Driving Change

The Lundquist College of Business has honored associate professor of management Jennifer Howard-Grenville as the 2013 Thomas C. Stewart Distinguished Professor. A two-time winner of the James R. Reinmuth MBA Teaching Excellence Award, Howard-Grenville is also a highly prolific author and coauthor, having published seven articles in refereed journals since 2010 and three books since 2000. These are not the only areas where Howard-Grenville's work stands out. Each year, students in her industrial ecology course provide consulting services to local and regional nonprofits, including a 2010 project in Salem, Oregon, that was part of the University of Oregon's nationally recognized Sustainable Cities Initiative. Her nomination--from fellow management faculty Alan Meyer and Michael Russo, as well as department head James Terborg--sums up Howard-Grenville's approach: "Jen's engine (a hybrid, of course) is hitting on all cylinders now, and her record clearly meets the lofty goals of the Stewart Award." And she continues to drive forward new ideas and knowledge. Currently on Howard-Grenville's desk are two collaborative research projects examining the ways in which companies and other organizations are adopting more sustainable practices. “My work is about how people make change," Howard-Grenville said. “Within organizations, occupations, and communities, usually around something they care deeply about, like the environment."