Announcing the Abrams Climate Academy

Funded by a gift from Northwestern Trustee Wendy Abrams ’90 MBA and James Abrams, this new program will connect Kellogg and NU graduate students with companies to help solve climate-related business challenges.
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An attendee at Kellogg's student-run Climate Conference smiles while holding a microphone to ask a question.
An attendee at the Kellogg Climate Conference, a student-run event funded by a prior gift from the Abramses. The annual event gathers and energizes those wishing to become climate-capable leaders.

Kellogg is proud to announce the launch of the Abrams Climate Academy, an innovative fellowship designed to address the urgent challenges of climate change. Made possible by a gift from Northwestern Trustee Wendy Abrams ’90 MBA and James Abrams of the Eleven Eleven Foundation, the Academy will empower the next generation of leaders to create impactful, real-world solutions to the climate crisis.

“This generous gift from Wendy and James Abrams advances Kellogg’s enduring commitment to sustainability and social impact,” said Dean Francesca Cornelli. “The Academy will help bring to fruition our work to shape sustainability-minded leaders poised to drive meaningful progress in this critical area.” 

At the heart of the Academy is an experiential learning program that immerses students in real-world climate challenges, preparing leaders in business, science, engineering, product design, communication, law and public service to take action on climate problems. 

The Academy will be housed at Kellogg in collaboration with the McCormick School of Engineering; the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law; the Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications; and the Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy.  Starting in fall 2025, the Academy will welcome fellows from these institutions, as well as students from across Northwestern graduate schools.

“This one-of-a-kind academic program will advance our ability to find climate solutions while also preparing the next generation of sustainability leaders.”
Brayden King
McGraw Chair in Management and the Environment at Kellogg

Students will be organized into interdisciplinary teams and paired with corporate partners to work on yearlong projects addressing those companies’ significant climate-related needs.  This co-curricular learning opportunity will connect students with industry leaders and offer hands-on learning experiences like field trips, internships and intensive boot camps on climate-related topics. The goal will be for student teams to engage in projects that have an immediate impact on climate change. 

 "Climate change is a global challenge that demands diverse expertise. I’m excited that students studying science and technology fields will work with business, law and journalism students to explore solutions. Teaching this collaborative approach will shape a sustainable future,” said Ted Sargent, the Lynn Hopton Davis and Greg Davis Professor of Chemistry and the director of the Trienens Institute.

The program aims to admit 25 students from across Northwestern graduate schools to its first cohort and scale the program to 50 students within three years. The Academy will be led by a full-time director as well as an advisory board consisting of faculty from the partnering Northwestern schools and industry leaders.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to create an interdisciplinary forum to find real world solutions to the existential climate crisis,” said Wendy Abrams.

A highlight of the Academy’s calendar will be the Annual Climate Action Summit, a capstone event that will gather students, corporate leaders and the broader Northwestern sustainability community. During the summit, student teams will present the results of their yearlong projects to a panel of CEOs and other industry leaders. 

The summit will also feature a CEO panel where top executives discuss the climate challenges their companies face and the innovative solutions they are implementing. The event will serve as a platform for networking and collaboration, fostering a community of sustainability leaders who are committed to driving positive change.

The summit will take place as part of the Kellogg Climate Conference, an annual, student-run event that has taken place at the Global Hub since 2023. A prior gift from the Abramses generously funded the creation of the Climate Conference, as well as climate-related case studies and MBA curriculum development.

“I am so excited that our students will have the opportunity to work with peers and faculty across disciplines, on an issue that could not be more pressing for us all. This one-of-a-kind academic program will advance our ability to find climate solutions while also preparing the next generation of sustainability leaders,” said Brayden King, Max McGraw Chair in Management and the Environment at Kellogg. 

Wendy Abrams and James Abrams are co-founders of the Eleven Eleven Foundation, devoted to sustainability, education, healthcare and social justice.

Read next: From classroom to climate action: Journey to sustainability leadership