Sustainable craft brewing education to be focus of upcoming talk
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—The sustainable craft brewing programs at Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo Valley Community College will be the focus at the upcoming Mercantile Bank of Michigan Breakfast Speaker Series hosted by WMU’s Haworth College of Business.
Dr. Steven Bertman, professor of chemistry, will discuss " Sustainable Brewing Education in Kalamazoo" at 8 a.m. Friday, Jan. 29, in 2150 Schneider Hall on WMU's campus.
The event is free and open to the public and begins with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (269) 387-6059 or at wmich.edu/business/mercantile-rsvp. Free parking is available in the Schneider Hall Lot 72R.
Sustainable Craft Brewing Education in Kalamazoo
The nation's first higher education programs in sustainable craft brewing were launched at WMU and Kalamazoo Valley Community College during the fall 2015 semester.
The programs were developed in close coordination with the brewing industry. The resulting "two-plus-two" program in sustainable craft brewing will offer students the opportunity to earn a certificate or associate degree at KVCC, and then move on to a Bachelor of Science degree that marries industry art and science with WMU's national reputation in sustainability.
The rigorous science curriculum, which addresses some of the industry's most pressing issues, has been developed with input from a growing external advisory board. Many of the advisory board members are in West Michigan, which has one of the country's highest per-capita densities of craft brewers.
Bertman worked closely with administration at WMU and KVCC to create the programs and serves as the faculty advisor for the WMU program. He earned his doctoral degree from Yale University and specializes in organic chemistry with research interests in atmospheric chemistry, biofuels and waste reduction.
Upcoming Speakers
- Feb. 26: Colleen Munson, WMU Volleyball
- March 25: Bobby Hopewell, City of Kalamazoo
About the Series
The Mercantile Bank of Michigan Breakfast Speaker Series provides an opportunity for the local community to hear top business leaders and WMU faculty, alumni and friends of the Haworth College of Business discuss current topics of interest.
For more information or to register, contact the Haworth College of Business at (269) 387-6059 or at wmich.edu/business/mercantile-rsvp.
For more news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.