Alverno Greenhouse

With a dedication to a sustainable environment, Alverno College established initial programming within the greenhouse through a USDA - National Institute of Food and Agriculture grant entitled "Establishing a Pipeline of Student Professional Experience and Leadership Development in Sustainable Agriculture," totaling $273,786.40 with a project timeline from September 1, 2020 through August 31, 2024.  With this funding, the project director (Rebekah Klingler, Ph.D.) and co-project directors (Alex Blom, Ph.D.; Angela Frey, Ph.D.; Thor Stolen, Ph.D; and Christy Bell, M.S.) aim to attract, retain and support, women from underrepresented groups in FANH related disciplines (Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Human Sciences) through enhanced science education and professional development that increases awareness and pursuit of FANH-related careers in order to meet the needs of the local and national workforce.

In December of 2019, the A. O. Smith Foundation generously donated $250,000 to support the construction of an on-campus greenhouse.  Completed in October of 2021, the Alverno Greenhouse sponsored by A.O. Smith consists of a 1,400-square-foot facility featuring a state-of-art aquaponics system and a large classroom space.  The new facility provides Alverno with additional opportunities to recruit, retain and graduate women in a wide variety of majors, and provides students exciting new opportunities to engage in hands-on learning and explore new career paths. 

About A. O. Smith
A. O. Smith Corporation, with headquarters in Milwaukee, Wis., is a global leader applying innovative technology and energy-efficient solutions to products manufactured and marketed worldwide. Listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of residential and commercial water heating equipment and boilers, as well as a manufacturer of water treatment and air purification products. For more information, visit www.aosmith.com.