Zilkha Center for Environmental Initiatives

Mission

The Zilkha Center for Environmental Initiatives will work with students, faculty, and staff to incorporate principles of sustainability into the fabric of campus life - in learning, in our purchasing and operations, in capital projects, and in the daily routines of us all. It will lead the development and management of a strategic plan for sustainability to include energy management and greenhouse gas emissions reductions, waste management, environment-friendly development and purchasing, and student involvement and education. This work will complement the already strong academic programs of our longstanding Center for Environmental Studies.

The Zilkha Center is located on the first floor of Hopkins Hall, as part of the Office of the Vice President for Operations and is currently led by Stephanie Boyd, Acting Director.

In an announcement to the Williams community in September, 2007, President Morty Schapiro noted that: "Achieving our Board-approved goal of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 to ten percent below their 1990-91 levels will require creative and bold initiatives that call on investments of College time, money, and intellectual efforts. I'm encouraged by the commitment to these efforts shown already by so many in the Williams community and by this magnificent gift."

Our great thanks go to Selim Zilkha, class of '46, and his family and to all in the Williams community who have brought us to this point - a new chapter in the history of our College operations.