A New Paradigm for Evironmental Leadership

The “Inland Empire” region – comprising Riverside and San Bernardino counties – is the fastest- growing area in California and its rapid pace of growth shows no signs of slowing anytime soon. Since 2000, Riverside County has had the fastest- growing population in the state, increasing by approximately 42% to an estimated 2,268,783. San Bernardino County has also grown by approximately 19% since 2000, with an estimated current population of 2,035,210. Together this area is the 12th most populous metropolitan area in the United States

One of the greatest challenges we face is balancing economic growth with environmental protection and quality of life. Decision makers, land managers, municipalities and agencies need to respond to emerging issues with creative solutions that are based on best-available science and research and long-term sustainability. They must incorporate economic, environmental and community perspectives—and integrate different value systems.

The Environmental Leadership Institute (ELI) at California State University San Marcos at Temecula provides a forum for unbiased education, research and policy review – an opportunity to provide innovative and transparent solutions to environmental challenges.  Founded in service, CSUSM continues to be a leader in analyzing and resolving complex community problems and assisting local, regional and international partners.

The ELI is located at the Temecula Higher Education Center (THE Center), a California State University San Marcos at Temecula (CSUSM-T) office within the Temecula Valley Entrepreneurs Exchange (TVE2)., which is an incubator for learning, research and collaboration. The ELI is situated in the heart of the Temecula business park among some of the largest and most innovative companies in the region. In this ideal setting with CSUSM-T, and the City’s Business Incubator and Resource Center, the ELI now provides a living laboratory for students to observe best practices in research, education, planning, policy and analysis as well as partnership cooperation.  It also provides a neutral setting that is conducive to joint problem solving.  At the heart of the Institute is the understanding that there is no single solution to the environmental challenges we face; research and education provide the foundations for balanced and equitable decision making.

The Institute is helping us shape a new paradigm for environmental leadership by providing expert community resources and services for environmental planning, analysis, assessment and policy.  For more information about the Environmental Leadership Institute please visit, http://www.csusm.edu/temecula/certificateprograms/ELI/index.html.

Suzanne Lingold, M.Ed. is the Associate Dean for Extended Learning at Cal State San Marcos at Temecula. She may be reached at (951) 676-9254 or Temecula@csusm.edu.