Elise L. Amel has a Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Purdue University and has been teaching at the University of St. Thomas for over two decades. Amel is an award-winning Professor of Psychology; past-chair of the Department of Earth, Environment, & Society; Past-President of the Society of Environmental, Population, & Conservation Psychology; and is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association. She has co-authored numerous articles and books about the role of psychology in addressing environmental crises. She co-created the St. Thomas Office of Sustainability Initiatives, and has successfully led efforts at the University of St. Thomas to create a culture of sustainability leadership through systems-level changes including committing to carbon neutrality, embracing sustainability as a strategic priority, developing a strategic sustainability action plan for the university, and creating a system for integrating sustainability across the curriculum.
