld Philanthropies has also pledged $4 million to endow CAP and ensure its work to prepare the next generation of climate leaders will continue. These gifts will ensure that Middlebury students understand the scope and impact of the climate crisis and provide opportunities to engage in climate efforts, whatever their backgrounds, disciplines, and career paths may be.

“Thanks to this creative and generous support, Middlebury can pilot new initiatives, expanding our efforts to meet the urgent need for action,” said President Laurie L. Patton. “This initiative builds on decades of dedicated and exceptional work by our faculty, and I am grateful for their ongoing commitment.”

Thanks to this creative and generous support, Middlebury can pilot new initiatives, expanding our efforts to meet the urgent need for action. This initiative builds on decades of dedicated and exceptional work by our faculty, and I am grateful for their ongoing commitment.

— President Laurie L. Patton

Expanding the Climate Action Program

The Climate Action Program was launched in the fall of 2020 with support from Erol. Led by founder Minna Brown ’07, the program’s goal is to provide educational opportunities related to climate and sustainability in partnership with faculty and organizations across campus.

The expanded Climate Action Program will include the following:

Experiential, interdisciplinary opportunities that provide students with a foundation in climate change throughout their time at Middlebury through orientation, courses, dynamic guest lectures and workshops, study-abroad experiences, and a climate certificate.
Paid fellowships, enabling students from various backgrounds and disciplines to engage in collaborative thinking and skill development on how to confront the climate crisis.
Pathways for students to explore climate-related careers and connect them with alumni and parent mentors.

A student smiles at the camera outside with blue sky behind. — As part of his Climate Action Fellowship, Andrés Oyaga ’23 traveled to Mexico for an agroecology farmer-to-farmer exchange. He is now Middlebury’s staff climate action coordinator. (Credit: Photo Provided )

The gifts also will enable Middlebury to share the Climate Action Program model with other colleges and universities across the country, preparing more students to create sustainable change.

These additions are consistent with Middlebury’s long-time commitment to developing and proposing solutions to the climate crisis and is in alignment with the call from notable global climate activists, including Middlebury’s most recent Commencement speaker, noted President Laurie L. Patton.

“In her commencement address in May, marine biologist and climate leader Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson told graduates that ‘what this moment in history requires is a tenacious focus on solutions, and a vision of what we are working toward, of what is possible,” Patton said. “The Climate Action Program exemplifies that focus and enables us to address what Ayana called the ‘all-encompassing challenge…to transform society, from extractive to regenerative.’”

Student stands on campus with arms folded — Climate Action Fellow Mariia Dzholos ’24, an economics major, worked on a climate risk project with Wellington Management in Boston during the summer of 2023. (Credit: Todd Balfour )

The Power of Community

“The Climate Action Program helps people navigate their roles in addressing climate change—whether or not they choose to work in environmental fields,” Brown said. “We publicize existing opportunities and create new ones for people to bring their interests and skills and passions to this effort, to make the connection between those interests and climate action.”

One key way that CAP achieves its goal is through the Climate Action Fellowship program, a year-long opportunity for students to develop meaningful ways to confront the climate crisis. Each cohort member spends the summer working with relevant organizations or tackling independent projects, coming together to compare notes and build community. When fellows return to campus in the fall, they focus on projects designed to create pathways for all students to gain the knowledge, motivation, and capacity to act on climate change in just and equitable ways. Projects have ranged from ESG (environmental, social, and governance) investing to research on using mycelium as sound insulation material to an independent film project.

Remi Welbel ’23, who spent a year away from Middlebury to found Zumwalt Acres, an Illinois farm conducting research and piloting regenerative agricultural practices, said her time at Middlebury and the farm has shown her that change can come with “hope, perseverance, and action.” Her goal: to “galvanize a coalition of people who believe that we can, and must, transform our food system.” Through her experience as a fellow, she said, “I have seen the power of community and strength that comes with bringing people together who share ideas about what a better future could look like.”

Students sitting at round tables in a large room watch a speaker on a projection screen. — Students, faculty, and staff gathered in Wilson Hall to hear a keynote talk by adrienne maree brown, author of *Emergent Strategy* and *Pleasure Activism*, and cohost of “How to Survive the End of the World,” during the 2021 Clifford Symposium. The talk was facilitated by Ivonne Juarez Serna ‘23, right. (Credit: Todd Balfour )

Pathways to Climate Action

The new funding will also accelerate the program’s work with the Center for Careers and Internships to connect students with alumni through a Climate Mentors Network; career panels, and job treks; and the establishment of internships and career paths with organizations connected to alumni.

Successive generations of students have worked to make the College and the world more sustainable, noted Bill McKibben, writer, activist, and Middlebury Schumann Scholar in Residence. “There’s no institution this size in America that has produced more people who went on to play huge roles in the cause of defending our climate—no one even comes close.

“That’s because Middlebury has always understood that while the classroom is important, it’s not the only thing that matters—giving students a chance to engage in real and profound ways is what trains them to play the role their generation must play in the defense of our planet.”

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