Dr. Abrash Walton is an innovative, mission-aligned leader, with 30 years of higher education and public interest experience. She serves as an administrative leader and faculty in Antioch University’s Department of Environmental Studies. As founding director of the Center for Academic Innovation and in her current roles, she has created, led – and mobilized more than $1 million in external resources to support – academic, professional development, and applied research programming and student scholarships. Under her leadership, the New England campus implemented a range of sustainability and social justice infrastructure and programming, including an EV-charging station, porous pavement, gender-inclusive/family restroom, bike shelter, campus recycling/composting and reduction of campus electricity usage by 68% cumulatively over a seven-year period through low-/no-cost behavior change and mini-tech programs.
Previously, she served as program director for the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights, and Visiting Fellow at Harvard Law School’s Human Rights Program. Abigail has served as a commentator for The Washington Post, The New York Times, National Public Radio, “Democracy Now!” and PBS News Hour, among other media outlets. She has a deep commitment to civic engagement, with appointments at the municipal and state levels. Her research, practice, and public engagement is at the nexus of social justice and sustainability solutions.