Unity Environmental University Receives National Award for Entrepreneurial Leadership
Unity Environmental University has received the 2026 Institutional Award for Entrepreneuring Excellence from Higher Education Innovation (HEI), recognizing the university’s transformation into a multi-modality institution serving more than 10,000 students and ranking in the top 1% nationally for social mobility, according to the Social Mobility Index.
Unity Special Assistant to the President, Maren McGillicuddy, traveled to Defiance, Ohio, this week to accept it on Unity’s behalf at HEI’s annual Presidents’ Conference at Defiance College.
“Unity’s growth reflects a willingness to rethink how a university can serve students today and into the future,” said Unity President and CEO, Dr. Melik Peter Khoury. “We have redesigned our institution around our mission, using new learning models, technology and organizational structures to create more pathways for learners. This award recognizes the work of our employees, and the students at the center of it.”
HEI recognized Unity’s use of its Sustainable Education Business Units (SEBUs) to serve learners through distinct, mission-aligned models. Unity’s online Distance Education arm extends environmental education to students around the world with bachelor’s and master’s degrees, while Unity at Pineland offers in-person learning and hands-on experiences at Pineland Farms. Unity’s newly launched Career Edge expands access through 90-credit applied bachelor’s degrees in fields like Psychology and Human Services, Culinary Innovation and Food Systems, and Sustainable Business Management. Together, these models reflect Unity’s Enterprise Model, aligning the way the university operates with the needs of the learners it serves.
“Unity Environmental University and its leadership truly exemplify the type of bold and innovative re-envisioning that is becoming increasingly more essential for institutions to thrive into the future,” said HEI President, Dr. Mary Landon Darden. Dr. Khoury has clearly demonstrated the courageous and entrepreneurial leadership required to make this kind of transformation. This is how we must transform higher education. Congratulations Unity!”
“Unity has spent the last decade asking what needs to change so we can keep serving the students who need us,” said Dr. Khoury.
The Institutional Award for Entrepreneuring Excellence is the highest award presented by HEI.
