Everything depends on inner change; when this has taken place, then, and only then does the world change.
- Martin Buber
Our Mission
Viridis Graduate Institute, a nonprofit accredited distance-learning institution, offers a distinctive education in ecological psychology and environmental humanities, designed to equip graduates with professional knowledge and collaborative skills needed to creatively transform detrimental narratives and practices underpinning the world’s challenging problems.
Changing the Roots of Narratives
Our Roots
Viridis Graduate Institute envisions a world shaped by ecological psychology, where transformative education and intra-active leadership generate relational narratives and accountable practices that continually evolve humans as part of an intradependent world.
This vision is grounded in the following core values:
- Ecological Flourishing: We recognize that ecological-psychological integrity, education, democratizing ideas, quality of life and well-being for all lifeforms are endogenous to a flourishing world.
- Intradependence: We understand that ecological, social, and economic ecologies – and their challenges –are deeply intradependent; ecological psychology offers educative pathways to relational, systemic solutions.
- Excellence in Teaching and Learning: We are committed to an inspirational, high-quality education that supports learning, collaboration, transformative understanding and practice.
- Inquiry and Engagement: We value inquiry-based learning grounded in curiosity, ecological-psychological participation, responsibility and intra-active involvement with the world of which we are a part.
Viridis Graduate Institute was founded in 2011 by Dr. Lori Pye and a dedicated group of educators who understand that we are responsible for our narratives and practices affecting the world of which we are a part. Earth responds to human behavior and practices that most often come from unexamined narratives and behavior. Climate crisis, diversity loss, and human conflict damaging the world being the most striking consequences of this co-responsive relationship.
The name “Viridis” derives from the Latin term for “green,” “blooming,” and “vigorous,” the notion of “green life,” symbolizing the flourishing and growth of plants and vegetation.
board of trustees
Andrew Beath
Founder of EarthWays Foundation
Pam Bjork, Ph.D.
Cultural Mythologist and Artist
John Ehrenfeld, Ph.D.
Retired MIT, School of Forestry and Environmental Management, Yale University
Jacqueline M. Feather, MFT., Ph.D.
Jungian Analyst
Lori Pye, Ph.D.
Founder and President of Viridis Graduate Institute
Ann Vermeer, D.A.
Secretary
Elyn Zimmerman, M.F.A.
Artist
Advisory Council
Jonathan Balcombe, Ph.D., Ethologist and Author.
Paloma Hammond, D.A., College Counselor at Colorado Mountain College
Rebecca Fisher, D.A., Vice President, Dean of Continuing Education, Harrison Middleton University
Marcus Ford, Ph.D., Co-founder Flagstaff College
Lauryn Hart, D.A., Viridis Alumni
Honorary Board
Patricia Berry, Ph.D.
Joan Stroud Blaine
Pamela Burton, M.Arch.
Richard Hertz, Ph.D.
Mary Leibman
Thomas Moore, Ph.D.
