David Orr

David W. Orr is the Paul Sears Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies and Politics, Emeritus, at Oberlin College and serves as Professor of Practice at Arizona State University. Orr held the position of counselor to the president at Oberlin College for 10 years. He is the author of eight books, including "Dangerous Years: Climate Change and the Long Emergency," "Down to the Wire: Confronting Climate Collapse," and "Hope Is an Imperative: The Essential David Orr," and is co-editor of three additional volumes. Orr has published more than 220 articles, reviews, book chapters, and professional publications in the fields of environmental studies, climate change, and sustainability.

Over the past 25 years, Orr has served as a board member or adviser to several foundations and organizations, including Rocky Mountain Institute, Bioneers, and the Aldo Leopold Foundation. He is a trustee of Alliance for Sustainable Colorado, Children and Nature Network, and WorldWatch Institute. Orr has received nine honorary degrees and multiple awards, such as the Lyndhurst Prize, a National Achievement Award from National Wildlife Federation, leadership awards from U.S. Green Building Council and Second Nature, and lifetime achievement awards from Green Energy Ohio and the North American Association for Environmental Education.

Orr has lectured at colleges and universities across the United States, Europe, Latin America, and Asia. He led the effort to design, fund, and build the Adam Joseph Lewis Center, which has been recognized as a significant green building by the American Institute of Architects, the U.S. Department of Energy, and Building Design +Construction. Orr also contributed to the design and funding of the Peter B. Lewis Gateway Center. He is the founder of the Oberlin Project and a founding editor of the journal Solutions. Orr’s work centers on American democracy, ecological literacy, and advancing sustainability in higher education.