A new initiative at Linfield University and a generous gift from a Washington-based investment firm is creating pathways to sustainable legacies for all.
As new emphasis is placed on the environmental and social impacts of investing, Linfield is launching a new sustainable investing certificate.
Saturna Capital, a globally-recognized asset management firm that is based in Bellingham, Wash., is making it possible. Upon completion, students will be equipped with the skills and tools to understand emerging investment opportunities, land an in-demand job after graduation or transition to a new phase in their existing career.
“We’re proud to partner with Linfield University in such a substantial way,” said Jane Carten, president and CEO of Saturna Capital. “Linfield’s commitment to innovation and sustainability helped inspire our choice to make this gift. Linfield educates and helps create the next generation of workers and leaders, which can in turn help Saturna and other businesses grow. Sustainable finance is an important theme for our planet’s future and a legacy we can all participate in.”
Learners seeking professional development, career advancement, or a graduate option as well as undergraduate students wanting to add an in-demand credential to their studies will all be eligible for certification, said Dr. Jennifer Madden, dean of the Linfield School of Business.
According to the US SIF Forum on Sustainable and Responsible Investment’s 2020 Report on Sustainable and Impact Investing Trends, one out of every three dollars under professional management in the US ($17.1 trillion in 2019) was managed according to sustainable investing strategies.
“Socially responsible investing was shaped by faith-based organizations, women, and civil-rights-era thinkers. The addition of this certification bolsters knowledge, skills, and abilities around environmental (climate change), social (care of employees and community), and governance (management structure and policy) factors. Its delivery builds our reputation as an institution of choice for the study of business,” Madden said.
In addition to start-up funding, Saturna crew members will be acting as mentors and lecturers from the outset.
“We hope other alumni, donors and parents with similar expertise will step forward to be resources and leaders as the program grows,” said Joseph Hunter, Linfield’s vice president of university advancement.
Find out more about Linfield’s School of Business undergraduate and master’s degree programs, click here.
