Alison Dennis '94

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Alison Dennis is the executive director of the Center for Global Leadership in Sustainability at Portland State University. The Center works at the nexus of sustainability-inspired business scholarship and practice, forging partnerships and advancing the role of business in solving the persistent social and ecological challenges of our time. She is recognized regionally and nationally as a sustainable business thought leader and practitioner on issues ranging from food systems to triple-bottom-line business to corporate culture and leadership development. Prior to joining Portland State, Alison served as director of sustainability for Burgerville, a Pacific Northwest restaurant company, where she oversaw the company’s supply chain, sustainable programs, and corporate social responsibility efforts. Prior to this, Dennis served as purchasing director for Oregon Health and Science University, leading large-scale supply chain development and improvement efforts in an innovative environment. Dennis currently serves on the board of directors for Food Alliance and the advisory board for Portland Mercado. In 2004, she traveled the world for a year, eating local food across 27 countries and 6 continents in 365 days. In 2013, she was a fellow at Bennington’s Center for the Advancement of Public Action and served on the faculty.