Impact
A new era of
climate research and solutions Propelled by a $5 million commitment from former trustee Eric Levin, the interdisciplinary Climate Resilience Academy will link with private and public partners to solve impacts of climate change and other complex global issues.
business, government, nonprofits, and other universities involved in
As one of the nation’s top research institutions located in a
element of change.”
community considered “ground zero” for experiencing serious
this endeavor. “Our Climate Resilience Academy will educate the next generation of scientists and advocates as we help deliver solutions to climate change, its impacts, and related stressors in partnership with industry, government, universities, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders,” said President Julio Frenk. “The concept of ‘resilience’ is foundational to the history and mission of the University,” Frenk added. “Far from just a byword, resilience is first and foremost how our people face the inevitable “We are very grateful to Eric, who saw what was possible when
impacts from climate change, the University of Miami is uniquely
the University works with partners in the public and private sectors,
situated to be a driver for solutions that will benefit society.
and whose generosity will drive this vision of the academy forward,”
The launch of the Climate Resilience Academy on Earth Day, April 22, 2022, established the University as a lodestar for leading positive hemispheric and global change to address issues of the climate crisis, sustainability, and resilience. The formation of the new academy was made possible by a $5 million commitment from Eric T. Levin, a former University
said Josh Friedman, senior vice president of development and alumni relations. Jeffrey Duerk, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, highlighted the academy’s unique design and its timeliness and value for the University and the South Florida community. “The academy—our first at the University—is best described
trustee and the former president of the University’s Citizens Board,
as an interdisciplinary functional structure that will bring together
which represents business leaders throughout South Florida.
experts both from within the University and others through
Levin has leveraged his experience as a financial strategist,
partnerships and relationships to ensure the necessary expertise
investor, and consultant to offer his thoughts on establishing the
to solve challenges that are by their very nature interdisciplinary,”
academy and sharing information on what areas of focus and
Duerk said.
expertise potential partners in the private sector are hoping the University can address. “Climate change is a big problem—the challenge of our
“If you look across our units, schools, colleges, and programs, there is a consistent theme of being at ground zero for climate change and the impacts of that—from the Rosenstiel School’s
lifetime—and it’s imperative to get others involved and be
incredible expertise in terms of climate change, weather, and
collaborative to tackle these big problems,” Levin said.
hurricanes to the College of Engineering’s expertise in civil
According to Levin, the University wanted to “put its stake in the ground in terms of being a leader in this area.” The academy will not only focus the University’s efforts in this area, but get
engineering and new technologies to the School of Architecture’s knowledge of building environments,” Duerk pointed out. The provost said the new academy aligns seamlessly with
