The Sustainability & Resilience Ambassador program empowers students, faculty, and staff at UW-Milwaukee to engage in change-making on campus by deploying a sustainability mindset. Participants take part in a series of three workshops, and then can choose to stay involved in Action Teams. This professional development opportunity combines learning sustainability frameworks, building a stronger connection to the UWM community, and applying a sustainability mindset to solving challenges big and small.
Registration is required to participate. Priority registration for Fall 2026 Cohort is Friday, September 25th at 5PM. Register online by submitting this form.
Program Overview
- Who: This program is open to UWM students, faculty, and staff. We are looking for individuals who are interesting in taking on challenges and working towards creative solutions. Sustainability is rewarding work, and it is also kind of hard. To do it well, it often takes time, resilience, curiosity, and navigating the unknown. We are looking for participants who are up for a challenge and who want to be a part of positive, intentional change. No previous sustainability experience required!
- What: The Sustainability and Resilience Ambassador Program is an interactive training program that engages students, faculty, and staff in sustainability efforts at UWM. Through collaboration, we find ways to incorporate sustainability solutions into departments and organizations across campus. As a participant, you will:
- Learn about key sustainability frameworks, programs and initiatives at UWM, and about the interconnected nature of sustainability, health, and the environment.
- Engage with stakeholders across campus in discussions to identify and advance sustainability and resilience goals and create a culture of sustainability innovation, in and out of the classroom.
- Embrace a sustainability mindset in individual, departmental, institutional, and community service.
- Take action and build the momentum needed to implement innovative solutions to complex sustainability challenges.
- Why: We are collectively facing the challenges of a changing world. We need to implement individual and institutional-scale solutions to solve problems, advance priorities, and create a better future for campus and beyond. We believe that a sustainability mindset can be applied to just about any challenge. On a personal scale, this professional development opportunity can support performance reviews, build your resume, and give you experience in sustainability and systems thinking change. On a collective scale, this program helps create a more sustainable campus community.
- How: Participants in the Sustainability Ambassador Program take part in three (3) interactive training workshops across the course of the fall semester. Workshops are 60-90 minutes sessions offered in virtual and in-person forms. Workshops are sequential with a new workshop offered in September, October, and November, and each virtual session is recorded. After workshop completion, Ambassadors continue participation through optional Collaborative Action Teams focused on specific topics.
- When: the Fall 2026 Cohort Workshops are offered in in-person or virtual options:
- Workshop #1 “Sustainability is a Mindset”
- In-Person on Tuesday, September 29th from 9:30-11AM (Architecture & Urban Planning Marcus Commons)
- Virtual on Wednesday, September 30th from 4-5PM (TEAMS)
- Workshop #2 “Sustainability at UWM”
- In-Person on Tuesday, October 13th from 9:30-11AM (Architecture & Urban Planning Marcus Commons)
- Virtual on Tuesday, October 13th from 4-5PM (TEAMS)
- Workshop #3 “Ideas to Actions”
- In-Person on Tuesday, November 10th from 9:30-11AM (Architecture & Urban Planning Marcus Commons)
- Virtual on Wednesday, November 11th from 4-5PM (TEAMS)
- Workshop #1 “Sustainability is a Mindset”
Interested But Can’t Join in Fall 2026?
If you are interested in joining a future cohorot, please complete the Interest Form to receive notifications about future Ambassador session dates.
Current Priorities for Action Teams
Active Sustainability and Resilience Ambassadors represent students, faculty, and staff from 30 different departments and academic programs across campus. Current Action Team priorities include improving UWM’s use of SWAG and supporting new options for food recovery programs.
- Contact: Lindsay Frost, Sustainability Director, with any questions (lgfrost@uwm.edu).
- Note: Participation is voluntary! Please ensure that your supervisor is aware and approves of your participation!
- Register here for Fall 2026 Cohort!