“Wow, that’s a pretty heavy question from a total stranger,” I thought. “Where do I turn?”

So I sent a request out to Twitterland, and @mkaPR was quick with an answer.  Melissa directed me to Beyond Grey Pinstripes, which produces a biennial survey that spotlights innovative full-time MBA programs that integrate issues of social and environmental stewardship into curricula and research.  She ought to know, I figured, since Melissa is the Director of P.R. at the Wisconsin School of Business at University of Wisconsin – Madison (I participated in their MBA’s tweet-up on the environment and social media a few months back).

Pinstripes’ 2009/2010 survey is due out in the fall.  But their ’07/’08 survey is a great resource for anyone considering a higher green education. The study measures four main areas: Student opportunity, student exposure, course content and faculty research. You can download the three-page study here. Study PDF

Top 10 Green MBA Programs in America

1. Stanford University
2. The University of Michigan
3. University of California, Berkeley
4. University of Notre Dame
5. Columbia University
6. Cornell University
7. Duquesne University
8. Yale University
9. New York University
10. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Click here to see the “Global 100″ schools.

Beyond Grey Pinstripes is a program directed by The Aspen Institute Center for Business Education, which encourages future business leaders to innovate at the intersection of corporate profits and social impacts.  The goals of Beyond Grey Pinstripes are:

1. Promote and celebrate innovation in business education. The School Rankings call attention to places that do this work well.
2. Inform Prospective students about environmental and social impact management programs.
3. Raise the bar by challenging business schools to incorporate social and environmental impact management topics into their curricula.
4. Inform corporate recruiters of business schools that are providing training in social and environmental skills as part of business decision making.
5. Disseminate best practices in teaching, research, and extracurricular activities. The Search function on the website provides access to detailed information-often including syllabi-on thousands of courses, journal articles, and more.
6. Facilitate Conversation – Real change only comes after students, faculty, administrators and business leaders begin to discuss these issues.

Tamseel greatly appreciated the fast turn around on his request, which made me look really, really smart.  Thanks Melissa! (I guess now he knows who is really the bright one.)

Mother Nature Could Care Less…

…whether you’re Republican, Democratic, Green Party or Independent: Partisanship aside, the globe warms us all equally. Personally become more sustainable and worry about the party later.

…whether you’re a man or woman: C02 does not discriminate. Pay attention to your carbon footprint and learn how you can reduce it.

…whether you’re rich or poor, or somewhere in between: Maybe you can’t afford a hybrid car or solar for your home, but you certainly can’t afford to ignore the FREE and easy things you can do to help save the planet and your money; like turning down your thermostat, recycling, and re-purposing stuff.

…whether you’re young or old: Our lungs all work the same,  and most of them are extremely efficient at sucking in air pollution.  The clear solution is to simply drive less.

…whether you’re good looking or ugly: No one is immune to free radicals from environmental toxins that ravage our bodies. Detoxify your home with natural cleaners.

…whether you’re bright or dim: Switch to CFL light bulbs.

…whether you’re an environmentalist or redneck: When a species becomes extinct, we all lose. Support smart land management and care for the outdoors like it’s your indoors.

…whether you’re a shopaholic or miser: Non-sustainable products produced by carbon belching factories cost consumers much more than money, so vote with your wallet and buy green.

…whether or not you’re thirsty: When we run out of clean drinking water, we run out. So please use our water wisely, and you’ll conserve some cash while you’re at it.

…whether or not you’ve got a green thumb: Everyone pays the same market and environmental price for our produce. Plant an organic garden – weeds and all – and save money, the planet, and some sanity.

…whether you’re a titan of industry or child laborer: Inequality in the workplace threatens to dismantle the world economy. Ask for and buy fair trade when you can.

…whether you’re hungry or full: When we carelessly strip our lands of natural resources to feed our collective consumption, the table becomes bare for all.

…whether you’re an extrovert or a wallflower: The subtleties of our environment our immensely more powerful than the extremes or our beliefs. As Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”

…whether you’re a believer or an atheist: When it’s all said and done, we all compost equally – Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

So today, celebrate Earth Day.  Download this calendar of the 26 things you can do in less than five minutes each day to save the world. It won’t cost you a dime. You can use it during any month. You’ll probably save the planet, and a thousand bucks.