The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences received a gift of over $12 million from the estate of Ira L. Sorenson (BA, 1928), establishing the Ira L. and Vera S. Sorenson Fund in support of the School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability (SEES).

At a pivotal moment for the recently established school, the gift advances the vision of SEES by bringing together disciplines, perspectives, and people to better understand–and address–the complex environmental challenges of our time.

The Sorenson's gift builds on growing momentum of alumni investment in SEES. Recent support from Leon (BS '80, MS '82) and Vicki Aden is helping transform Trowbridge Hall into a more modern, collaborative space for students and faculty.

For the Adens, the philanthropic investment reflects a continued commitment to the school and its direction, supporting a space that matches the scope of the work happening inside.

Together with the Sorenson Fund, the Trowbridge Hall Renovation Fund goes beyond the creation of a new space by bringing people together. “Our hope with this contribution is to inspire additional support from the broader community so SEES’s physical space can continue to develop alongside its academic programming,” Leon said.

These investments reflect a shared belief in SEES’s future: that solving complex environmental challenges requires both the right ideas and the right spaces to bring people together.

In accordance with Sorenson’s wishes, the fund will support a distinguished speakers program featuring leaders from both academic and industry settings, with an emphasis on geology when possible. But more than a lecture series, the program is a catalyst–sparking connection, exchange, and ongoing collaboration across disciplines.

“SEES was built in response to where the field is headed and what students and faculty need to do their best work,” said Emily Finzel, Department Executive Officer for the School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability. "By bringing together environmental programs that had been spread across campus, we created one place where students can engage deeply with earth and sustainability studies. This generous funding builds on that foundation by expanding opportunities for connection and collaboration in ways that simply weren’t possible before.”

Building a hub for exchange and discovery

This vision will take shape through the Speaker Program on Human–Environment Relationships and Earth Science (SPHERES), a coordinated effort designed to position the school as a national and international center for dialogue and collaboration.

Through weekly seminars, high-profile lectures, and annual symposia, SPHERES will create a steady rhythm of engagement, bringing leading voices to campus and embedding them in the life of the school.

At its core, SPHERES invites scholars, practitioners, and industry leaders to campus. Visiting speakers will not only to present their work; they will meet with students in small-group settings, connect with faculty, and participate in public-facing events that extend conversations beyond the classroom.

For students, that means direct access to experts shaping the field, along with clearer pathways to internships, careers, and interdisciplinary work. For faculty, it opens new avenues for research partnerships and innovation.

In short, the program transforms a single gift into ongoing opportunity–fueling the kind of sustained exchange that drives discovery.

This approach reflects both the complexity of environmental challenges and the collaborative mindset required to address them. It also aligns closely with SEES’s broader mission: to bring together natural and social sciences in ways that prepares students to understand and respond to real-world issues.

Access to visiting experts expands classroom learning, highlights potential pathways to internships and careers, and provides early exposure to the kinds of interdisciplinary work that define the field.

A legacy rooted in Iowa

The Sorenson’s gift also reflects a meaningful connection to the university’s past. Ira Sorenson studied geology at Iowa under Professor A.C. Trowbridge, and went on to build a career in the petroleum industry. His decision to support a program that brings in industry speakers reflects both his academic foundation and his professional experience, recognizing the value of bringing together different perspectives to advance understanding.

Nearly a century later, that vision continues to resonate. Environmental challenges demand collaboration across disciplines, sectors, and perspectives.

From revitalized spaces in Trowbridge Hall to new opportunities for intellectual exchange through SPHERES, these investments are shaping a more connected and collaborative future for SEES.