Trinity Community Celebrates Earth Week

The Trinity University community is proud to host its first Earth Week. From April 20-23, Trinity students, staff, and faculty are invited to attend a series of events across campus highlighting the University's conservation and sustainability efforts.

Trinity has been involved in conservation efforts since the 1970s with solar energy, reclaimed water, and native plant initiatives. This stewardship continues today, yet many of Trinity's contributions to conservation and sustainability remain unknown.

The plans for Earth Week's activities began through discussions within the Trinity University Sustainability Committee and grew after the committee pitched the idea to the academic deans, who are actively working to strengthen interdisciplinary collaborations across campus. The resulting lineup brings together numerous students, staff, faculty, and student organizations to showcase the campus community's efforts to become more sustainable, celebrate successes, and discuss challenges that can only be solved through collaboration.

"By bringing together experts in the natural environment and climate change, social justice, data analytics, impact measurement, and communication, Trinity is creating a campus culture that sets expectations for responsible global citizenship," says Accounting Professor Amy Foshee Holmes, Ph.D. "We are inspiring our students to become leaders who are true to their values."

Attendees can participate in numerous talks, student presentations, group activities, a trivia night, movie viewings, and more. Additionally, they can attend the TU 2026 Earth Day Festival to celebrate our shared goal of improving the environment and shop student wares that reflect Trinity's mission of sustainability.

One event, titled A Lot More is Going on Than You Know: Conservation Efforts on Trinity Campus, will give students the opportunity to present their research on Trinity's sustainability practices. Isabella Villena Ossio '26, an international business major and sustainable business and ESG strategy minor, is excited to present her project, which involved research and interviews with students and faculty to showcase how this campus is working to become more sustainable. "It's rewarding to contribute to something that can raise awareness and potentially influence future sustainability initiatives at Trinity," she says.

The Earth Week events are free and open to the campus community. Mark your calendars for the week's lineup.

Monday, April 20

"Measuring What Matters: Sustainability Reporting for a Changing World" | 12:30-2 p.m. | Chapman Auditorium 152

Featuring guest speaker Jeffrey Hales, Ph.D., executive director of the Global Sustainability Leadership Institute and accounting professor at The University of Texas McCombs School of Business. Hales currently serves on the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) and was the former chair of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB).

Hales has been a guest speaker in Trinity's "Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility" course for several years and was invited by Accounting Professor Amy Foshee Holmes, Ph.D., to serve as the keynote speaker at the opening event of Earth Week. He will discuss the current landscape of sustainability reporting, including the status of mandatory disclosure requirements related to environmental impacts, social justice, and governance, and how greater transparency drives change in business and in stakeholder expectations.

The 1921 San Antonio Flood Exhibit Design Charette | 4-5 p.m. | Coates Library 208

Hosted by University Archivist Abra Schnur and History Professor Lauren Turek, Ph.D., this event will showcase the work of students in Turek's "Student Digital Exhibit" course.

What on Earth?!" Trivia Night | 6-8 p.m. | Dicke Hall 108

This event will be hosted by the Neidorff School of Business's Sustainable Business Capstone student team. Quiz categories include Global Environmental Policy, Green Campus, Recycling, Earth Day History, Pop Culture, and Earth Science. The trivia questions and format were developed by Kangryun Lee, Ph.D., Stephen Stewart, Ph.D., Randika Eramudugoda Gamage, and Katherine Troyer, Ph.D.

Tuesday, April 21

"Writing from the Ground" Creative Writing Workshop | 1:30-2:20 p.m. | Lawn by Magic Stones if weather allows, or Collaborative Sandbox

English Professor Kelly Grey Carlisle, Ph.D., is hosting a writing workshop and helping participants listen to nature and share a time of reflection and creative writing. Faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to participate.

"Threads of Memory: Chicanas Wearing Huipiles" | 2:10-3:25 p.m. | Northrup Hall 040

Listen to readings by Modern Languages and Literatures Professor Norma Elia Cantú, Ph.D., from her personal narrative as she shares stories of growing up along the border. Earth Week coincides with Fiesta celebrations in San Antonio, and Cantu's discussion will reinforce the importance of traditions, their intersection with the environment, and their impact on our community.

Environmental Studies Capstone Presentations | 4-6 p.m. | CSI 437 Treehouse

Hosted by Director of Environmental Studies Greg Hazleton, Ph.D., this event will feature research presentations by student teams.

Rethinking Recycling: From Cardboard to CPUs | 6-8 p.m. | CSI Atrium

From Domino's pizza boxes to electronic waste, expand your understanding of recycling. Hosted by Dennis Donathan, Ph.D., Tahir H. Naqvi, Ph.D., and Graham Edwards, Ph.D., this session includes a design challenge to create something from used pizza boxes and various discarded electronics.

Wednesday, April 22

TU 2026 Earth Day Market Festival | 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Lawn by Magic Stones

This event will be hosted by the Trinity University Sustainability Committee. While faculty and staff members worked to organize this event, student members, Sydney Barner '28, Odinakachukwu Aneji '26, and Avery Parks '28, were key to securing organizations and local vendors to host tables. Organizations at the event include: Eco-Allies, SPURS, OREC, Bee Club, Trinity Community Garden Club, Geology Club, Student Government Association,Student Athlete Advisory Council, PassItOn, KRTU, Health and Wellness, and five local vendors.

Abandoned and lost water bottles will be cleaned for redistribution. Stop by the Festival to pick up a free Earth Week 2026 sticker, wildflower seeds, or a water bottle designed by student-athletes.

Business Bites - Earth Week | 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. | RTT Courtyard outside of Laurie Auditorium

Bring a friend and join in on the discussion of "How One Texan County Struck a Deal With Its Data Centers; Led by county officials and an indefatigable water man, Medina County is finding ways to live with its new multibillion-dollar neighbors," (Texas Monthly, April 7, 2026). This article presents an interdisciplinary perspective that connects to many majors and viewpoints (AI, environmentalism, local politics, stakeholder engagement and management, etc.), including a good story with a strong plot that evokes "the hero's journey." The discussion will be hosted by Neidorff School of Business's Executive in Residence Zoe Thompson McDaniel '93, P'25, P'28.

A Lot More is Going on Than You Know: Conservation Efforts on Trinity Campus | 5-7 p.m. | DSB 114

Hosted by Director of Urban Studies Christine Drennon, Ph.D., this session will highlight the history of conservation efforts on Trinity's campus and the status of current efforts. After students present their projects, there will be a panel session featuring Professor Emeritus Richard Reed, Ph.D., Trinity's former director of Environmental Studies, and Leslie F. Bleamaster III '98, Ph.D., director of operations for the D.R. Semmes School of Science.

Thursday, April 23

Deeply Grounded in Respect for Mother Earth | 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Coates 237

Hosted by Norma Elia Cantú, Ph.D., this event will feature readings and a book sale from Xelena Gonzalez, award-winning author of Of the Sun and Living Waters.

Environmental Stewardship Movie Night | 7-11 p.m. | Mabee Dining Hall

Enjoy a movie night hosted by Eco-Allies at Mabee Dining Hall.