Franklin Switzerland’s commitment to sustainability has earned international recognition as Professor Jean Wu, Founding Director of the Green Office Sustainability Programs (FUS GO), has been named to the 2026 class of Fellows by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)
The prestigious award recognizes professionals who are making significant contributions to advancing sustainability in higher education. Wu was one of only ten individuals selected worldwide for this year’s fellowship, placing her among a distinguished group of sustainability leaders helping shape the future of higher education.
In announcing the award, AASHE Executive Director Meghan Fay Zahniser praised Wu’s “outstanding leadership and dedication to sustainability,” noting that her work is making a lasting impact across the field.
Sustainability Through Community and Collaboration
The recognition reflects years of collaborative work across the Franklin community to integrate sustainability into academics, campus operations, student engagement, and community partnerships.
Since launching the Green Office Sustainability Programs in 2022, Wu has worked alongside students, faculty, staff, university leadership, and community partners to advance sustainability initiatives both on and off campus. Operating across campus operations, event coordination, education and research, external affairs and projects, and marketing and communications, the Green Office serves as Franklin’s hub for sustainability programs and initiatives.
Guided by a student-driven and interdisciplinary approach, the Green Office empowers students to develop and implement meaningful projects while helping embed sustainability throughout the university experience.
From Vision to Action
Under Wu’s leadership, Franklin has developed a wide range of initiatives that translate sustainability principles into tangible action.
Among these are the Orienting Curriculum around Sustainability (OCS) Program, which supports faculty in integrating sustainability into teaching and research, and the Academic Travel Carbon Trading (ACT) Program, which helps fund projects that reduce university-generated carbon emissions.
The university has also strengthened its commitment to responsible resource use through initiatives such as the Swap Shop, which promotes a culture of reuse and circularity within the Franklin community.
At the operational level, Franklin continues to advance its decarbonization efforts through on-campus photovoltaic systems and a commitment to sourcing 100% hydroelectricity from its local energy provider.
Together with initiatives such as the Green Office Scholars Program and the Lugano Sustainability Series, these efforts reflect Franklin’s commitment to “learning sustainability by doing sustainability” and demonstrate how sustainability can be integrated across all aspects of university life.
Shaping the Future of Sustainability
The AASHE Fellows designation recognizes professionals whose work is helping transform higher education institutions and prepare future generations to address complex environmental and social challenges.
For Franklin, this recognition is both a celebration of the progress achieved so far and a reflection of the university’s broader commitment to sustainability, social responsibility, and global citizenship.
As the Franklin community continues its journey toward becoming a carbon-neutral campus by 2050, this international recognition serves as both a milestone and a source of inspiration for future initiatives.
Through the work of the Green Office Sustainability Programs and the dedication of students, faculty, staff, and partners, Franklin continues to strengthen its position as a leader in sustainability education and practice.