Preparing professionals to address challenges such as climate change has become increasingly important. At CCNY, the Sustainability in the Urban Environment (SUS) graduate program trains students to approach these issues through an interdisciplinary lens. Assistant Director Katherine Gloede Silverman plays a key role in advancing the program and supporting students through their academic and research work.
Founded in 2010, the SUS program is now in its 16th year and centers on preparing students to navigate the complexities of climate change.
“The mission is really to train 21st-century professionals to deal with these unique and wicked problems around the climate crisis and climate adaptation in cities,” Silverman said.
Unlike traditional graduate programs housed within a single discipline, SUS operates across multiple academic divisions, including engineering, architecture, science and public affairs. This structure allows students to engage with sustainability from a wide range of perspectives, including infrastructure and design, as well as policy and communication.
“Being truly interdisciplinary is a big strength of the program. We’re not tied to any one specific department,” Silverman said. “In addition to the curriculum that we offer and learning from interdisciplinary scholars, it also means our students have such diverse academic backgrounds—they’re also learning from each other”.
The program offers fully online, in-person, and hybrid options, which allow students to balance coursework with professional responsibilities. According to Silverman, this accessibility has broadened who can pursue graduate study.
“We really do try to meet students where they are and accommodate their diverse lives and schedules so they can get the education they desire,” she said, noting that many students are working professionals or attending part-time.
The curriculum is built around four foundational areas that ground students in both scientific and social dimensions of sustainability. The courses offered include urban planning-focused studies, ecological systems, industrial ecology and the economics of sustainability. From there, students tailor their studies to align with specific interests, ranging from technical fields like Geographic Information Systems to more theoretical or design-based work.
The program’s emphasis on systems thinking is especially relevant in a city like New York, where climate challenges intersect with infrastructure, housing and environmental justice.
“Climate change is an all hands on deck problem that requires an interdisciplinary and systems thinking approach,” Silverman said. “And the program gives students that foundation to understand these issues from a variety of perspectives.”
A defining feature of the program is its capstone model, which replaces a traditional thesis with a yearlong, team-based research project. These projects often involve partnerships with city agencies, nonprofits and community organizations, allowing students to apply their learning to real-world issues.
“We’ve had a number of teams work on community-based hazard mitigation planning with the New York City Office of Emergency Management,” Silverman said.
Other collaborations have included projects with the Department of Housing Preservation and Development and environmental justice organizations across the city. Through partnerships like the New York City Climate Justice Hub, students engage directly with communities to address local sustainability concerns.
One graduate team is currently analyzing renewable energy sites across New York State using data from NASA satellite systems, while others are working with environmental justice groups like The Point CDC to examine the effects of industrial infrastructure on vulnerable communities.
Silverman joined CCNY in 2019 as the program’s academic program manager, bringing prior experience as a resiliency planner with New York City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development on post-Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts.
In 2021, Silverman became assistant director, focusing on ensuring students are equipped for a rapidly evolving sustainability job market.
“My main goal is to ensure that students are really prepared with both the foundational interdisciplinary understanding of urban sustainability and the technical skills to be really competitive in what is an increasingly complicated job market,” Silverman explained.
Her goals also extend beyond individual student outcomes. Silverman sees the program as part of a broader effort to expand sustainability work across New York City.
“I personally want to see the climate and sustainability community grow in New York City, and I believe that our program is one way to promote that,” Silverman said. “I would also love to see us grow into a PhD program in the future”.
Looking ahead, the program continues to evolve alongside the challenges it aims to address. New initiatives include expanded coursework in geographic information systems and remote sensing, as well as the potential development of a joint degree program with the United Nations University.
Faculty are also exploring new approaches to sustainability education that extend beyond technical skills. A recently introduced course on contemplative methods encourages students to build personal resilience while working in a field often defined by urgency and uncertainty.
Together, these efforts reflect a program designed not only to respond to climate change but to shape how future professionals understand and confront it.
“Cities will continue to adapt to environmental challenges and pressures, and programs like SUS are preparing those who will lead that work forward,” Silverman said.
Sofia is a graduate student at CUNY Brooklyn College, where she’s pursuing her M.S. in Media Studies. Her work centers on cultural affairs, capturing people’s lived experiences, and producing work that is not only compelling and polished but also intentional, inclusive, and aligned with meaningful public impact. In addition to writing for The RICC, she’s a dedicated writer for the Brooklyn News Service.