CU Boulder’s Masters of the Environment capstone recognized for innovation in sustainability education | CU Boulder Today

CU Boulder’s Masters of the Environment (MENV) capstone program has been named a recipient of the Innovations in Sustainability Education Award by the National Sustainability Society at their third annual conference. The national award recognizes outstanding innovations in degree programs that prepare and empower learners to be agents of transformative change through inclusive, systems-oriented and interdisciplinary learning opportunities. 

This year’s conference theme—courage, credibility and collective action—reflects values that sit at the core of what the MENV capstone program instills in all students.

“We are so proud of receiving this award. It celebrates the impact of our team, our students and our partner organizations over the last decade. That impact is a product of investment. When you commit real resources and time into students and into reciprocal partnerships, you get work that matters, for our community and for the partners we serve,” capstone lead Alice Reznickova shared.

The recognition affirms the capstone program as a leading model of sustainability work. The MENV capstone places all graduate students in direct partnership with external organizations to tackle real sustainability and climate challenges. Since its inception, MENV students have completed nearly 250 projects, and with each one, the program’s network of partners, alumni and real-world impact continues to grow. 

Just this past year, 78 students invested more than 46,800 hours across 26 projects with nonprofits, municipalities, private companies and state agencies, producing deliverables that informed policy, advanced organizational strategyand created measurable outcomes for communities across Colorado and beyond. By functioning as graduate-level consultants rather than traditional interns, MENV students bring prior professional experience and sustainability expertise to every project.

The capstone program’s approach is rooted in the belief that meaningful progress on sustainability requires more than technical expertise—it requires the courage to engage in complex, real-world problems; the credibility that comes from rigorous, applied work; and the ability to collaborate across sectors and communities. 

Under the guidance of their faculty advisor and capstone partner, students have a real impact on their communities and leave equipped to contribute to the kind of collective action the sustainability field demands. What further distinguishes the program is how intentionally it weaves career development into the capstone experience, so that applied project work and professional growth advance hand in hand. 

“Partnering with Colorado’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) has given me exactly the combination of experiences I hoped to get out of MENV: deep learning, strong professional connections and the chance to see my work create tangible impact. As I look toward full-time opportunities after graduation, this experience has become a genuine stepping stone and proof of what I can contribute in professional settings,” Norman Kalen, a second-year MENV student, shared.

As MENV enters its 10th year, this national recognition affirms the program’s role as a global model for how professional graduate education can drive lasting, meaningful change.