Distinguished Environmental Health Scholar Recognized for Transformative Work in Environmental Justice
Wilson Named 2025 Heinz Award Winner in Environment
Alabama A&M University alumnus Dr. Sacoby Wilson (’98) has earned one of the nation’s highest honors, the 2025 Heinz Award in the Environment category. The Heinz Awards, established in memory of U.S. Senator John Heinz, recognize six recipients annually in the categories of Arts, Economy, and Environment. Each honoree receives a $250,000 award and the Heinz Award medallion. Wilson will be formally recognized at a ceremony on October 21 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The award is among the most prestigious recognitions of innovation and service in America, honoring leaders whose work transforms lives and communities.
“It’s quite humbling to receive such a prestigious award,” said Wilson. “This recognition is not just for me but for my staff, community partners, collaborators, and the environmental justice movement as a whole. It is a testament to the courage and sacrifice of frontline and fenceline communities that have fought for decades for health and justice.”
Currently a professor in the Department of Global, Environmental, and Occupational Health in the School of Public Health at the University of Maryland, College Park, Wilson also directs the Health, Environmental and Economic Justice (T.H.E. E.J.) Lab. His research and advocacy have centered on community-engaged science, including air quality monitoring, mapping of environmental hazards, disaster resiliency projects, and policy initiatives that INpower communities impacted by pollution and environmental inequities.
Wilson also leads the Center for Community Engagement, Environmental Justice, and Health INpowering Communities (CEEJH INC), a nonprofit he founded in 2023, which partners with grassroots organizations nationwide to address environmental and climate injustices. His projects span communities from the Mid-Atlantic to the Deep South, blending science with advocacy to create lasting change.
Wilson’s path to becoming a national leader in environmental justice began at Alabama A&M University, where he majored in biology/ecotoxicology with a minor in environmental science. Growing up in Vicksburg, Mississippi, he witnessed firsthand the impacts of environmental hazards – living near a landfill, sewage treatment plant, and major highway while his father worked in industrial settings with health risks. His early questions about environmental stressors, combined with his passion for science, led him to AAMU.
“I knew I wanted the supportive environment of an HBCU,” said Wilson, who chose Alabama A&M over offers from multiple universities, including Georgia Tech and Morehouse. “AAMU gave me the foundation, the mentoring, and the opportunities that have shaped my entire career.”
Wilson excelled academically and was deeply involved in campus life, serving in the SGA, the Honors Program, Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) and as captain of the Honda All-Star Challenge team. He is also a proud member of the Delta Gamma Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Wilson credits AAMU’s faculty for playing a pivotal role in his development as both a scholar and leader, highlighting Dr. Rather Brown, Dr. Marjorie Campbell, Dean James Shuford, Dr. Evelyn Ellis, and many others who helped shaped his path.
“I developed a strong scientifically based writing style due to my training at AAMU and also built a strong work ethic and commitment to excellence,” explained Wilson. “Much of this was due to my mentors, particularly Dr. Ellis, who took a tough-love approach with me. She pushed me every day to be the best version of myself academically. With her encouragement, I began to apply myself more fully – including applying for scholarships and grants.”
After graduating in 1998, Wilson went on to earn both his master’s and doctorate in Environmental Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His career includes research roles at the University of South Carolina and, since 2011, faculty leadership at the University of Maryland, College Park. A recognized national voice in his field, Wilson has served on numerous boards and advisory councils, including the U.S. EPA’s National Environmental Justice Advisory Council; the CDC’s Board of Scientific Counselors for the National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (NCEH/ATSDR); Maryland’s Commission on Environmental Justice and Sustainable Communities; and the National Academy of Sciences’ Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology. He also serves as editor-in-chief of the journal Environmental Justice.
In 2022, Wilson received the Sierra Club’s Robert Bullard Environmental Justice Award, named after his mentor and fellow AAMU alumnus, Dr. Robert Bullard – widely known as the “father of environmental justice.”
As he marks this milestone honor, Wilson says the Heinz Award comes at a symbolic time. “I just turned 50, and I see this as both a crowning achievement and a new beginning. I want to take my impact to the next level and help build ecotopias – thriving, sustainable communities free from decades of environmental injustices.” Wilson resides in Bowie, Maryland, with his wife, Natasha Blakeney, and their two daughters, Ariana and Ava.
Reflecting on his journey, Wilson credits Alabama A&M University for laying the foundation of his success.
“Going to Normal, Alabama, was one of the best experiences in my life. Alabama A&M has a great learning environment. Faculty, leadership, and staff are truly committed to every student meeting their full potential.”