Debra Rowe

Rowe attended Yale University, receiving her B.A. (1977), before going to the University of Michigan, from which she earned an M.B.A. in business (1988), an M.A. in psychology (1989), and a Ph.D. in business (1991).{{cite web |title=Debra Rowe – Curriculum for sustainability |url=https://www.curriculumforsustainability.org/advisory-council/debra-rowe-2/ |website=Sustainability Curriculum Consortium}}{{cite web |title=Dr. Debra Rowe |url=https://livegreen.geneseo.edu/images/livegreenflier_bio.pdf |website=Live Green}}

Rowe co-designed and taught Campus and Corporate Sustainability at the University of Vermont while also teaching at the Oakland Community College (OCC) in Oakland County, Michigan. At OCC she taught classes in renewable energies, energy management and psychology.{{cite web |title=Officers |url=https://uspartnership.org/pages/leadership |website=The U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development |language=en}} She was a professor at OCC for 42 years, until her retirement in 2023.{{cite web |title=Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Agenda |date=February 21, 2023 |url=https://www.oaklandcc.edu/about/board-of-trustees/docs/2023/022123meetingpacket.pdf#search=Rowe%20Debra |website=Oakland Community College}} She was active in a wide range of strategic and curriculum planning activities as well as teaching.{{cite book |last1=Leone |first1=Katie |last2=Komisar |first2=Simeon |last3=III |first3=Edwin M. Everham |title=Making the Sustainable University: Trials and Tribulations |date=21 May 2021 |publisher=Springer Nature |isbn=978-981-334-477-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B6UvEAAAQBAJ&pg=PR10 |language=en}}{{cite book |last1=Barlett |first1=Peggy F. |last2=Chase |first2=Geoffrey W. |title=Sustainability on Campus: Stories and Strategies for Change |date=2 April 2004 |publisher=MIT Press |isbn=978-0-262-25071-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZDXDC0WE8bUC&dq=%22Debra+Rowe%22&pg=PA144 |language=en}}

In addition to addressing energy management, renewable energy and sustainability issues, Rowe has focused on the role of higher education in educating people about sustainability and in creating a workforce that can support a green economy and meet sustainability goals.{{cite book |last1=Martin |first1=James |title=The Sustainable University: Green Goals and New Challenges for Higher Education Leaders |date=14 March 2012 |publisher=JHU Press |isbn=978-1-4214-0459-2 |pages=145–147 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DZoAhumL8vQC&pg=PA145 |language=en}}{{cite journal |last1=Rowe |first1=Debra |title=Education for a Sustainable Future |journal=Science |date=20 July 2007 |volume=317 |issue=5836 |pages=323–324 |doi=10.1126/science.1143552 |pmid=17641184 |url=https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1143552 |language=en |issn=0036-8075|url-access=subscription }}{{cite book |last1=Pronto |first1=Lindon N. |title=Exploring German and American Modes of Pedagogical and Institutional Sustainability: Forging a Way into the Future |date=2012 |publisher=Pitzer Senior Theses |url=https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1021&context=pitzer_theses}}

As a consultant for the national Partnership for Environmental Technology Education (PETE), with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, Rowe created a model for an energy management degree, designed for use in community and technical colleges.{{cite book |last1=Martin |first1=James |title=The Sustainable University: Green Goals and New Challenges for Higher Education Leaders |date=14 March 2012 |publisher=JHU Press |isbn=978-1-4214-0459-2 |page=317 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DZoAhumL8vQC&pg=PA317 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Partnership for Environmental Technology Education - WTP Cooperative Agreement Awardee |url=https://www.niehs.nih.gov/careers/hazmat/awardees/pete/index.cfm |website=National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences |language=en}}

Rowe also edited the encyclopedia Achieving Sustainability: Vision, Principles and Practices (2014).{{cite journal |last1=Eflin |first1=James |title=Debra Rowe (Ed.): Achieving Sustainability: Visions, Principles, and Practices, 2 volumes (Gale/Cengage Learing) |journal=Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences |date=1 March 2015 |volume=5 |issue=1 |pages=85–86 |doi=10.1007/s13412-014-0209-5 |bibcode=2015JEnSS...5...85E |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s13412-014-0209-5 |language=en |issn=2190-6491|url-access=subscription }}

Rowe has been described as "a mover and shaker in the field of sustainability in higher education, and a consummate connector."{{cite journal |last1=Walton |first1=Judy |title=Interview with Judy Walton, an AASHE Lifetime Achievement Award Winner |journal=Sustainability |date=February 2020 |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=26–31 |doi=10.1089/sus.2020.29180.jw |issn=1937-0695|doi-access=free }}

She is the President of the U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development, based in Washington, DC and serves on the advisory council of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).{{cite web |title=Meet the AASHE Advisory Council Members Today! |url=https://www.aashe.org/about-us/who-we-are/advisory-council/ |website=The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education |date=2 November 2016 |access-date=7 September 2023}} In her work in the education sector, she focuses on the role of technical programs, schools, community colleges, universities and other higher education institutions as leaders in educating a population and a workforce that can support the development of a green economy and meet sustainability goals.

Rowe has co-founded related networks of organizations including the Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium (HEASC, 2005){{cite book |last1=Jacobs |first1=Bruce A. |title=Enhancing Sustainability Campuswide: New Directions for Student Services, Number 137 |date=17 April 2012 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-1-118-34580-1 |pages=9–10 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4ornxlMs_SQC&pg=PA10 |language=en}}

and the Disciplinary Associations Network for Sustainability (DANS, 2006{{cite book |last1=Calder |first1=Wynn |last2=Dautremont-Smith |first2=Julian |chapter=Higher Education: More and More Laboratories for Inventing a Sustainable Future |editor-last=Dernbach |editor-first=John C. |title=Agenda for a Sustainable America |date=2009 |publisher=Environmental Law Institute |location=Washington D.C. |pages=93–107 |url=http://ulsf.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/ESDHigherEdAmericaCalder20091.pdf}}){{cite journal |last1=Desha |first1=Cheryl |last2=Rowe |first2=Debra |last3=Hargreaves |first3=Doug |title=A review of progress and opportunities to foster development of sustainability-related competencies in engineering education |journal=Australasian Journal of Engineering Education |date=3 July 2019 |volume=24 |issue=2 |pages=61–73 |doi=10.1080/22054952.2019.1696652 |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/22054952.2019.1696652 |language=en |issn=2205-4952|hdl=10072/394416 |hdl-access=free }}{{cite book |last1=Desha |first1=Cheryl |last2=Hargroves |first2=Karlson 'Charlie' |title=Higher Education and Sustainable Development: A model for curriculum renewal |date=8 October 2013 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-134-66565-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bRpGAQAAQBAJ&pg=PT75 |language=en}}{{cite book |last1=Koehn |first1=Peter H. |last2=Uitto |first2=Juha I. |title=Universities and the Sustainable Development Future: Evaluating Higher-Education Contributions to the 2030 Agenda |date=7 April 2017 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-315-44995-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5z4lDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA268 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=HEASC |url=https://www.aashe.org/partners/heasc/ |website=The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education|date=2 November 2016 }}

Through the US Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development, Rowe mentors Change the Chamber*Lobby for Climate,{{cite web |title=Begin Here: Introduction & Orientation |url=https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5fa5f85e9998b469eb222fd6/t/656dd2c39ff367478f137ea8/1701696196800/Begin+Here+Introduction+%26+Orientation-2.pdf |website=Change the Chamber |access-date=4 July 2024}} a “nonpartisan coalition of young adults, 100+ student groups, and other allied organizations”.{{cite web |title=8 Intergenerational Climate Action "Learning from Stories for Change" |url=https://www.uufaithaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/EJTF-Newsletter-June-2024-FINAL.pdf |website=Environmental Justice Task Force Newsletter |date= June 2024}} The youth network creates materials and educates people on how to support environmental and social well-being and advocate for a sustainable future. Its mission is to “educate for science-based climate action... pursue meaningful change towards an equitable, sustainable future, and empower others to do the same."{{cite web |title=About Change the Chamber |url=https://www.changethechamber.org/about-change-the-chamber |website=Change The Chamber}}

Rowe has also been the Director of the Sustainability Education and Economic Development Center at the National Council for Workforce Education (NCWE), a council affiliated with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). There she co-created the National Clean Energy Workforce Alliance.{{cite news |last1=Dembicki |first1=Matthew |title=Q&A: Cultivating a diverse clean energy workforce - Community College Daily |url=https://www.ccdaily.com/2022/05/qa-cultivating-a-diverse-clean-energy-workforce/ |access-date=7 September 2023 |work=Community College Daily |publisher=American Association of Community Colleges |date=24 May 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Gwen |title=IREC Launches Cross-Sector Alliance to Grow a Diverse Clean Energy Workforce |url=https://irecusa.org/blog/workforce-development-training/irec-launches-cross-sector-alliance-to-grow-a-diverse-clean-energy-workforce/ |work=Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) |date=8 December 2021}}

Rowe chaired the Technical Advisory Group for the national Sustainability Education & Economic Development (SEED) Center, originally created by the AACC{{cite news |last1=Pulaski |first1=Jane |title=The SEED Center helps community colleges build green workforce development programs |url=https://irecusa.org/blog/irec/the-seed-center-helps-community-colleges-build-green-workforce-development-programs/ |work=Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) |date=13 April 2011}}{{cite news |last1=Ashford |first1=Ellie |title=New toolkit helps colleges meet job demand in renewables - Community College Daily |url=https://www.ccdaily.com/2020/08/new-toolkit-helps-colleges-meet-job-demand-in-renewables/ |work=Community College Daily |date=28 August 2020}} and later managed by the NCWE.{{cite web |title=About |url=https://theseedcenter.org/about/ |website=The SEED Center |access-date=7 September 2023}}

She co-authored the National Roundtable on the Workforce for a Green and Inclusive Economy: Recommendations to the White House and Federal Agency Staff (2021).{{cite web |title=National Roundtable on the Workforce for a Green & Inclusive Economy: Report |url=https://theseedcenter.org/resource_center/national-roundtable-on-the-workforce-for-a-green-inclusive-economy-report/ |website=The SEED Center}}{{cite web |last1=National Roundtable on the Workforce for a Green and Inclusive Economy |date=2021 |title=National Roundtable on the Workforce for a Green and Inclusive Economy: Recommendation to the White House and Federal Agency Staff |url=https://theseedcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/National-Roundtable-on-the-Workforce-for-a-Green-and-Inclusive-Economy-Recommendations-to-the-White-House-and-Federal-Agency-Staff-1.pdf |location=Washington DC}} She has served as the AACC's designate to the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics.{{cite web |title=Five Questions: What's Happening on the International Environmental Education Scene? |url=https://blog.nwf.org/2009/05/five-questions-whats-happening-on-the-international-environmental-education-scene/ |website=The National Wildlife Federation Blog|date=March 7, 2012 |orig-date=May 6, 2009}}

Internationally, Debra Rowe co-chairs the Education for Green Jobs action group for the Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI).{{cite news |last1=Nuthall |first1=Keith |title=UN initiative pushes integration of SDGs in rankings |url=https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20230718152318790 |work=University World News |date=22 July 2023}} HESI is an open partnership between United Nations entities and the higher education community. UN partners in the initiative include UN DESA, UNESCO, the UN Global Compact’s Principles for Responsible Management Education initiative, and the United Nations Academic Impact initiative, among others.{{cite web |title=Forum Examines Evolving Role of Higher Education in Achieving the SDGs - Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability |url=https://ias.unu.edu/en/news/news/forum-examines-evolving-role-of-higher-education-in-achieving-the-sdgs.html |website=United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability |access-date=11 September 2023|date=July 19, 2023}}

Rowe has worked with the UN Youth Education Alliance (UNEP-YEA) on its Green Jobs Initiative, and is a co-author with Mari Nishimura of Global Guidance for Education on Green Jobs (2021).{{cite web |title=Education for Green Jobs | Department of Economic and Social Affairs |url=https://sdgs.un.org/HESI/education-green-jobs |website=United Nations United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development}}{{cite book |last1=Nishimura |first1=Mari |last2=Rowe |first2=Debra |title=Global Guidance for Education on Green Jobs: Connecting Higher Education and Green Opportunities for Planetary Health 2021 |date=2021 |publisher=United Nations Environment Programme |url=https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/35070/GGEGJ.pdf}}

Rowe also works for the Clean Energy Ministerial’s Empowering People Initiative (EPI) which organized a series of virtual cross-sector Solutions Summits for governmental policy and program staff, educators and clean energy employers. With participants from over 90 countries, the initiative encouraged the acceleration of the adoption of clean energy technologies and workforce development policies for an inclusive clean energy transition.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-14 |title=Clean Energy Workforce Preparation for an Inclusive Green Economy |url=https://www.mission4point7.org/events/clean-energy-workforce-preparation-for-an-inclusive-green-economy |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=Mission 4.7 |language=en-US}} Rowe facilitated EPI's project for Integrated Policymaking and Empowering Communications for the Clean Energy Economy and Workforce (IPEC){{cite web |title=Clean Energy Economy and Workforce Preparation: IPEC Solution Summits |url=https://www.cleanenergyministerial.org/ipec-convenings/ |website=Clean Energy Ministerial}} and authored the Clean Energy Economy & Workforce Preparation (2023) toolkit.{{cite book |last1=Rowe |first1=Debra |title=Clean Energy Economy & Workforce Preparation |date=2023 |publisher=Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) Empowering People Initiative |url=https://www.lerenovaveis.org/contents/lerpublication/epi_2023_set_clean-energy-economy-and-workforce-preparation-toolkit_compressed.pdf}}

Rowe also co-chairs HESI's SDG Publishers Compact Fellows,{{cite web |title=Debra Rowe |url=https://www.sdgcompactfellows.org/debra-rowe |website=SDG Compact Fellows}}{{cite web |title=HESI Action Group webinar - SDG Publishers Compact 09.30 – 10.45 AM (EDT), 22 March 2023, virtual |url=https://sdgs.un.org/sites/default/files/2023-04/HESI_SDG_Publishers_Compact_Webinar_Concept_Note.pdf |website=United Nations |date=22 March 2023}} an action group that develops tools, strategies, initiatives and recommended actions for connecting practitioners, policymakers, researchers, educators, students and the public, and helping communities to address challenges related to the United Nations sustainable development goals.{{cite web |last1=Worthington |first1=Roger P. |last2=Lough |first2=Derek |last3=Lad |first3=Nikita |last4=Gardner |first4=Victoria |title=Supporting research and education stakeholders in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals: practical advice from the Higher Education Sustainability Initiative SDG Publishers Compact Fellows |url=https://whec2022.net/resources/Supporting%20research%20and%20education%20stakeholders%20in%20meeting%20SDGs-Publishers%20Compact%20Fellows.pdf |website=Under the UNESCO World Higher Education Conference (WHEC2022) Section for Higher Education |date= 11 March 2022 }}

As a consultant, Rowe has worked with the U.S. Department of Education to develop a project on how “Sustainability Improves Students Learning”.

She works with higher education organizations, teachers and students to integrate sustainability through both professional and program development.{{cite journal |last1=Rowe |first1=Debra |last2=Gentile |first2=Susan Jane |last3=Clevey |first3=Lilah |title=The U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development: Progress and Challenges Ahead |journal=Applied Environmental Education & Communication |date=3 April 2015 |volume=14 |issue=2 |pages=112–120 |doi=10.1080/1533015X.2014.978048|bibcode=2015AEEC...14..112R }}{{cite book |last1=McKeown |first1=Rosalyn |last2=Nolet |first2=Victor |title=Schooling for Sustainable Development in Canada and the United States |date=26 July 2012 |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |isbn=978-94-007-4273-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7qsxofnlAhIC&dq=%22Debra+Rowe%22+consultant+curriculum&pg=PA258 |language=en}} One initiative provides curricula and other resources relating to the solar, wind, green building, energy efficiency and sustainability education sectors, through the AACC's SEED Center. Other projects have been developed to connect those teaching, learning and working in the field. "Projects That Matter" is a free nonprofit website for connecting people with projects and activities.{{cite book |title=Sustainability Report: Council for Sustainable Futures |date=2022 |publisher=Council for Sustainable Futures (CSF) |pages=17–18 |url=https://www.csustan.edu/sites/default/files/2022-07/council_for_sustainable_futures_2020_21_report_.pdf}}{{cite web |title=Leadership and Advisors |url=https://projectsthatmatter.org/pages/leadership-advisors |website=Projects That Matter}} "Beyond Doom and Gloom: Engage in Climate Solutions" works to increase engagement and advocacy.{{cite web |title=Beyond Doom and Gloom: Climate Solutions |url=https://www.aashe.org/partners/heasc/initiatives/beyond-doom-and-gloom/ |website=The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education|date=11 July 2017 }}{{cite web |title=Beyond Doom and Gloom: Engage Students in Climate Solutions |url=https://www.aashe.org/partners/heasc/initiatives/beyond-doom-and-gloom-engage-students/ |website=The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education|date=15 April 2019 }}

Rowe has also worked with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory as a consultant. One project connects textbook publishers with open-source resources about technologies such as decarbonization to encourage their adoption in textbooks.{{cite news |last1=Alexander |first1=Bryan |title=Live-blogging the Dickinson College International Climate Symposium, day 3 |url=https://bryanalexander.org/climatechange/live-blogging-the-dickinson-college-international-climate-symposium-day-3/ |work=Bryan Alexander |date=26 October 2022 |language=en}} Another project created a toolkit for recruiting students to enter trades involving energy efficiency, renewable energy, building electrification and decarbonization, areas with a significant shortage of trained workers.{{cite web |title=The Recruitment Toolkit: Recruiting Employees and Students for Residential Building Energy Efficiency & Heat Pumps|date=2024 |url=https://www.bpi.org/__cms/docs/recruitment-toolkit.pdf |website=Building Performance Institute and US Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development}}{{cite web |title=Clean Energy Job Creation and Growth |url=https://www.energy.gov/eere/clean-energy-job-creation-and-growth |website=Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy |language=en}}

• {{cite book |editor-last1=Rowe |editor-first1=Debra |title=Achieving Sustainability: Visions, Principles, and Practices |date=2014 |publisher=Macmillan Reference USA |isbn=9780028662046 |location=Detroit |url=https://archive.org/details/achievingsustain0000unse_a7d1 }}
• {{cite book |author-first1=Mari |author-last1= Nishimura |author-first2= Debra |author-last2= Rowe |title=Global Guidance for Education on Green Jobs: Connecting Higher Education and Green Opportunities for Planetary Health |url=https://sdgs.un.org/HESI/education-green-jobs |publisher=United Nations Environment Programme |date=2021}}
• {{cite web |author-first1= Debra |author-last1= Rowe |author-first2= Amber |author-last2= Nicholson |author-first3= Hannah |author-last3= Leland |title=National Roundtable on the Workforce for a Green & Inclusive Economy: Recommendations to the White House and Federal Agency Staff |url=https://theseedcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/National-Roundtable-on-the-Workforce-for-a-Green-and-Inclusive-Economy-June-21-2021.pdf |website=The SEED Center |date=2021}}
• {{cite book |last1=Rowe |first1=Debra |title=Clean Energy Economy & Workforce Preparation |date=2023 |publisher=Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) Empowering People Initiative |url=https://www.lerenovaveis.org/contents/lerpublication/epi_2023_set_clean-energy-economy-and-workforce-preparation-toolkit_compressed.pdf}}
• {{cite book |author-first1= Kelly |author-last1= Carey |author-first2= Debra |author-last2= Rowe |author-first3= Angela N. |author-last3= Son |author-first4= Sarah |author-last4= Hill |title=The Recruitment Toolkit: Recruiting Employees and Students for Residential Building Energy Efficiency & Heat Pumps|date=2024 |url=https://www.bpi.org/__cms/docs/recruitment-toolkit.pdf |publisher =Building Performance Institute; US Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development}}

{{external media | width = 210px | float = right | headerimage= | video1 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPfg-CV_dHc&ab_channel=MITEnergyInitiative Education Leadership Award: Debra Rowe], C3E Women in Clean Energy Symposium, 2014}}

• 2014, Education Award Winner, Clean Energy Education & Empowerment (C3E) Initiative,{{cite news |title=OCC Faculty Honored for Energy Leadership |url=https://oaklandcc.wordpress.com/2014/09/19/occ-faculty-honored-for-energy-leadership/ |work=Oakland Community College Spirit |date=19 September 2014 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Debra Rowe |url=https://c3e.org/debra-rowe |website=The Clean Energy Education & Empowerment (C3E) Initiative}}{{cite web |title=Mid-Career Award Winners |url=https://c3e.org/winners |website=The Clean Energy Education & Empowerment (C3E) Initiative}} coordinated by the International Energy Agency (IEA).{{cite web |title=Clean Energy Education & Empowerment (C3E) Initiative |url=https://www.cleanenergyministerial.org/content/uploads/2022/03/c3e-fact-sheet-june-2019.pdf |website=Clean Energy Ministerial }}
• 1990, Association of Energy Engineers Award{{cite web |title=Association of Energy Engineers Awards Winners | AEE® |url=https://www.aeecenter.org/membership/awards/awards-past-recipients/ |website=AEE Center |access-date=7 September 2023}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creating-a-green-and-inclusive-workforce-with/id1547258151?i=1000542196146 Creating a Green and Inclusive Workforce with Mari Nishimura and Dr. Debra Rowe ], Lets Talk About Climate Podcast
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPfg-CV_dHc&ab_channel=MITEnergyInitiative Education Leadership Award - Debra Rowe], MIT Energy Initiative Video, Apr 5, 2016

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rowe, Debra}}

Category:American sustainability advocates

Category:Yale University alumni

Category:University of Michigan alumni

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Category:Living people