Sustainability Committee

Mission Statement

The Sustainability Committee supports the Narrative Society in making thoughtful, future-oriented decisions that reduce environmental harm while sustaining the energy and connection that define our scholarly community. We understand sustainability not only as a concern for ecological well-being but also as a commitment to the long-term health of the Society.

Our work addresses both the environmental impact of Society activities and the broader conditions that affect members’ ability to participate. We consider how institutional travel policies, financial constraints, and access to resources can shape who feels included and supported. These questions are inseparable from the Society’s ongoing efforts to create a more equitable and welcoming space for all members.

We regularly advise the Executive Council on how sustainability can inform planning and decision-making. We also create opportunities for members to stay engaged throughout the year, developing programs and events that support connection beyond the annual conference. In doing so, we aim to sustain the conversations, relationships, and collaborations that make the Society a meaningful intellectual home.

Sustainability, for us, is not about limiting what the Society can do. Instead, it involves thinking carefully and creatively about how we continue to move forward. By reflecting on how we gather, how we support one another, and how we adapt to change, we seek imaginative and inclusive strategies to maintain and meaningfully grow the vibrant intellectual community we’ve built.

Committee Members: Simona Adinolfi, Fahimeh Berenji, Carolin Gebauer, Erin James, Maria Mäkelä, Brian McAllister, Victoria Pöhl

For more information, contact Brian McAllister at bmcallister@aus.edu.