Julianna Gwiszcz, MSSW, PhD is the new Associate Director of George Mason University’s Institute for a Sustainable Earth (ISE) where she works with the ISE Executive Director and team to catalyze transformative and transdisciplinary research, innovation and learning-in-action in service of a just, prosperous, and sustainable world.
As a purposeful leader, transdisciplinary scholar-practitioner, lifelong learner and educator, and trusted engagement steward, Julianna has devoted over 16 years to cultivating synergistic knowledge-action partnerships and weaving unlikely connections across divides. Her foundations in the social sciences, arts and humanities, and her track record as a bridge-builder and boundary-connector are evident in her scholarly and practitioner work. Julianna seeks out and leverages interconnections as opportunities for innovation and societal impact. Her work thrives at the intersections—of higher education and experiential learning; international sustainable development and human rights; climate resilience and public/global health; leadership development and social/systems change; science and technological innovation and social impact philanthropy; STEAM education and youth entrepreneurship; healing art and design and science communication; and beyond. Grounded in a capacity building framework, Julianna’s work is driven by her passion for nurturing agency and building bridges for dialogue, understanding and collaboration across difference, and her deep commitment to advancing social and planetary healing that enables the interconnected flourishing of all life for generations to come.
Julianna comes to Mason from the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory (GFL) and Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation at Arizona State University (ASU). Among the many hats she wore during her time at ASU, Julianna most recently served as Senior Global Futures/Sustainability Scientist and Program Manager with GFL and its Lightworks Initiative, and as Capacity Building and Engagement Lead for the UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES Sustainability Science Coalition and its Flagship Hub.
Julianna earned her PhD in Anthropology (Sociocultural Approach) in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change (SHESC) at ASU where her work focused on the role of experiential learning as a mechanism for fostering global ecological citizenship in support of sustainable development and wellbeing. Julianna earned her Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) from Columbia University in Advanced Generalist Practice and Programming with a concentration on Family, Youth and Children Services. While at CUSSW Julianna pursued a joint focus on youth development and international social development. Upon completion of her degree Julianna was awarded the NASW-NYC Georgia L. McMurray Award for outstanding achievement in services to children, youth and families.
Prior to pursuing her PhD, Julianna served as Founding Director of a university-wide, inter/transdisciplinary engaged learning initiative called The Explorer Connection at La Salle University. Throughout her career, Julianna has had the honor and privilege of engaging in humbling, co-creative collaborations with partners around the world, including in Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Senegal, Guatemala, Brazil, Guyana, Haiti, India, Chile, the United Kingdom, Norway, Germany, Czech Republic, Australia, Sweden, France, Canada and various regions across the USA.
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Scholar-Practice domains of interest and past experience (not limited to): international sustainability/sustainable community & urban development; social & planetary healing & wellbeing; climate & health/planetary health/one health; climate adaptation, resilience & transformation; disaster prevention, preparedness & response; environmental/climate education & action; human rights/indigenous rights; violence prevention, peacebuilding & conflict resolution; food-water-energy-housing nexus; resource security; refugees, displacement and forced migration; youth development; transformative leadership; social entrepreneurship; alternative economies; systems change; art for social change; engaged/experiential learning pedagogies and praxis