The Columbia Climate School’s Office of Undergraduate Programs, previously known as the Undergraduate Program in Sustainable Development (SDEV), is undergoing changes that reflect the Climate School’s growing multidisciplinary and collaborative approach to sustainability.

The new Office Of Undergraduate Programs will encompass all undergraduate programs administered through the Climate School, which now include a new major in Climate and Sustainability—jointly offered with the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences—and a minor in Sustainable Development. These expanded offerings incorporate natural sciences, social sciences and humanities in addressing climate and sustainability issues, and bring together students and professors with varied experiences and interests to tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges.

The program also recently announced a change in leadership, with co-directors Jason Smerdon and Ruth DeFries stepping down later this year. New co-directors Leah Aronowsky, an assistant professor specializing in the history of climate science, denialism and policy inaction, and Joerg M. Schaefer, a Lamont research professor focused on geochemistry, sea-level rise and climate-related hazards, will bring their complementary expertise to lead the programs.

Smerdon and DeFries, who inaugurated the launch of the special concentration in sustainable development in 2007, expressed their enthusiasm about the next phase of the programs and the expected growth and success of the undergraduate efforts. “Ruth and I have found working, learning and growing with our amazing students to be a source of inspiration and community for more than a decade. Engaging our students’ passion, energy and commitment to building a sustainable future has been a consistent and meaningful reminder of the hope and promise that this moment holds,” Smerdon said.

This leadership transition was first announced during the program’s welcome back event on September 19th, where students, faculty and staff gathered at the Baylander, a ship-turned-restaurant docked in the Hudson River, to connect and hear updates about the year ahead. The event attracted both currently enrolled and prospective students interested in learning about the Climate School’s undergraduate academic offerings.

In an effort to encourage students’ engagement in sustainability beyond the classroom, the event also featured the Student Union for Sustainable Development (SUSD), the only undergraduate student-run organization focusing on sustainability and offering professional development, academic support and community-building opportunities. SUSD serves as a space for students interested in sustainability, providing resources for involvement in energy, sustainability and climate change efforts on campus.

In his classes, Schaefer focuses not only on science but also on broader questions of climate justice and political challenges, acknowledging that climate is deeply political and cannot be separated from community issues or political history. He aims to foster discussions where students grapple with these complexities, understanding their role in addressing global climate issues.

 “Leah is a historian and looks at things completely differently than I do, and that has been extremely fruitful and very satisfying,” Schaefer said of his co-directorship with Aronowsky,

With nearly 200 students, the sustainable development major remains the largest climate-related undergraduate major within Columbia College. As the program expands, students will have the opportunity to further engage in interdisciplinary studies, equipping them with a foundation in climate science while emphasizing the impacts of climate change on humanity and the importance of a just transition.

Schaefer and Aronowsky’s vision for the program aligns with the goals of the previous co-directors to expand outreach and recruitment. They aim to reach more students—especially those who may not be aware of the program’s offerings—and broaden the curriculum to include more fieldwork.

“I see transformation in students when they go out into the field and look at problems in real life,” Schaefer said. These experiences, he hopes, will help students integrate their knowledge of climate science, politics and justice into meaningful climate action.

To stay connected and learn more about future events, follow Columbia Climate School’s Office of Undergraduate Programs on LinkedIn and Instagram.