Abstract
The Center for Environmental and Sustainability Education was conceived in 2003 in response to pressing conditions. Internally, the University’s rapid growth was frequently at odds with its mission to practice and promote sustainability. It was agreed that a Center could help the University realize its mission, identify strategic opportunities, and provide academic leadership. Externally, the University needed to establish a sustainability research agenda in order to provide support for scholarly work by faculty and students and to establish an identity in the community. The Center became recognized as a global leader in the field of educational research with a distinguished Board of Advisors. It was also recognized across campus as a place of opportunity for education, research, and service related to sustainability. This chapter chronicles the evolution of the Center over time and provides a vision for its future while critically analyzing its successes and shortcomings.