Ashwani Vasishth

I knew Ashwani from my involvement on the AASHE Board. He always had thoughtful advice, and was a true advocate for embedding sustainability in higher education. I had really good times chatting with him about small and big topics. I will miss him! My condolences to his close friends and family. He will be missed.

Brother Love.. as I called him. ..and his "Pollution Solution" bicycle from our days back at the School of Architecture in Delhi. 1970s. Memories that will never fade.. and can never be enough ~ like introducing me to the fine art of brewing beer with a generous handful of hops from his Dad's stash.. a legacy that morphed into many summers of home-made wines that lots of friends came to share.. . and who have never left. All a small part of his legacy. But he really did some tremendous work in his professional life: impacting lives, communities and environments through work and teaching that will grow and bear greater fruit... a huge footprint for a quiet and unassuming man. He will be missed. Wish we'd had more contact after his years in Boston and when he moved to New Jersey. Work and family can keep us further apart than miles and a river ~ and tempus fugit.

The AASHE team is deeply saddened to have just just learned of Ashwani's passing. Ashwani served on the Board of Directors for the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) for three years, completing his term at the end of 2024. He was a tremendous advocate for our work and for integrating sustainability into the curriculum. We benefitted from his passion and dedication and know that Ramapo has lost an amazing sustainability champion. Our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones. He will be missed from the AASHE community where he contributed so much of his wisdom and heart.

Ashwani was such a passionate lecturer and dedicated professor. He would make himself available to talk with his students ANY time of day. Could be nine o’clock at night and he’d insist that helping students wasn’t work to him. He truly loved being an advisor and mentor. I will treasure all of his lessons, our conversations, and his blunt advice. I’ll never forget how he’d shrug his shoulders when I told him that I was doing a “Food Taste & Waste” class in Denmark. He insisted that it might be simply wine tasting and wanted to make sure I’d get valuable lessons from taking it. He then let me use what I learned for my capstone project and helped me every step of the way. Even now, post grad, he’d send out job opportunities, advice, and would connect with me on occasion. I was meaning to call him the past few months, and now I won’t get that chance again. I miss him terribly. Thank you Ashwani for defining my college experience at Ramapo. I wouldn’t be who I am today without you.

My peers and I are better prepared for the world and its sustainability challenges thanks to his guidance and willingness to not give up on any of us. One of the Ramapo greats. He will be missed.