Environmental Activist Van Jones to Speak at Portland State University

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

GoLocalPDX Politics Team

Van Jones; via wikimedia commons

Portland State University will host Van Jones, the outspoken CNN commentator and environmental advocate, for a keynote address on Wednesday at the Peter Stott Center.

Jones, the President and co-founder of Rebuild the Dream, will speak on environmental justice at PSU. He will share his perspectives on social innovation with students and community members, as well as Portland’s challenge to be a “truly sustainable city.”

Jones, a Yale-educated attorney, has written a pair of New York Times bestsellers. The Green Collar Economy, released in 2008, is considered the definitive book on green jobs, and Rebuild the Dream, released in 2009, serves as a roadmap for progressives. Jones has also worked as a green jobs advisor for the Obama administration.

Jones will meet with students in an invite-only workshop to discuss society’s issues through entrepreneurship from 3 PM to 4:30 PM in the Smith Memorial Student Union.

He will deliver a public keynote at 7 PM at the Peter Stott Center on the Portland State campus. For more information or to purchase tickets to the event, visit the Portland State University Box Office.

Related Slideshow: Greenest Colleges in the Pacific Northwest

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45.

Washington State University

Pullman, Washington

Enrollment: 23,070

From the moment you arrive on the campus of Washington State, you sense that the university is a “tight-knit community.” In turn, this helps to foster a “friendly atmosphere” and “great spirit,” both of which permeate the school.

Photo courtesy of Washington State University website.

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44.

University of Puget Sound

Tacoma, Washington

Enrollment: 2,541

The University of Puget Sound is “the ideal learning environment with plenty of opportunity for both academic and personal growth.” Students are encouraged to “branch out and go beyond their comfort zone in class and outside of class.”

Photo Courtesy of Puget Sound Website

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38.

Oregon State University

Corvallis, Oregon

Enrollment: 23,161

Oregon State University is a spirited, science-driven school, says a bioengineering major. Students at OSU enjoy the "exceptional 'green living' education" on campus.

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14.

University of Washington

Seattle, Washington

Enrollment: 29,754

Ranked the 15th best university in the world*, the UW is home to a renowned medical center and top-ranked programs in medicine, engineering, nursing, law, business and social work.

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13.

Willamette University

Salem, Oregon

Enrollment: 2,375

Traditional academics are strong at Willamette, but perhaps what stands out most is that “learning opportunities outside of the classroom are endless.”

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11.

Portland State University

Portland, Oregon

Enrollment: 23,170

Portland State University’s motto is “let knowledge serve the city,” and students echo this philosophy, saying their school “has a strong focus on civic engagement and sustainability.”

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1.

Lewis & Clark

Portland, Oregon

Enrollment: 2,179

On a stunning campus in one of the most exciting and progressive cities anywhere, the next generation of global thinkers gathers to discard conventional thinking, civic complacency, and outmoded preconceptions.