Largest Campus Sustainability Conference Heads to Portland, Oregon

Portland, OR — Themed Innovation for Sustainable Economies & Communities, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) 2014 Conference & Expo will be held in Portland, Oregon on October 26–29.

“The annual Conference & Expo is a very important and ‘must attend’ event for like-minded higher education sustainability professionals to come together to learn, share ideas and best practices with one another and take back to their institutions,” says AASHE Executive Director Stephanie A. Herrera. “We are excited and proud to see this year’s conference come together in one of the most sustainable American cities in the country, and look forward to unveiling the location for the 2015 AASHE Conference & Expo.”

The AASHE Conference & Expo is the largest gathering of higher education sustainability professionals and students in North America. Attendees from around the world will come together at AASHE 2014 to network and share new innovations, activities, frameworks, learning outcomes, tools, strategies, research, theory and leadership initiatives that are changing the face of sustainability on their campus and surrounding communities.

At the Oregon Convention Center, a LEED-certified building, everyone can look forward to hearing:

  • Annie Leonard, Greenpeace USA executive director and “Story of Stuff” creator, featured keynote
  • Marcelo Bonta, founder of Environmental Professionals of Color and the Center for Diversity & the Environment, Monday keynote
  • Rob Bennett, founder and CEO of EcoDistricts, Tuesday keynote
  • Andy Keller, president and founder of ChicoBags, opening Student Summit keynote
  • Anna Lappé, national bestselling author and sustainable food advocate, closing Student Summit keynote

These inspirational speakers are sure to excite and leave attendees with a drive to increase sustainability efforts at their college or university.

Attendees can also expect a full schedule with pre- and post-conference workshops focused on AASHE’s STARS program, leadership training and other professional development opportunities in addition to an Expo Hall with innovative products and services and sessions that will ignite participants to take action.

Plenary session topics include:

  • Promising Practices for Transformative Sustainability Education
  • Indigenous Practices for Sustainability
  • Driving Innovations Simultaneously at the Economy, Community and Campus Scale
  • Data to Action: Advancing Sustainability Investment Decisions

To view the agenda and to learn more about this year’s educational program, please visit the AASHE 2014 Conference & Expo website.

About the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) 
AASHE is helping to create a brighter future of opportunity for all by advancing sustainability in higher education. By creating a diverse community engaged in sharing ideas and promising practices, AASHE provides administrators, faculty, staff and students, as well as the businesses that serve them, with: thought leadership and essential knowledge resources; outstanding opportunities for professional development; and a unique framework for demonstrating the value and competitive edge created by sustainability initiatives. For more information, visit www.aashe.org.

Featured

  • Spaces4Learning Announces 2026 Product Award Winners

    Spaces4Learning has just announced the winners of the 2026 Product Awards! The award program spotlights outstanding product development achievements of manufacturers and suppliers whose products or services are considered to be particularly noteworthy in their ability to enhance K–12 and higher-education learning environments.

  • Construction Begins on 100+ Acre K–12 Campus Designed for Lakota Culture

    The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (CRST) and the Cheyenne-Eagle Butte School District in Eagle Butte, S.D., recently broke ground on a new K–12 campus that will cover more than 100 acres and serve students and families across 1,600 square miles, according to a news release.

  • Phoenix High School Completes First Phase of Campus Renovations

    Metro Tech High School, part of the Phoenix Union High School District (PXU) in Phoenix, Ariz., recently announced the completion of the first stage of a campus renovation project, according to a news release. The school reopened a series of public-facing business operations spaces including credit union, daycare, floral, cosmetology, and culinary services. It also includes new CTE learning spaces for the school’s nursing assistant, pharmacy, and sports medicine programs.

  • Designing Third Spaces That Do What AI Can't

    In 2026, education is evolving faster than ever. With AI reshaping everything from lesson planning to personalized instruction, schools and universities are turning their attention to what AI can’t replicate: spaces that foster collaboration, community, and creativity.