Five university presidents to headline last session of UOG’s sustainability conference

Leaders from eight island universities and colleges came together to exchange sustainability initiatives within their respective campuses for the Presidential Summit at the 10th UOG Regional Conference on Island Sustainability in April 2019. From left, Dr. Robert A. Underwood, president emeritus, UOG; Seok-eon Song, president, Jeju National University; Elsa Manarpaac, president, Western Philippines University; Frankie M. Eliptico, interim president, Northern Marianas College; Thomas W. Krise, president, UOG; Therese Koroivulaono, president, College of the Marshall Islands; Mary A.Y. Okada, president, Guam Community College; Dale Webber, principal and pro vice chancellor, University of the West Indies, Mona campus; and Dr. David Lassner, president, University of Hawaii. (UNIVERSITY OF GUAM)

The University of Guam Virtual Conference Series on Island Sustainability will end tomorrow with its seventh and final installment featuring a lineup of university presidents and capacity builders from across the globe.

The session will take place at 9am, focusing on the theme of “Achieving A Sustainable Global Future through Quality Education and Capacity Building.” Registration is free at www.uog.edu/cis2020.

The panel of speakers, who collectively oversee a student population of more than 150,000, will focus on the critical role universities and educational programs play in achieving a global sustainable future. Panelists will share different approaches they are taking to prepare students and their communities to engage in sustainability solutions.

Panel 1, moderated by UOG senior vice president and provost Anita Borja Enriquez, will focus on “Quality Education” and will feature Michael M. Crow, president, Arizona State University; David Hall, president, University of the Virgin Islands; Harlene Hayne, vice chancellor, University of Otago (New Zealand); Thomas W. Krise, president, University of Guam; and David Lassner, president, University of Hawaii.

Panel 2, moderated by Rachael T. Leon Guerrero, vice provost for research and sponsored programs at UOG, will focus on “Building Capacity” and will feature Carlos J. Crespo, vice provost for undergraduate training in biomedical research, Portland State University; T. Kā`eo Duarte, vice president of community engagement and resources, Kamehameha Schools; Kristin Wilson Grimes, research assistant professor, Center for Marine & Environmental Studies, University of the Virgin Islands; and Sonia Zárate, president, Society of the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science

The virtual conference series launched on May 1 in place of the University of Guam’s annual weeklong Conference on Island Sustainability. As a virtual event, the conference saw record-breaking participation with the first session and has now reached 1,800 total participants from 78 countries, states, and territories, along with more than 12,350 views on social media.

The conference is co-chaired by Krise and Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero and has featured more than three dozen speakers and moderators from across the globe on topics including clean energy, COVID-19, the circular economy, traditional navigation, gender equality, and women in business.

All sessions from the conference, including the TED Talks-style “CIS Seed Talks,” are viewable at www.uog.edu/cis2020. (PR)