Presidian Blog

The idea of mainstreaming sustainability has entered into my psyche over the past decade or more. I think about it when I remember graphs presented at board meetings at the Rocky Mountain Institute—bringing a certain practice to scale until it reaches a tipping point and becomes adopted by a particular industry or society as a …

Since the publication of Aldo Leopold’s “A Sand County Almanac” and Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring,” our skies have become increasingly silent; our oceans, lakes, and rivers are increasingly empty. Research suggests we are fast approaching the disastrous effects of this sixth extinction, geologically referred to as the Anthropocene. By embedding agriculture in nature, however, we …

We are observing that sustainability and impact professionals are starting to address racial justice as a part of their work more consistently. Today, we hear from guest blogger Alice Korngold, author, thought leader and President & CEO of Korngold Consulting, who shares her perspectives on why racial equity is fundamental to achieving sustainability. The 2030 …

As part of the ongoing work we are doing at Presidio Graduate School (PGS) in the area of equity and social justice, we are hosting an event where we will explore the intersection of racial equity and philanthropy. Corporations and foundations have recently pledged billions of dollars to combat racial equity and justice issues. The …

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down and speaking with Melynnie Rizvi who is Deputy General Counsel and Senior Director of Employment, Inclusion, and Impact at SurveyMonkey. Melynnie holds a powerful role which includes leading both diversity and sustainability. We talked about her journey in this work and some of the important things she …

As COVID-19 rages around the world and antiracists agitate against police brutality, climate change remains the existential threat in the background. It may not always be the breaking news story or the latest viral video, as has been the case with the recent series of devastating wildfires on the West Coast, but its disastrous impacts …

In our Changemakers in Action series, we meet dedicated sustainability and social justice leaders and learn how they are bringing about positive change. We’re pleased to launch this series by interviewing PGS alumna Chandra Alexandre, Ph.D., CEO of Community Action Marin, the largest nonprofit human services provider in Marin County. Chandra, who received her MBA …

We regularly interview Presidio Graduate School alumni to learn how they are applying their degrees to address sustainability and social justice challenges in their lives and work. We recently caught up with Bay Area locals Tessa Rudnick (MPA, 2011) and Chance Cutrano (MPA, 2019) on their respective campaign trails. Tessa was most recently the IT …

The way questions are framed, the order in which they are delivered, and the tone of voice used to ask them are all part of the delicate art of asking questions. Good questions inspire change, challenge mindsets, and create bridges. As part of the PGS Consults team, my colleagues and I are tasked with understanding …

Each summer, the Presidio Graduate School team works on annual goals to take us through the next fiscal year to align with our top organizational goals and three-year strategic plan. Last summer, we created Presidio’s first official DEI workgroup, which launched a student advisory committee under the leadership of faculty advisor Donna LaSala. Last academic …