James Leeder, Global Engagement Advisor
For James Leeder, sustainability and his work in education have always been closely linked. Working as a Global Engagement Advisor at the UBC Go Global: International Learning Programs, Leeder’s work is deeply intertwined with his personal interest in international education.
"I love working with students and hearing about their experiences immersing themselves in new cultures," he shares, reflecting on his role.
But Leeder isn’t just focused on expanding horizons – he aims to make those explorations as eco-friendly as possible.
“Sending hundreds of students on planes each year has a massive carbon output,” he shared. “I want to better understand how to mitigate the impact of this, while still offering students the opportunity to explore and better understand their world”
It was this realization that motivated him to join the Sustainability Coordinator Program.
As one of our Sustainability Coordinators, Leeder is working on establishing a Sustainable Travel Scholarship. This scholarship will be geared towards students who are interested in climate activism and encourage them to travel to learn more about sustainability efforts in various places and institutions.
“The goal of the scholarship will be to have students bring their learning back to UBC and actively contribute to a greener UBC,” shared Leeder. The scholarship is set to launch this fall, promising to make a real impact.
James hopes his work will make students more aware of how to travel sustainably and address climate issues. He believes these practices should be part of everyday life, not just something for special projects.
“I hope to make students better aware of sustainable travel and climate mitigation strategies as they embark on their international learning journeys and build these practices into my own life as well.”