A Message from NSS Chairman Dan Brown

Dan Brown, University of Washington; NSS Board Chair

As we wrap up our first full year as an organization, I’m energized by the momentum this community is creating. Our second annual conference at the University of Notre Dame showcased the breadth and impact of our members’ work—390 attendees, dynamic sessions, cross-sector conversations, and inspiring keynotes from Lisa Graumlich, Walmart CSO Kathleen McLaughlin, Laura Vang Rasmussen, lead author the paper winning this year’s Frontiers Planet Prize, and a panel of university deans.

What stood out most was the strength of our broad, transdisciplinary tent. With more than 900 members, we are building a community that recognizes there are no silver-bullet solutions in sustainability, only the power of diverse perspectives, collaborative action, and a workforce that feels supported and sustained. As Lisa reminded us, caring for our inner lives and pacing our efforts is essential to long-term impact.

We also celebrated outstanding contributions through our NSS Awards program:

• Beth Tellman – Emerging Scholar

• Natural Capital Project – Annual Achievement

• Circular Economy Program, University of Pittsburgh – Innovations in Education

Planning is already underway for our 2026 conference at Colorado State University in Denver, with a call for contributions coming in January. We’re also expanding year-round programming, including new webinars designed for both practitioners and academics. We will continue to have events that are open to all, as well as member-only opportunities. Please help us grow this community by encouraging others to join the National Sustainability Society today!

Dan