Julianna Gwiszcz, MSSW, PhD is the 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. Her work thrives at the intersections—of higher education and experiential learning; international sustainable development and climate resilience; global health and human rights; 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.