2025 Faculty Sustainability Leadership Award Winners

The Sustainability Leadership Awards were launched in the 2025 by the President's Commission on Sustainability to recognize and celebrate members of our Beach community who are leading the way toward a more just and ecologically vibrant world through their service, leadership, teaching, and research both on campus and off.

Changemaker Award: Dr. Elaine Villanueva Bernal

 

Elaine Bernal

Title/Department: Lecturer/College of Natural Science and Mathematics, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Summary of Leadership Accomplishments & Characteristics: 

  1. Teaching: Dr. Elaine developed coursework with environmental justice and sustainability themes for students in her CHEM 100 class, educating them on the science behind sustainability.                                                        
  2. Leadership: As a Faculty Fellow with the College Corps @ The Beach program, she works directly with students about sustainability efforts at various organizations such as Bolsa Chica Conservancy and Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research.                                                     
  3. Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity: Dr. Elaine supports sustainability education beyond the university as a Co-Principal Investigator for the STEAM Ecosystem Expansion Demonstration (SEED) Project.                  
  4. Service: Dr. Elaine empowered students and staff to lead design challenges based on various climate and environmental themes at Long Beach Public Library and LBUSD. 

Dr. Elaine Bernal has been with 黑料网 for 19 years, spreading sustainability initiatives on and off campus. Her leadership roles and efforts are fully recognized through this award.

Read the full text of the nomination submitted Dr. Elaine Villanueva Bernal's behalf.

Changemaker Award: Kent Hayward

Photo of Kent Hayward

Title/Department: Associate Professor, College of the Arts, Cinematic Arts

Summary of Leadership Accomplishments & Characteristics: 

  1. Teaching: Kent has developed coursework in sustainability-focused film courses, including the CINE 313: Sustainability and Film, a course developed . Integrates green filmmaking practices into advanced production classes, inspiring students to earn recognition such as EMA Green Seals. Published 鈥淕reen Filmmaking: A Guide to Sustainable Movie Production鈥 book, creating connections with storytelling and sustainability.                               
  2. Leadership: As a founding member of the Green Film Alliance Club, Kent actively mentors students through sustainability clubs and events, including 黑料网鈥檚 annual Green Generation Showcase. In addition to this, Kent promotes sustainable behaviors in daily practice, such as carpooling, and fostering a culture of environmental responsibility in his department.                                                     
  3. Service: Has been invited to speak at international events, including Berlin and Cannes, discussing his green explorations and initiatives that inspire the film industry.  

He supports the faculty and students at CINE through his leadership skills, motivating them to also practice sustainability in their work.

鈥淜ent is really a shining example of 鈥榳alking the walk鈥 and is recognized as an instrumental author of green filmmaking practice.鈥 - David Waldman 

Read the full text of the nomination submitted on Kent Hayward's behalf.

 

Honorary Award: Nataliya Acc-Nikmehr

 

a women with short hair in a gray dress

Title/Department: Lecturer, College of Business, Management & HRM

Summary of Leadership Accomplishments & Characteristics: 

  1. Teaching: Nataliya developed and taught innovative sustainability-focused courses, including MGMT 459 Sustainable Business Management and core classes in the MS in Sustainability Management & Policy program. She has also proposed a new interdisciplinary Sustainable Business Minor to expand sustainability education across campus. 

  2. Leadership: Nataliya has led cross-disciplinary and community-engaged initiatives such as the proposed Sustainable Business Association and Sustainable Business Center, aligning academic efforts with local climate and environmental goals while addressing environmental burdens in the community. 

  1. Service: Since 2018, Nataliya has served on the President鈥檚 Commission on Sustainability (PCS) as the College of Business Commissioner. She has contributed to key subcommittees focused on curriculum integration and fundraising for sustainability initiatives. 

  1. Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity: Nataliya has advanced sustainability scholarship through curriculum innovation and community-based projects that integrate environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainability into business education and practice.
    Nataliya Acc-Nikmehr's commitment to a greener campus and community through student engagement and partnerships are recognized through this award.   

    on Nataliya Acc-Nikmehr's behalf.