As the academic and intellectual home for Villanova University’s commitment to sustainability, the Strategic Initiative for Climate, Justice and Sustainability (SICJS) advances awareness and understanding of the environmental challenges facing our world. We explore solutions to mitigate harm and create a more just and sustainable future. 

The SICJS supports existing academic centers and groups within Villanova while facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration across colleges and departments. Our goal is to build a university-wide institute that fosters a uniquely Augustinian and Catholic approach to climate, justice, and sustainability. 

The SICJS supports faculty scholarship through its Faculty Fellows program, the intellectual heart of the initiative. SICJS Faculty Fellows advance and expand Villanova’s scholarship and expertise in climate, environmental justice, and sustainability, while serving as campus leaders and ambassadors for the SICJS. Their scholarly and academic work both exemplifies and amplifies the vision and mission of the initiative. 

The SICJS is pleased to announce the 2025–26 Faculty Fellows: 

You can view brief research videos for Virginia and Sarah by clicking the button below.

Virginia Smith, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Water Resources in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Villanova University. Her work focuses on how rivers and cities interact with water, especially in urban areas facing flooding, erosion, and water quality challenges. She studies topics such as river shape and movement, stormwater in cities, and how sediment travels through waterways. To do this, she combines traditional engineering approaches with modern tools like computer modeling, artificial intelligence, and satellite-based remote sensing.

Dr. Smith has led and contributed to water and natural resource projects across the United States and around the world, including work in Asia, Africa, the South Pacific, and Afghanistan. These experiences have shaped her collaborative, interdisciplinary approach to solving complex water management problems. She earned her PhD in Geosciences from the University of Texas at Austin, along with a master’s degree from UT and a bachelor’s degree from Georgia Institute of Technology, both in civil engineering. Her teaching and research excellence have been recognized with numerous awards at the university and national levels.

During her fellowship year, Virginia is advancing global understanding of green infrastructure—nature-based solutions like rain gardens and green roofs that manage stormwater and improve urban environments. Her research focuses on four cities: Addis Ababa, Kampala, Johannesburg, and Dhaka. By studying local conditions, costs, and barriers to adoption, her work identifies practical strategies for using green infrastructure to improve climate resilience, environmental justice, and sustainability in resource-limited cities.

Sarah Cooney, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computing Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Her work explores how computing technologies can be designed and used to support environmental sustainability and encourage more sustainable everyday practices. She works in the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), which studies how people interact with technology, with a particular focus on Sustainable HCI—research that connects technology design with environmental and social goals. 

Sarah is especially interested in how people and communities use technology to support sustainability in ways that align with their personal values, including spiritual and religious beliefs. Her ongoing projects include research on how technology supports campus reuse programs, funded by a SICJS fellowship; a study of how religious values influence how people imagine, design, and use technology for sustainability, supported by an NSF CRII grant; and an upcoming First-Year Match project examining “Trad Wife” culture and sustainability. 

During her Fellowship year, Sarah’s research focuses on how technology is used to manage the redistribution of reusable goods such as clothing, furniture, and food. She studies how organizations rely on digital tools to coordinate space, time, and labor, and designs new technologies that make this work more efficient while recognizing the human effort involved. Her projects support Villanova’s mission toward zero waste, engage undergraduate and graduate students in hands-on research, and build partnerships with community organizations working on resource redistribution. 

The SICJS is developing a new webpage highlighting the profiles of Villanova faculty engaged in sustainability scholarship across the University. Click on the button below to learn more. This growing collection will continue to expand over the coming months—check back often to discover new faculty and explore their work. 

Join the SICJS Speaker Series, a dynamic program developed by Villanova Law School faculty member Todd Aagaard, Ph.D.  The series showcases the innovative sustainability scholarship of Villanova faculty from across the University. Designed for students, faculty, staff, and community members, these accessible and engaging talks spark lively interdisciplinary dialogue and meaningful exchange of ideas. 

Co-sponsored by Falvey Library, the Speaker Series takes place at noon in the Speaker’s Corner at Falvey Library. All are welcome—bring a colleague, join the conversation, and be part of Villanova’s sustainability community. 

Fall 2025 featured two speakers, Virginia Smith, Ph.D. from the College of Engineering and Jonathan Doh, Ph.D. from the Villanova School of Business.

Photo by Falvey Library

Jonathan Doh, Ph.D., presented a talk titled ESG Performance and Capital Market Survival: Evidence from Foreign Firms’ Delisting on U.S. Stock Exchanges, examining the growing scrutiny foreign firms face in global capital markets—particularly those from politically risky or unfamiliar countries. Drawing on data from 829 foreign firms across 44 countries listed on U.S. stock exchanges between 2007 and 2021, Dr. Doh shared research showing that strong environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance can enhance legitimacy and improve a firm’s likelihood of remaining listed on foreign exchanges. 

His findings also highlight that the impact of ESG strategies is context dependent. Firms from countries that are politically aligned with the United States or have strong foreign direct investment ties face fewer legitimacy barriers and therefore derive less benefit from ESG investments. In contrast, firms from geopolitically distant or economically disconnected countries gain greater advantages from ESG efforts, using them to overcome trust deficits in global markets. 

Photo by Falvey Library

Virginia Smith, Ph.D., presented a talk titled Addressing the Complexities of Urban Hydrology: Challenges and Opportunities, highlighting urban flooding as a pressing global challenge that causes billions of dollars in damage and claims thousands of lives each year. She discussed her collaborative work with neighborhood residents and community organizations to capture local knowledge about flooding—insights that are often missing from traditional flood mapping and impact assessments. 

Drawing on examples from flood-prone regions around the world, Dr. Smith demonstrated how integrating physical and social data leads to a more accurate understanding of flood impacts on communities. Her research advances new methods for efficiently delineating urban flood extents and promoting more sustainable approaches to urban flood management. 

You can view a recording of Virginia's and Jonathan's talks on our website by clicking the button below. 

Join us for the Spring SICJS Speaker Series, featuring Villanova faculty and graduate students sharing interdisciplinary perspectives on climate, sustainability, and environmental justice. 

Tuesday, January 27 
Heather Hicks, Ph.D. — Department of English, CLAS 
Why Read Climate Fiction Now? 

Tuesday, February 17 
Ruth McDermott-Levy, Ph.D. — College of Nursing 
Delphi Method to Determine a Case Definition of Climate Change Mortality: Challenges in Quantifying the Complexity of Climate Change on Human Health 

Wednesday, March 11 
Sarah Cooney, Ph.D. — Computer Science, CLAS 
Understanding Technology in Managing Re-Use Programs 

Tuesday, April 7 
Al Motel — Facilities 
Put Waste in Its Place: Stewardship, Circularity, and Care for Our Common Home in Service of the Common Good 

Tuesday, April 14 
Graduate Research Panel featuring doctoral students 
Simon Brooks (COE), Sam Odidi (CLAS), Naseem Memari (LAW) 
Please note: This event will take place in 10A Garey Hall. 

Follow the Speaker Series page on our website for updates and additional details. All are welcome! 

The SICJS has established a partnership with the Overbrook Environmental Education Center (OEEC) in West Philadelphia to connect Villanova faculty and students with the Overbrook community through service learning and scholarship. 

This Spring, several faculty and staff will engage with the OEEC community as part of this initiative: 

This collaboration highlights Villanova’s commitment to community-engaged research and tackling real-world environmental challenges. 

Listen In! 
Click the button below to hear Villanova faculty members Gordon Coonfield, Ph.D., and Whitney Martinko, Ph.D., featured on WURD’s Trash Talkin’ with OEEC, where they discuss their plans and projects for the Spring semester. 

Photo by PHENND

The SICJS, in collaboration with the Office for Sustainability and the Center for the Common Good, hosted the fall meeting of PHENND, focusing on community-engaged sustainability scholarship. PHENND is a network of colleges and universities in the Greater Philadelphia area that connects academics with meaningful community engagement opportunities. 

The meeting featured a panel of scholars and practitioners actively involved in community-engaged sustainability research. Kabindra Shakya, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Geography and the Environment, College of Arts and Sciences, was one of the featured panelists. Dr. Shakya shared his work with local nonprofit organizations, including CCATE and the Overbrook Environmental Education Center, helping communities detect and address environmental health threats. 

This event highlighted the power of collaboration between academia and local communities in tackling real-world sustainability challenges. 

Photo by PHENND

The meeting concluded with a networking luncheon, facilitated by Michelle Filling-Brown, Ph.D., where Villanova faculty led discussions on community-engaged sustainability scholarship. A special thank you to Al Motel, Chris Jeffords, Sarah Cooney, Ph.D., and Kabindra Shakya, Ph.D. for engaging the PHENND community in meaningful dialogue around sustainability. 

Save the Date: Earth Day 2026

The Villanova community will celebrate Earth Day 2026 with a number of activities and academic events in April. The Earth Day Sustainability Fair will be on Wednesday, April 22 from 10:30-2:00 at the Oreo and will include on-campus groups, vendors, and class presentations. If you would like to explore having your course/group host a table at the fair, please contact Allie McAllister, the Villanova Sustainability Manager. The Earth Day Keynote Address will be delivered by Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation, on Thursday, April 23 at 5:30 pm. The title of her talk is "Resilient Roots: Sustaining Gullah/Geechee Culturally & Environmentally" and it will focus on how the Gullah/Geechee Nation centers cultural heritage continuation in their sustainability and adaptation. Queen Quet will provide examples of a wide array of methods that help engage community members and supporters to work to protect the coast while valuing traditional ecological knowledge as well as mainstream science. 

2026 SICJS Faculty Workshop to Focus on Community Engaged Sustainability Scholarship, May 21-22   

This year's workshop is designed for anyone who is interested in community-engaged sustainability research. During the two-day workshop, we'll explore how to find projects and Villanova collaborators, hear from community leaders about developing and managing relationships, learn how to identify and apply for possible funding for these projects, and hear from Villanova colleagues who are already successfully doing this type of scholarship.   

Further details and registration will be ready soon. Check our website for updates!

Villanova to Host International Sustainability Conference: Responding to the Cry of the Earth and the Cry of the Poor, Rome, Italy, October 2026

As climate change advances, the burdens and benefits of our planet’s ecological commons remain profoundly unequal, with those least responsible for emissions suffering the greatest impacts. This transdisciplinary conference seeks to convene scholars, researchers, leaders, and practitioners dedicated to exploring the intersections of sustainability, poverty, and environmental health.

We welcome abstracts from a broad array of disciplines, including science, theology, philosophy, nursing, law, business, engineering, and the humanities.

Conference Goals:

Pope Francis warns in Laudate Deum (LD 2) that global responses to the climate crisis “have not been adequate,” while the world “may be nearing the breaking point.” The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change – Rio de Janeiro, 1992 mandates parties to the convention  to “prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.” This gathering seeks rigorous, creative, and hopeful responses.

For more information, visit the conference website, below.

You can help advance the mission of the SICJS in two ways:  

Joseph Lennon, Ph.D. 
Associate Dean, International and Interdisciplinary Initiatives 
Emily C. Riley Director of Irish Studies 
Co-Chair, Strategic Initiative for Climate, Justice and Sustainability 
Professor, Department of English 

joseph.lennon@villanova.edu 

(610) 519-4647 

Alfonso Ortega, Ph.D. 
James R. Birle Professor of Energy Technology in the Department of Mechanical Engineering Co-Chair, Strategic Initiative for Climate, Justice and Sustainability 
Director, Center for Energy-Smart Electronic Systems 

alfonso.ortega@villanova.edu 

(610) 519-7440 

Susan E Stein, Ph.D. 
Coordinator, Center for ES2 
Strategic Initiative for Climate, Justice, and Sustainability Program Coordinator 

susan.e.stein@villanova.edu 

(610) 519-4999