Kansas State University

MANHATTAN — Debra Rowe, a leading advocate in sustainability and education for sustainable development, will give the keynote lecture on Friday, May 2, at the 10th annual student symposium sponsored by the apparel, textiles, and interior design department in the College of Human Ecology.

Her presentation, "Education, Action and Career Pathways: Creating a Better Future," will be at 10 a.m. in the K-State Alumni Center banquet room. It is free and open to the public. The presentation is an ADVANCE Distinguished Lecture and is sponsored by the K-State Advancement of Women in Science and Engineering office.

Rowe, who received her doctorate in business administration from the University of Michigan, helps the private sector catalyze successful business models for the triple bottom line of sustainability. She also helps higher education faculty and staff, K-12 associations and other private and public institutions integrate sustainability into mission, curricula and training, research, policy, culture, purchasing and investments, facilities and operations, and community partnerships.

She is president of the U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development and was a senior fellow in education for sustainability for the Association of University Leaders for a Sustainable Future.

A professor of renewable energies and energy management at Oakland Community College in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, she speaks nationally and internationally on the integration of sustainability into education.

"Dr. Rowe will connect with faculty and students in the apparel, textiles, and interior design department because more than a decade ago we chose to focus our research, teaching and engagement on environmental, social and economic sustainability," said Barbara Anderson, head of the department.

The lecture is part of a daylong event that includes professional development and networking sessions for students, alumni and professionals. Students will interact with professional advisory board members for the interior design program and the apparel and textiles program and with a delegation of faculty and graduate students from Hankyong National University in South Korea.

On Thursday, May 1, a new symposium event, the Showcase of Excellence, will include an exhibit and live runway show featuring work from Kansas State University students, Kansas high school students and the Hankyong National University students and faculty. The exhibit opens at 6 p.m. in the K-State Alumni Center. Admission is by ticket.

More information on the symposium events and purchase of tickets for the runway show and luncheon are available at http://www.he.k-state.edu/atid/events/symposium/.