21st Century businesses face unprecedented challenges and opportunities to sustainably produce and distribute products and services. Savvy consumers, regulators and business partners are demanding new and improved practices of corporations to incorporate sustainability into their business strategies. At the same time, investment managers are finding new ways to deploy capital to businesses leveraging ESG (environmental, social and governance) frameworks to minimize risk, enhance return and to invest in accordance with responsible investing principles. Are you ready?
The Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) has partnered with ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ to offer a comprehensive four module, non-credit program to prepare business leaders for a career in sustainability management and investing. Take one or all four modules. Classes are offered online and are self-paced.
Students will emerge with skills required to fill positions in sustainability management, product development, sustainable accounting or ESG investing. Upon completion,
ESG Investing
ESG analysis is an increasingly important part of the investment process. Investors are incorporating ESG data to gain a broader understanding of the companies in which they invest. This course covers diverse aspects of sustainable investments and offers tools for effective financial valuation, opportunity, and risk assessment
Fundamentals of Sustainability Accounting I
The FSA Credential is designed to understand the link between material sustainability information and a company’s financial performance.
Part I: The Need for Sustainability Accounting Standards
Part II: Understanding SASB Sustainability Accounting Standards
Part III: Using SASB Standards
Fundamentals of Sustainability Accounting II
Level II expands on the fundamentals of sustainability and materiality.
Part I: Identifying the Material Financial Impacts of Sustainability Factors
Part II: Evaluating the comparability of sustainability information
Part III: Understanding the connection between sustainability performance and valuation
Strategic Sustainability
This capstone course provides a systems approach for businesses to integrate sustainability into strategic planning. The course addresses strategy, goal setting, monitoring, and reporting, as well as investor, customer, and stakeholder communication of sustainability programs
Lead instructor: Dr. Christopher K. Merker, CFA
Christopher K. Merker, PhD, CFA, is a director with Private Asset Management at Robert W. Baird & Co. He is also the lead instructor of the sustainable finance and business program at ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ. He recently served on the CFA Institute ESG Working Group, responsible for leading the development of global ESG standards. He publishes the blog, , and is co-author of the book, . Chris received his PhD from ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ and MBA from Thunderbird, School of Global Management.
Noelle Brigham, P.E., Instructor of Practice, OPUS College of Engineering
Noelle is a licensed Professional Engineer with over 20 years of experience in sustainability and environmental engineering in the consumer products and consulting industries. In her sustainability role, Noelle developed global strategies and lead international implementation plans for research & development and engineering for consumer product formulation and packaging. She also led sustainability and environmental programs for North America consumer product manufacturing locations including air quality, waste management, soil and groundwater remediation, ISO 14001, and energy reduction. As a consultant, Noelle managed environmental programs for a variety of domestic and international industries including oil refining, military, glass manufacturing, chemical, electric power generation, and automotive.
John Mueller, Vice President of Marketing, Dana Investment Advisors
John came to Dana in 2011, and is currently VP of Marketing and shareholder at Dana Investment Advisors. Dana has been managing ESG strategies for clients since 2000 and John has served as a member Seventh Generation Interfaith Coalition for Responsible Investment (SGI-CRI) a regional investor network of Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR). John helped Dana, rebrand and launch Dana Epiphany ESG Funds, a fund lineup for faith-based investors, in 2019. He is also an adjunct Instructor of Practice at ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ.
Dan Romito, Partner, ESG Strategy & Implementation, Pickering Energy Partners
Daniel Romito is currently the Director of ESG Strategy & Integration at Pickering Energy Partners. Prior to that, Daniel spent eight years working for Nasdaq, where he focused on investor analytics and ESG implementation. During his tenure at Nasdaq, he developed several key technology solutions and services under Nasdaq’s Corporate Platform’s repertoire, including their investor behavioral analytics platform, the ESG Advisory Service, the Insight360 Analytics module, the Activist Diagnostic, Capital Deployment Scenario Analysis, and the Small Cap Investor Targeting Service. He is also an adjunct Instructor of Practice at ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ.
