Michael Bryson

Michael Bryson serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Law, Society, & Sustainability at Roosevelt University's College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences. He teaches courses including PLS 392 Seminar in Humanities and SUST 210 The Sustainable Future, with active involvement in the university's sustainability initiatives through 2025.

His research interests focus on urban sustainability, environmental justice, and community-based research. Professor Bryson works closely with Chicago's Southeast Environmental Task Force (SETF), one of the city's oldest grassroots conservation organizations based in the Hegewisch neighborhood. His work emphasizes the intersection of social justice and environmental protection in urban contexts, particularly in Chicago's Calumet industrial region.

Professor Bryson actively leads Roosevelt's sustainability programming, including Earth Month initiatives, the EcoChallenge competition between students and faculty, and the Mental Health Garden project. He coordinates the Community-based Research and Environmental Justice course that partners with SETF to address climate justice, pollution reduction, clean energy policy, and public health protection in Chicago's Southeast Side.

As department chair, he mentors students through research opportunities and oversees the integration of sustainability across academic programs. His work connects classroom learning with real-world environmental challenges through field experiences in Chicago's industrial landscapes and natural areas.

Professor Bryson is deeply involved with campus sustainability efforts including the Drag Trash Competition, beach clean-ups with the Captain Paul Watson Foundation, and seed-bombing workshops that connect environmental action with mental health initiatives through the RU Mental Health Garden.