Bren students are trained to become leaders of environmental management. And just as they receive support and guidance from faculty, staff, and professional mentors, so, too does the School itself benefit from reliable counsel and strong leadership from a variety of sources.

Bren leadership begins with Dean Ernst von Weizsäcker, a visionary thinker, author and policy maker who was formerly the chair of the environmental committee in the German parliament. It extends to a pair of groups comprising men and women holding prominent positions in the corporate, government, nonprofit, and consultancy sectors.

The Bren School Advisory Board, which includes UCSB Chancellor Henry Yang and University of California representatives as well as representatives from corporations and nonprofit organizations, provides high-level direction to ensure that the School and its programs are the best in the world in terms of providing a comprehensive, balanced, cutting-edge approach to environmental science and management.

The Dean's Council was created to support, promote, and guide the Bren School in achieving its objectives while also serving as the primary conduit between the School and the local community. The Council also sponsors the Breakfast Club, which meets quarterly at the University Club in Santa Barbara for presentations that are open to the public.