Office of Sustainability
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 of Sustainability and Associate Director for the Department of Environmental Safety. He has been with the university since 1997 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.
Mark Stewart, Senior Project Manager
Mark has been with the Office of Sustainability since its inception in 2007. He developed and leads the Chesapeake Project, Student Sustainability Advisors program, and administers the University Sustainability Fund, among other projects. His work on integrating sustainability education into the student experience was published in the Journal of Sustainability Education and as a chapter in a book on ecological education. Mark earned his Master's degree in Higher Education Policy & 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, BA in Psychology, and is a LEED Accredited Professional. Mark is also a contributing editor to the International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education.
Aynsley Toews, Project Manager
Outreach to the campus and the community is central theme to Aynsley's work. She supports existing and develops new campus green programs. She also manages the Smart and Sustainable Campuses Conference. Before joining the Office of Sustainability, Aynsley worked at the North American Association for Environmental Education. She has worked in sustainability education and extension for the past 17 years in private, public and non-profit sectors. A former naturalist, Aynsley has increasingly worked on the development of action-oriented programs that encourage behavior change and the selection of sustainable alternatives. She has a Bachelor of Science (Environmental Science), with a focus on climate change and a Bachelor of Education. Aynsley, a Canadian expat, enjoys camping, hiking, running and attending Terps football games – go Terps!
Sally DeLeon, Project Manager
Sally manages data and progress tracking for the university’s sustainability efforts. She works with stakeholders around campus to manage goals and strategies in the University of Maryland Climate Action Plan. Before joining the UMD staff Sally was an educator and environmental researcher. At Rocky Mountain Institute she co-authored a guide for colleges and universities on climate action. She worked for the University of Vermont’s Office of Sustainability while finishing her graduate research which focused on sustainable development challenges related to gemstone mining in poor countries. She also taught high school science, worked on a small organic farm, backpacked across the Cordillera Real, and biked across Alaska. Sally holds an MS in Natural Resource Planning, a BA in biology, and a BA in environmental studies. When not at work she enjoys playing outside with her daughter, traveling with her husband, and hanging out at home in Takoma Park.
Interns:
Neil Blanc, Green Schools Intern
Neil is an alumnus of the Poolesville High School Global Ecology program, where his passion for sustainability was born. He is currently a second-semester freshman in the Environment, Technology, and Economy Scholar Program. He is undecided between compsci or environmental civil engineering, but is decided on a sustainability minor. He is also involved with the Maryland Sustainability Engineering club. Neil hopes to reach the potential of the Green Schools project, and is most excited to produce real world change in his first college internship.
Ali Dodson, Green Schools Intern
Ali is a 3rd year dual Public Policy/CONS Grad Student with a passion for involving the broader community in environmental stewardship. She believes that improving sustainability involves changing the public perception of the environment’s importance, and education is a key component of this change. In the past, she has helped high school students embrace their interest in sustainability topics, and she hopes to continue to influence young minds to help protect our ecosystems.
Andrea Doukakis, Outreach Team Coordinator
Andrea is a junior and is currently making a Sustainability major with the Individual Studies Program. She jumped on the “Green” bandwagon after arriving at UMD and learning the importance of sustainability and taking advantage of all the information UMD has to offer on the subject. She has travelled to France and Greece and has witnessed the sustainable future that Costa Rica has provided, with efficient recycling programs and wind turbines for energy. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, whether it be a movie night or an adventure to a museum or other local activities. She spends free time during the semester doing community service for the Primannum Honor Society and tap dancing with the Terrapin Tap Troupe. She looks forward to completing her Sustainability major and wonders where the future will take her!
Kathleen Elliott, Graphic Design Student Assistant
Kathleen is a senior at the University of Maryland, studying Graphic Design and English and began working on graphic design for the Office of Sustainability in 2012. She feels strongly that designers have a responsibility to communicate with their communities through inspiring and influential design to promote a better, more unified mentality towards sustainability.
Sarah Hogue, Photo and Video Intern
Sarah is a senior and Journalism major with a minor in art history at the University of Maryland. Whether on hikes with the Terrapin Trail Club or working at the Office of Sustainability, she hopes to expand her knowledge of wildlife and environmental conservation.
Jenny Lee, Green Office Intern
Jenny found her passion for sustainability actions on campus since her involvement in the Environment, Technology, and the Economy Scholars Program. Currently in her second year of acquiring an architecture major and sustainability minor, she made strides in improving campus sustainability awareness. Jenny recognizes the essence of blending students' and faculty's experiences in order to create a more sustainable campus.
Katelyn Newman, Journalism Intern
A Journalism major with a minor in Sustainability, Katelyn is also a member of the Environment, Technology and Economy Scholars program. Only a freshman, Katelyn loves to write about and encourage sustainable action, both on campus and in the community abroad.
Betsey Nolen, Green Schools Intern
Betsy will graduate this spring with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture. After graduating, she will continue her education in pursuit of a Dual Masters in Architecture and Historic Preservation, hopefully at the University of Maryland. She became especially interested in sustainability after reading “Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things” by William McDonough and Michael Braungart.
Lili Notovitz, Photography Intern
Lili is a sophomore, studying psychology at the University of Maryland. She is a part of the on campus CIVICUS living and learning program, which focuses on community service, scholarship, and leadership. Although this is her first time working in the field of sustainability, Lili has always had a deep appreciation for the environment and a desire to explore and preserve it. Her other interests include sketching, making music, and watching good movies.
Erin Omahen, Green Schools Intern
Erin is a sophomore at the University of Maryland studying Government and Politics with a minor in Sustainability Studies. She is interested in pursuing a career in either public policy of urban planning following graduation. A diehard New England Patriots fan, Erin enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, sports, and exercise.
Jenae Ramos, Communications Student Assistant
Jenae is a junior and Psychology major at the University of Maryland. Interested in protecting the environment and promoting renewable energy policies, she has dedicated herself to working on-campus with the Office of Sustainability and off-campus with the Sierra Club. She utilizes her government work experience and communications background to support green initiatives on-campus and legislative action in Maryland.
Kate Richard, Green Schools Intern
Graduating this spring, Kate is an Environmental Science and Policy and English double major. Involved with the Student Sustainability Committee since freshman year, Kate is excited to be a part of the Green Schools program, spreading sustainable education to as many people as possible.
Alexis Robinson, Green Offices Program Intern
Alexis is an Environmental Science and Policy major and is very passionate about helping others understand that we can make a difference with sustainable practices. Working with the Office of Sustainability is another step in the right direction towards helping the university become a better place, one office at a time.
Jenny Williams, EPP Intern
Jenny is a senior who has a major in Government and Politics and a minor in Sustainability. She is from Silver Spring, Maryland, but currently resides in College Park. She has a passion for both music and sustainability. She wants to create a career that incorporates both of these passions along with other current and future interests. She also has a desire to travel to as many different countries as possible in order to gain different perspectives and continue her love for learning. Jenny absolutely loves watching documentaries and always enjoys a solid T.V. show. Tina Fey is one of her favorite people, even though she has never met the 30 Rock creator. .
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.