Welcome to TEC
February 11, 2022
Dean Walker joined officials from Drexel University and the Academy of Natural Sciences for the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Thank you, Provost Jensen.
And good morning, my Drexel colleagues, Academy trustees, our esteemed external partners, and of course, our talented students who are actively engaged and contributing to sustainability efforts.
It gives me great joy to be a part of today’s celebration, both personally and professionally.
As a native Californian, it took the promise of innovation, collaboration and collegiality to draw me to the East Coast. Well, that, and – while 2021 wasn’t their year – to join the home of the Eagles the same year they won the Super Bowl…
In all seriousness, though, what drew me to Drexel was the potential for interdisciplinary initiatives within the university, collaborations across Philadelphia and the region. In the four years since I’ve been here, we have realized so much of this potential with even more on the horizon, and The Environmental Collaboratory is certainly a part of that.
For example, you’ve already heard mention of his name, but on behalf of the College of Engineering, I would like to recognize Dr. Franco Montalto for his efforts and role in advancing Drexel Climate Year, as well as his contributions to the college’s environmental stewardship.
In fact, just this quarter, in his role as Director of the North American Hub of the Urban Climate Change Research Network, Dr. Montalto organized an official side event at COP26, the UN Climate Change Conference held in Glasgow, Scotland. Entitled “Scaling Up: Case Studies in Collaboration Between Cities and Higher Education to Promote Climate Action,” this well-attended event was the first official side event organized by Drexel since it obtained official observer status to the UNFCCC process.
And the Philadelphia Inquirer in collaboration with Drexel’s Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation, recently published a series of essays around the theme “Rebuilding Philly: Perspectives on how the city can recover from the pandemic,” featuring pieces not just by Dr. Montalto but Dr. Youngmoo Kim as well on the interconnected nature of social justice and the environment and access to technology, respectively.
I’m also so grateful for the support of President Fry, Provost Jensen and University leadership of our college strategic plan. In Engineering, we are accelerating the infusion of sustainability approaches across the curriculum and administrative operations, and hiring faculty in thematic areas of sustainability and energy. In particular, our focus on cluster hires and collaboration with other initiatives – like The Environmental Collaboratory – will be key to catalyzing curricular innovation and faculty projects and research.
Of course, so many others across campus are critical to this initiative. Like the College of Arts and Sciences. With that, I’d like to turn the mic over to Dr. Kelly Joyce, Dean of CoAS.