FACULTY PROFILE Gregory Unruh, Ph.D. Greg Unruh is interested in the business climate. From a meteorological perspective. He is guiding Thunderbird students as they develop and administer a global climate survey among worldwide corporations, assessing their impact on global warming.
The goal of the exercise, Unruh explains, is to create a comprehensive strategy that Thunderbird can use to tackle its own climate impacts. The project allows students to consult with companies, helping them understand the climate impacts of their organizations and develop strategies for reducing those impacts. As a student consultant on Unruh's team, you will work with for-profits in the United States who are actively trying to manage and reduce climate change. You also will work with international Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that are partnering with multinational corporations on environmental and sustainability issues. "We're trying to build contacts with leaders in the field of corporate social responsibility," says Unruh, who admits his moral compass and interest in the environment developed as the result of his upbringing in California, where hiking and environmental issues topped local interests. "The effort is working," he continues. "During our first summer, students had offers from Timberland, Grameen Foundation and Ashoka." After earning an undergraduate degree in earth and environmental science, Unruh completed environmental consulting projects with companies ranging from Shell, Chevron and Texaco to Apple, Intel and Sun Microsystems, helping them manage hazardous wastes generated by their operations. Unruh was soon frustrated working with companies at the back-end, cleaning things up. "I realized the biggest impact would be on the front-end, helping companies develop innovations that would eliminate toxic wastes in the first place," he explains. "I wanted to bolster government policies and smart, strategic business decisions," he explains of his own decision to continue his education, ultimately earning a Ph.D. in international technology and environmental management. Unruh's success is evident through his professional accomplishments. Not only did he help establish a master's program for Columbia University at the Biosphere 2 Center - an Arizona-based, closed ecological system - but he also founded The Centre for Eco-Intelligent Management in Europe with world-renowned designer William McDonough. The Centre researched a variety of companies on the cutting edge of sustainability innovation, including Herman Miller, Shaw Industries, S.C. Johnson and Camper. "Thunderbird considers climate change and the larger issues of sustainability an important global problem," says Unruh of his current employer. "And President Cabrera believes Thunderbirds should do their part and demonstrate what effective climate change management is." Unruh couldn't agree more. Learn more about Dr. Unruh by accessing his online biography or view other Thunderbird faculty profiles.
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