How long have you been with the University?

I have been with the University since mid-September 2023, so just under six months.

What department and/or unit are you in?

Within Facilities Services, I am part of the Facilities Operations Campus and Residential Services unit, managing the grounds team.

What is your education or training?

I have a BA in Environmental Studies from Loyola University Chicago (2011) and an MA in Geography and Environmental Studies from Northeastern Illinois University (2023). My master’s degree focused heavily on utilizing geographic information systems for assessing park and greenspace access and equity in comparison to vacant land throughout Chicago and the socioeconomic and environmental benefits of converting vacant land into greenspace. I worked in Nevada performing ecological restoration and forestry and in Iowa teaching energy efficiency and conducting residential energy audits. I held several roles within Chicago, like teaching bicycle safety and maintenance and urban agriculture, managing the 1,408-acre Lincoln Park, and overseeing O’Hare International Airport’s landscaping. Most recently, I oversaw the Des Plaines Park District landscape division. I am a Certified Arborist and consider myself a life-long learner, picking up certifications as often as possible. 

How does your job relate to sustainability?

My role is to manage the grounds staff to provide the UChicago community with a beautiful, safe, and environmentally-sound campus landscape. This involves stewarding over 140 display gardens and planters; monitoring, treating, and maintaining over 4,000 trees; managing over 50 individual irrigation systems; and sustainably composting thousands of tons of landscape waste each year. My position also entails protecting the environment through chemicals management and proper herbicide and fertilizer use; fuels reduction through battery technology implementation for grounds vehicles and equipment; fuel and underground tank storage systems management; procuring ecologically sound ice-melting products for the University’s ice-free campus; and more. 

I am confident that as I grow in my position, newly advanced methods will avail themselves to improve the campus habitat. I could not, however, do any of this without the phenomenal grounds staff and their hard work, positive attitude, and level of care they bring to campus every day.