Center for the Environment, Ecological Design & Sustainability (CEEDS)

The Center for the Environment, Ecological Design and Sustainability (CEEDS) exists with one purpose: We facilitate academic and applied experiences for students that help them excel at integrating knowledge across disciplines, in support of environmental decisions and action.

We work to integrate sustainable practices into Smith’s operations and connect campus operations with student learning. We also support faculty in their efforts to deepen their understanding of salient environmental issues and to integrate those issues into the curricula. We promote institutional innovation and progress toward the college’s commitment to be a model of sustainability.

Want to see what we’ve been up to? Check out our latest newsletter.

Our Mission

The mission of CEEDS is to catalyze, enable, and support campus inquiry and action toward positive sustainable change at Smith and in the world by engaging our community through academics, college operations, co-curricular programming, and research.

We support the Environmental Science and Policy program, offer the Environmental Concentration, act as an internal consultant for sustainable operations, manage the MacLeish Field Station, direct the Spatial Analysis Lab, host numerous internships and independent studies, offer a welcoming space for people to gather, connect, and learn, and are an intersection for students and faculty to explore how and where to make change.

Events Calendar

From pressing fresh apple cider during Family Weekend to lectures on the ins and outs of environmental law, CEEDS is always involved in something exciting on campus. Check out our events calendar to stay up-to-date with what we’re doing.

View CEEDS Events

Professor Susan Sayre

Our New Faculty Director

Associate Professor of Economics Susan Sayre is the new faculty director for CEEDS. Read about her journey to Smith, her work in sustainability, and her hopes for this new position.

More About Professor Sayre

Geothermal by the Numbers

Wondering what’s going on with the geothermal project? Check out some quick stats.

~40%

percentage of Smith buildings currently operating on geothermal energy

0

remaining number of wellfield boreholes needing to be drilled

40 feet

length of the pipe signed by the community during Smith‘s 150th birthday party

Beth Hooker joined Professor of Geology Amy Rhodes ’91 in Idaho for the tenth annual Sun Valley Forum. Aimee Christensen ’91, founder of Christensen Global, created the forum to convene leaders, innovators, and change-makers from across sectors to address global sustainability challenges. The four-day event focused on building a resilient world, with a call to action to be “all in for nature.” Pictured, left to right: Mien Kauffman ’29, Amy Larson Rhodes ’91, Emily Robichaux ’05, Ann Christensen ’57, Aimee Christensen ’91