New Center for the Environment Formed to Accelerate Collaboration (04/21/26)

HIGHLIGHTS

• The new Center for the Environment was announced at the April 21 ribbon-cutting for Sims Science Building and Dalton Hall's recent renovations.

• The center is a university-wide initiative designed to accelerate interdisciplinary collaboration, deepen community partnerships and equip the next generation of environmental leaders with the skills to drive lasting, meaningful change.

ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA - A new interdisciplinary hub at Winthrop University will unite students, faculty and community partners from Rock Hill to Charlotte - and beyond - around shared environmental goals.

The institution has launched the Center for the Environment, a university-wide initiative designed to accelerate interdisciplinary collaboration, deepen community partnerships and equip the next generation of environmental leaders with the skills to drive lasting, meaningful change.

The center's soft launch coincided with the ribbon-cutting for the newly renovated Sims Science Building and Dalton Hall on April 21, following a $9 million state-funded investment that includes new chemistry labs, updated HVAC systems, refreshed lobbies and upgraded emergency power infrastructure.

The center arrives at a pivotal moment. Environmental challenges - everything from climate resilience to environmental health to land and water stewardship - demand solutions that no single discipline can provide alone. "By drawing together faculty across the natural sciences, social sciences, business, fine arts, education and humanities, the Center for the Environment is built on the conviction that the most durable answers emerge at the intersection of fields," said Takita Sumter, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Unlike a traditional academic unit, the center is deliberately distributed and is not housed in a single building. It spans faculty offices, outdoor learning laboratories and regional partnerships stretching from Rock Hill to Charlotte and beyond. Existing programs - including a nearby community garden and the Piedmont Wetlands Project at Winthrop Lake - are already integrated into the center's hands-on learning model.

Students are at the center of everything, according to Scott Werts, geology professor and Dalton Endowed Chair of Environmental Sciences and Studies. "Whether they're majoring in environmental science or studying business, the center connects every Winthrop student to research opportunities, internships, service projects and career pathways that address environmental challenges in all their dimensions," Werts said.

Dedicated to fostering collaboration, faculty members will work together in teaching, research, campus operations and community engagement. "Through these combined efforts, we are creating learning and career pathways for students and advancing sustainable, positive change," Werts said.

Looking ahead, the center will convene expert speakers, student-led forums and community dialogues on environmental issues, while connecting faculty with local organizations and businesses working toward environmental goals. Through applied projects and internships, students will develop leadership and career ready skills while also strengthening the region's environmental resilience.

More information about the center and planned growth can be found at https://www.winthrop.edu/center-for-the-environment/