Office of Sustainabiliy
About the Office:
The University of Maryland Office of Sustainability supports and advances environmental performance, economic prosperity and social equality through a variety of initiatives. The staff facilitate the development and implementation of sustainable policies, practices and curricula for the campus community by:
- Educating the campus community about sustainability
- Developing sustainability programming that affects student education and campus operations
- Fostering collaboration between units of the university and external resources
- Consulting with campus departments (administrative and academic) to find ways of reducing environmental impacts and promoting sustainability
- Coordinating efforts to meet the goals of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment
- Measuring and reporting on campus sustainability efforts
- Providing outreach to individuals and organizations both internal and external to the University
- Supporting the University Sustainability Council
Staff:
Scott Lupin, Director
Scott is the Director of the Office and Associate Director for the Department of Environmental Safety. He has been with the University for 12 years where his primary focus involves the development of the campus sustainability program and environmental management. Prior to joining the University, Scott served as an Associate with Dames and Moore, an international environmental and engineering consulting firm. He has also served as an EHS Manager for Honeywell, Inc. and as a RCRA inspector and Superfund investigator for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Scott holds a Master`s degree in Environmental Health from the University of Minnesota and is a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager. He is also a LEED Accredited Professional.
Heather Lair, Project Manager
Heather joined the Office in early 2008 and is working to help the University implement its commitment to the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, implement new sustainability programs across the campus, and track and report campus progress.
Prior to coming to Maryland, Heather worked for eight years as a facilitator at the Meridian Institute, working with diverse stakeholders on public policy issues including biofuels, chemicals management, food security, and sustainable forestry. Her prior work experience includes assignments in the public and private sectors focused on environmental education and sustainable agriculture, including service as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in Honduras. She holds an MBA and a MS in Natural Resource Policy from the University of Michigan and is a LEED Accredited Professional.
Mark Stewart, Campus Sustainability Coordinator
Mark began his work on sustainability at Maryland in 2006 as a graduate student and became the Campus Sustainability Coordinator in early 2008. Mark focuses on education and outreach initiatives that serve to integrate sustainability in the curriculum and student experience, create a culture of sustainability on campus, and transform the campus into a model sustainable community.
Mark earned his Master's in Higher Education Policy and Leadership from the University of Maryland where he studied the role of higher education in creating a sustainable society. Prior to attending graduate school, he taught high school earth and environmental science in Howard County, MD. Before teaching, he worked in organizational development. He holds a BS in Environmental Science and a BA in Organizational Psychology from the University of Maryland in Baltimore County. Mark is also a LEED Accredited Professional.
Interns:
Claire Burson, Web and Communications Intern
Claire will earn a double degree in Cultural Geography and European History in 2009. After graduation, she plans to attend grad school in Ireland. As a Web and Communications Intern, Claire helps maintain and update the website as well as a Facebook page. She also coordinated outreach activities for Earth Day and Maryland Day 2009.
Joanna Calabrese, National Wildlife Federation Fellow
Joanna is a senior Environmental Science and Policy Major who has been heavily involved in sustainability at Maryland throughout her undergraduate career. She became an Office of Sustainability Intern in 2008 when she received a fellowship grant from the National Wildlife Federation to develop and education, outreach, and incentives program aimed at reducing energy consumption in buildings on campus. She will work closely with the Office of Sustainability to develop a pilot program from summer 2009 to May 2010.
Lisa Crisalli, Energywi$e Intern
Lisa is a psychology major and neuroscience minor, and is involved with both the Student Government Association and University Senate. After obtaining her bachelor’s degree, she hopes to pursue an MBA in marketing. She is excited to be a part of the Energywi$e pilot program, and is currently an energy analyst intern, working with OFSL and the Green Greek Challenge to get the Greek community to reduce their energy use!
Pam Eichenbaum, Communications Intern
Pam is very excited to be interning with the Office of Sustainability at the University of Maryland. Pam is a first year Graduate student in the School of Architecture with the Urban and Regional Studies program. Pam recently moved to the DC area from Pittsburgh, where she worked as a Community Organizer and Community Advocate. Pam attended the University of Pittsburgh, where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and a life-long appreciation for Pittsburgh and Pitt sports teams.
Rob Fox, Energywi$e Intern
Rob is a closet nature lover who pretends to be a data junkie. Now a first-year graduate student in Sustainable Development and Conservation Biology, Rob spent 8 years in the DC area doing energy market analysis for consulting firms, but has also been known to disappear for months at a time into Central American jungles. In Fall 2009 Rob joined the Office of Sustainability’s EnergyWi$e team, which focuses on improving energy efficiency in campus buildings by improving occupants’ usage habits. Rob’s undergraduate career was at James Madison University, where he majored in Integrated Science & Technology.
Rebecca Huncosky, Communications Intern
Rebecca, originally from Madison, WI, graduated from St. Olaf College, MN in May 2008 with degrees in Biology and Environmental Studies. She has previously worked as both a research assistant and an environmental educator. Most recently, she interned with the National Park Service, assisting with natural resource management on the National Mall. Rebecca is currently completing a Master’s degree in Sustainable Development & Conservation Biology.
Golnaz Khorsha, Energywi$e Intern
Golnaz has just started her studies in environmental engineering. She finished her Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering in August 2007 from University of Maryland. Soon after she started working at Holcim (US) first as an engineer and then as the Quality Control Supervisor. She returned to University of Maryland to complete her Master’s degree. Her research interests are wastewater management, sustainability and renewable energies. She is interning with the Office of Sustainability this semester in the pilot Energywi$e project.
History:
The Office of Sustainability was formed in the summer of 2007 following the signing of the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment. The University has had a long standing commitment to environmental stewardship. However, the focus on sustainability at the University began in 2002 with the completion of the University’s Facilities Master Plan and the University’s first national sustainability conference: Beyond Compliance – Campus Greening Through Stewardship. Sustainability efforts expanded over the next four years through a variety of efforts by individuals and campus departments. In 2005 and 2007, the University joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and several national higher education organizations to sponsor and host the Smart & Sustainable Campuses Conferences. In the spring of 2007, the University issued its first Campus Sustainability Report.
The Office of Sustainability is administered by the Department of Environmental Safety and reports to the Vice President of Administrative Affairs.