How long have you been with the University?

I have been employed at the University for over four years.

What department and/or unit are you in?

I am a Contract/Sourcing Manager within Financial Services, Procurement and Payment Services.

What is your education or training?

I graduated from The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, with a Master of Business Administration in June 2008. I majored in Finance, Marketing, and Real Estate Management. Also, I graduated from The Mendoza College of Business at The University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana, with a Bachelor of Business Administration in May 2001. I majored in Management — Business Consulting.

How does your job relate to sustainability?

The University’s procurement department has a significant influence on sustainability efforts and responsible, strategic sourcing. By incorporating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives into procurement decisions, the University can promote more ethical practices, enhance their reputation with stakeholders, and reduce environmental impact. 

A recent sustainability related project I led was the warehouse disposition project. You can read more about this project that recirculated nearly 33,000 pounds of furniture and equipment that had been in storage back to campus and to nonprofit partners.

How long have you been with the University?

I have been an intern with the University for about a month, and I will be here from April until July, 2023.

What department and/or unit are you in?

I am in the Facilities Services Operations department, where I am focused on energy programs.

What is your education or training?

I have a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the United States Naval Academy, through which I primarily studied energy systems as they relate to ships, aircraft, and nuclear propulsion. Prior to this internship, I served six years in the Marine Corps as an intelligence officer, where I worked with conventional and special operations units. My primary responsibilities involved understanding counterterrorism efforts across the globe and advising political leadership on ongoing military efforts. My career took me to duty stations across the United States, including California, Virginia, North Carolina, and Alaska. I also deployed twice to East Asia and Africa, most recently serving as a military liaison to the U.S. Ambassador to Kenya.

How does your job relate to sustainability?

My role is focused on identifying opportunities for the University to increase sustainable efforts and efficiencies with utilities. I am currently focused on characterizing the University’s water intake, recommending efforts that we can take to reduce water usage, and identifying methods to track consumption so that we can predict preventative maintenance before it leads to disruption of operations. Although Chicago is blessed with a plentiful water source via Lake Michigan, every effort that we take to reduce consumption will contribute to the University’s sustainable campus initiatives and reduction in costs.

What are your plans post internship?

I will be pursuing an M.B.A. at Harvard Business School.

For more information about the UChicago Office for Military-Affiliated Communities (OMAC) Department of Defense (DoD) SkillBridge Program, visit the website. 

How long have you been with the University?

I worked here as a contractor for Siemens Building Automation from 2001-2006. Then, as a full-time University of Chicago employee for almost 10 years. Which makes that a total campus experience of approximately 15 years.

What department and/or unit are you in?

Facilities Services, Operations.

What is your education or training?

I attended Triton College from 1986-1988 in Engineering, Refrigeration, Machine Shop, and Electronics.

Then, Prosser Vocational in Chicago from 1988-1989 in Steam Plant Operations.

I have had a City of Chicago Stationary Engineers License since 1993.

At Trane Industries in 1994, I did Chiller Operations and Maintenance.

Then I moved to Siemens Building Technologies in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, and completed the Siemens accreditation program for personal computers and networking (Windows 2000/XP Server and Client, Microsoft Office). I also attended extensive startup and troubleshooting classes for Siemens products (field panels, terminal controllers, and devices) and their Variable Frequency Drives (VFD) Certification Program (startup, commissioning, and troubleshooting).

How does your job relate to sustainability?

I work with our Energy and Sustainability teams identifying and implementing energy projects. I also work closely with the Building Automation Shop (BAS) refining control sequences and strategies that provide persistent energy savings even after the energy projects are complete.

I work with the building engineers to identify opportunities since they have an in depth understanding of their buildings’ operations and nuances, making them key in developing energy savings opportunities.

Are there any sustainability projects that you’d like everyone to know about?

I would like to share a temperature control issue in Mansueto Library that resulted in one of our highest energy reduction project savings of 37% energy use intensity (EUI).

This was a low-cost implementation, since we simply added three strategically placed temperature sensors and changed the sequencing of the six supply air handlers that provide the heating and cooling to the space. Bob Slivon, who is now retired, and I collaborated in 2015 in the BAS Shop and decided to control the fans to lead by temperature instead of supply air volume. Leading by a wide air temperature range and limiting the airflow by about 60% reduced the air turbulence that was causing the hot unconditioned air at the top of the dome to mix with the ambient occupied air space.

This was a simple strategy in the summer that allowed the hot unconditioned air to naturally rise to the top of the dome and cool conditioned air to fall. In the winter, we allow the supply air temperature to increase to fill up the dome space like “a hot air balloon” to a point of comfort. The control strategies implemented not only saved energy but also reduced hot and cold calls and reduced fan noise and air turbulence that is disruptive to preservations.

My contribution to sustainability at home includes the adding the following:

• Rooftop solar.
• Three toilet bidets that help reduce toilet paper usage. I recommend reading this article, Why Bidets Are Sanitary (and Safe) To Use – Cleveland Clinic.
• 65-gallon compost tumbler and 55-gallon rain barrel used for homegrown vegetables.
• Procuring recycled wood for home projects whenever possible.
• Air-cooled heat pump for my shop/office, upgraded from a 12 SEER to an “ENERGY STAR®” 22 SEER unit, and so far, I’ve noticed at least a 30% savings in electrical usage.
• A battery-operated lawnmower, which helps with emissions as well as oil changes required by a combustion engine style mower.
• A Weil-McLain 90+% efficient hot water boiler upgraded my home heating for radiators and domestic hot water.

How long have you been with the University?

Since September, 2022, so I’ve completed 14 months. I became the graduate student lead of EFCampus in June 2023.

What department and/or unit are you in?

I’m in the Masters in Applied Data Science.

What is your education or training?

I have pursued a Bachelor’s of Technology in Mechatronics Engineering.

How does your job relate to sustainability?

With increasing awareness of environmental challenges, such as climate change, pollution, and resource depletion, there is a growing sense of urgency to address these issues. Many individuals and organizations recognize the need to adopt sustainable practices to mitigate environmental damage.

In my role with Environmental Frontiers Campus, I play a pivotal part in fostering sustainability practices within our organization. Specifically, I work on projects that directly impact sustainability, such as the Air Travel Pilot Program, Labs Project, and Food Waste Project. I supervise the undergraduate researchers recommending how to reduce energy-consumptions, reduce carbon emissions, or promote waste reduction. These initiatives align with the broader sustainability goals of our institution, contributing to a more environmentally responsible and resource-efficient campus. By integrating sustainability into our daily operations and decision-making, my work directly supports Facilities Services in achieving its sustainability objectives.

Any other fun facts you’d like to share?

I love playing lawn tennis, reading, and cooking.

How long have you been with the University?

I’ve been working at the University since 2015. From 2012-2015, prior to working for UChicago, I was the Safety Manager for the transportation vendor/client that is currently contracted through the University.

What department and/or unit are you in?
I’m in the Department of Safety & Security (DSS), in the Transportation & Parking Services unit.

What is your education or training?
I have a BS in marketing.

During my time as a Safety Manager and Operations Manager, I was involved in safety training on OSHA regulation and had to coordinate compliance with federal, state, and local laws regarding driver/operators. I worked with various transit agencies as an Operations Manager for a bus fleet that included both fixed route and paratransit services in cities throughout the Midwest.

How does your job relate to sustainability?
Being the Transportation Manager for the University allows for me to share the myriad of transportation options available to individuals associated with the University. By providing service from campus to the Garfield Red Line, Green Line, Metra Electric, and the Roosevelt Hub Stations downtown, we are helping to create greater utilization of public transport services over personal vehicle use, which is one of the best ways to reduce emissions.

We are also partnering with Divvy bikeshare to help reduce the carbon footprint in this area.

How long have you been with the University?
I have been with the University for over seven and a half years.

What department and/or unit are you in?
My position is the Department Administrator for the Office of Research Safety (ORS). My unit manages safety in research laboratories on campus with regard to biological, chemical, radiation, and laser hazards.

What is your education or training?
Currently, I am working on my Doctorate in Public Administration with a focus on topics such as Biorisk Management, Toxicology, CBRNE risks, Research Compliance, Clinical Trial Management, Public Health Safety and Support, Emergency Preparedness, Environmental Health Safety, Public Policy, Safe Research in Academia, and undermined populations. Previously, I earned a Master of Legal Studies focusing on Public and Environmental Health Law, a Master’s Certificate in Emergency Preparedness and Homeland Security, and a bachelor’s degree focusing on Scientific Illustration and Communications.

How does your job relate to sustainability?
Prior to UChicago, I was involved with a new start-up laboratory incubator for innovative research at another major University. In that role, I helped to manage a new shared laboratory facility that required diligent effort to ensure exhaust and waste were handled properly to not cause harm to the environment or occupant health. The laboratory incubator was a proof-of-concept accelerator that hosted wet/dry laboratories and shared office space for local researchers, entrepreneurial startups, life science projects, economic and environmental sustainability, and supported internal tech transfers and ventures in health, technology, and innovation. This experience brought me to key project managers at UChicago for my views on research safety and sustainability planning for new initiatives, such as the upcoming Hyde Park Labs.

Currently, as the Department Administrator for the Office of Research Safety at UChicago, my collaboration with the Office of Sustainability has steadily increased throughout the years. New opportunities are produced consistently.  For example:

• I am one of three of the University’s primary leaders for the management, implementation, and progress of Rheaply, the University’s reuse marketplace. Featured information about this initiative can be found on our website.
• In the Office of Research Safety, most of our communications are electronic to avoid excessive and unnecessary paper waste. I create and distribute an e-newsletter for Research Safety to communicate about laboratory best practices, programs, tips, and trainings. Additionally, I created a webpage on the ORS website that links to the Office of Sustainability’s information for laboratories.
• I collaborate closely with EFCampus and the Office of Sustainability to promote the advancement of sustainability on campus. This includes Shut the Sash and the Labs Best Practice Guide for safer and more energy-conscientious lab practices and behaviors. I also help to manage inquiries about obtaining new sustainable lab equipment as a member of Financial Service’s Lab Procurement Committee.
• I direct inquiries about appropriate safe and sustainable handling of lab material disposal, PPE disposal, recycling, e-waste, and more.
• I manage ORS inventory for complimentary exchange of laboratory non-sustainable equipment for a more sustainable option.

How long have you been with the University?
I have been working for the University for almost nine months now (on sustainability) and have been here as a student for a year and a half. I’m in my second year at the Harris MPP program.

What department and/or unit are you in?
I am with the EFCampus Initiative within the Mansueto Institute.

What is your education or training?
I have a BA in International Relations and Economics from Tufts University and am currently pursuing my MPP (Master’s in Public Policy) here at the Harris School with certificates in Policy Analysis and Energy & Environmental Policy. My professional background between undergrad and grad school has been primarily focused on youth development and education (I served as a Youth Development Coordinator in Peace Corps in Morocco and then as a Program Coordinator for WITS, a literacy mentorship non-profit here in Chicago).

How does your job relate to sustainability?
My job relates to sustainability in that I lead a group of undergrad research assistants in various sustainability research projects that serve to guide the University’s sustainability policies. While I have been here, my team has worked on several projects including:

• Creating recommendations and guidelines for improving the Office of Sustainability’s website and sustainability data dashboards
• Implementing and improving the Shut the Sash campaign to encourage lab users to reduce their energy consumption from fume hood use
• Creating recommendations for EV charging station infrastructure for Facilities Services as they begin replacing their fleet vehicles with EVs
• Collaborating with the Office of Research Safety to create a Labs Best Practice Guide for safer and more energy-conscientious lab practices and behaviors

Generally, the work I do helps design and then implement these projects that help the University work towards completing its Sustainability Plan.

How long have you been with the University?
11+ years

What department and/or unit are you in?
Campus Planning+ Sustainability within Facilities Services

What is your education or training?
I’m a licensed architect in the State of Illinois. I completed my undergraduate degree in Architecture from the University of Pune, India and I have a master’s degree in architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago.

How does your job relate to sustainability?
‘The Universe is one interconnected cosmic family’ was a teaching that I have grown up with. To see that our actions have consequences that impact the world at large and in turn ourselves has never been more pronounced than in our current times. I’m grateful that my work at the University gives me the opportunity to work on plans and projects that aim to have a positive impact on our physical environment. The Campus Planning + Sustainability unit continues to advance sustainability in all the work that we do. Whether it is developing sustainability guidelines for our projects, setting higher certification goals for new buildings and identifying methods to achieve them, updating our Utility Master Plan with higher energy reduction and resiliency targets, investing in our built legacy buildings to transform them into spaces for continued learning and exploration and thinking through how sustainability can be embedded in all of our work and decision making, I have had the opportunity to contribute to and lead many of these strategic efforts.

How long have you been with the University?
I’ve been at the University of Chicago for 4 years. 

What department and/or unit are you in?
Currently, I am working in the Office of the Provost as an associate director, providing project support to Vice Provost Melina Hale. Previously, I was in the Dean of Student Office at the Humanities Division. 

What is your education or training?
My background is in the Humanities. I studied literature and philosophy and got my Ph.D. in comparative literary studies. I worked on rationality and the development of the novel as a genre in Turkish literature. I’m currently teaching a course on Modernities where I focus on clarifying the concepts and ideas that contribute to our Eurocentric understanding of what modernity is or should look like in order to challenge the status quo. In the future, I want to develop and teach a course on ecocriticism and speculative fiction.

How does your job relate to sustainability?
I currently co-lead UChicago ECo, the environmental research and sustainability initiative by the Office of the Provost to bring together the campus environmental community and create a platform for students, faculty, and staff to access resources and events from around UChicago and beyond as well as to provide them with an opportunity to make connections with their community. In this role, I’m working on increasing the visibility of UChicago ECo in order to bring to attention all the great stuff happening at our institution. I have been working with many units on campus including the Office of Sustainability and providing support to our community. I’m also working on maintaining the University’s external partnerships in the areas of sustainability and environment as well as forging new relationships! 

How long have you been with the University?
12 years 

What department and/or unit are you in?
Facilities Services, Campus Planning + Sustainability

What is your education or training?
I received Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Architecture degrees from the University of Illinois at Chicago. One of the main skills learned through architectural training is problem-solving. I also enjoyed studies in architectural and urban history. Through the years of working in educational facilities, first at UIC, and currently at UChicago, I developed a specialization in space information management, organizing drawing archives, and tracking various data attributes about buildings. I’ve always been fascinated with the way people interact with spaces and the way buildings interact with the natural environment, and I am happy to work among those interactions here at UChicago as a member of the CP+S team.

How does your job relate to sustainability?
When I joined Facilities Services, my first project was to manage the digitization of facilities documentation, which reduced the space and utilities needed for document storage in our unit. Since buildings are a major factor in Greenhouse gas emissions, I regularly prepare space and occupancy information which contributes to the calculations of Greenhouse gas emissions for our campus. It is exciting to see data from various sources coming together for this important collaborative initiative. I also maintain building data and archives, which include LEED information (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). The growing list of LEED certified buildings on campus is posted on Facilities Services’ webpage.  It is so meaningful to participate in responsibly stewarding the built environment by assembling accurate and pertinent information.

How long have you been with the University?
It will be 18 years in November 

What department and/or unit are you in?
Booth School of Business — The Booth Facilities and Operations Group manages the Harper Center as well as the Gleacher Center as of August 1

What is your education or training?
My degree is in Journalism and Sociology from the University of Iowa. I intended to go into PR or Event Planning. My career at the University of Iowa was initially in Event Planning/Venue Management and when I moved to Chicago, I worked for a catering company in the West Loop. Eventually, I found an opening for an Event Coordinator at the Harper Center and I’ve been here ever since. 

How does your job relate to sustainability?
By default, much of what we do in Facilities has a sustainability component – from running the café with Wolfgang Puck and working closely with them to eliminate plastic as much as possible, to controlling the lighting programming to sweep off lights at certain times in the evening, as well as trying to conserve water usage in the building where possible. We also installed some beehives on the roofs of both Gleacher and Harper and plan to create some pollinator gardens in our planters at Harper. As we look at renovation and construction projects on-site, we try to use products and furniture and carpet/flooring that has a sustainable story.  We have also worked with the Office of Civic Engagement to give away furniture we are no longer using. In the last few years, we have also installed some electric car chargers in our Booth garages for Booth staff and faculty to utilize. As always, we continue to look for ways to improve recycling, reduce waste, and measure our carbon footprint. Lastly, we do have a student group dedicated to facilities, and sustainability is an aspect in which we work closely with them to accomplish their initiatives when possible. 
It is truly a team effort and I feel like we are constantly learning new ways to be and do better. I am not an expert, but I hope to keep increasing our knowledge base every day.  

How long have you been with the University?
Almost 4 years

What department and/or unit are you in?
Campus Planning + Sustainability within Facilities Services

What is your education or training?
I received a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Notre Dame and worked as an architect in the traditional sense for a few years before returning to graduate school for a Master in City Planning at MIT. I went on to work at an affordable housing developer, where my role touched on all phases of a project from securing financing and zoning approvals to managing project budgets and overseeing the design. I’m happy to have found a position at the University of Chicago that puts nearly all this experience and knowledge to use. In my role as project manager, I’ve had the privilege of working on projects of all scales from HVAC to programming to transportation. 

How does your job relate to sustainability?
I’ve contributed to the sustainability efforts of FS and the CP+S team by developing the Sustainability Checklist for Small Projects, which serves as a tool to integrate sustainable strategies more readily on small projects. While the University already had a standard of meeting LEED Silver status for projects exceeding $5 million, the Small Projects Checklist expands guidance to the 90% of projects that fall under that threshold. More recent sustainability efforts include researching the latest LEED standards and how to achieve Gold status in new buildings, working on sustainability consultant selection, and investigating the possibility of adding indoor air quality guidelines to our FS(2) standards. I’m excited to be a part of our sustainability efforts.

How long have you been with the University?
10 years

What department and/or unit are you in?
UChicago Dining, Campus, and Student Life

What is your education or training?
Initially, I received a B.Sc. degree in Pre-medicine (Biology, major, and Chemistry minor) at Prairie View A&M University with aspirations to be a cardiologist. However, destiny directed me to the area of dining services and hospitality in higher education. I attained an M.B.A. degree from The University of New Orleans and a Ph.D. in Urban Higher Education Administration and Leadership at Jackson State University. I also hold a certificate in “Leadership in Sustainability Management” from The University of Chicago, Graham School of Continuing Liberal and Professional Schools. My Capstone is titled “The Eco-digester: Impact On Campus Dining At The University of Chicago.” I have served as a leader in campus dining services and/or senior administration in higher education for over 25 years.

How does your job relate to sustainability?
As the Executive Director of dining services at the university and the department’s Sustainability Ambassador, our team is committed to reducing our environmental footprint while developing programs that promote sustainability through environmentally friendly products and practices, sustainable food and local purchasing options, energy, and water conservation, and waste management. UChicago Dining works collaboratively with The Office of Sustainability, within Facilities Services, and Chartwells, the contracted food service management company, in providing comprehensive and intentional sustainability initiatives and goals to the University community. Chartwells has a full-time Sustainability Manager on staff to demonstrate their prioritization, commitment, and resolve to sustainability. Currently, 100 percent of our eggs are cage-free; 100 percent of our ground beef is sourced from companies that are certified by HFAC; 100 percent of used fryer oil is diverted from the landfills; all food scraps are eaten by Eco-digesters; we are collaboratively working with students to begin a pilot composting program at Cathey Dining Commons. Cathey Dining Commons and Logan Café at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts are certified by the Green Restaurant Association (GRA). Our goal is to have all dining operations become GRA certified. These are only a few, amongst many, sustainability initiatives in which UChicago Dining and Chartwells are engaged, thus contributing toward our stewardship of the environment, our social responsibility to humankind, our decrease of carbon footprint through local sourcing, our accountability in managing resources, and our participatory global input toward a Net Zero planet. 

How long have you been with the University?
11 years

What department and/or unit are you in?
My role is Manager of Campus Environment, within the Campus Planning + Sustainability unit of Facilities Services

What is your education or training?
I received my Bachelor of Science degree from The Ohio State University focusing on landscape architecture and horticulture. Throughout my career at UChicago, I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to expand beyond landscape design and project management into many functions such as: Avant Garden vegetable gardener, technical and subject matter expert, tour guide, maintenance advisor, and community outreach partner. With many roles and responsibilities, I have been fortunate to collaborate with multiple academic departments, the Laboratory Schools, and Woodlawn Charter School, as well as global campuses. My first interaction with UChicago was 14 years ago as the lead consulting designer for the Regenstein Library Entry Garden; after completion of that project, I joined the University. I am proud of my involvement in the many projects that provide continuous improvement to the Botanic Garden initiative. 

How does your job relate to sustainability?
Sustainability invariably touches nearly every aspect of my job.  Environmentally – there is the responsibility of designing, constructing, and maintaining urban landscapes that build habitats and create opportunities for diversity in both plants and wildlife, such as birds and insects. Reducing waste by repurposing materials on campus such as utilizing reclaimed sandstone in new landscapes is an important example, with a notable example being the Laboratory Schools Outdoor Classroom retaining walls. Selecting appropriate plant material that requires less water and is resilient to insects and diseases. Utilizing the newest technology in irrigation systems significantly reduces water consumption. Leveraging the ecosystems services provided by campus trees and the social aspect of biophilia. I feel incredibly fortunate that the work I am involved with provides outdoor spaces that inspire, calm, invigorate, and ideally reconnect people to nature and this stunning campus. I am overjoyed to see someone stop and marvel at butterflies, enjoy the incredible array and color of blossoms throughout the seasons, or simply relax under the canopy of our amazing trees. 

How long have you been with the University?
I have been with the University for about two and a half years.

What department and/or unit are you in?
I am in Facilities Services’ office of Campus Planning + Sustainability. The cool thing about my role is there are very few members across the four units in Facilities Services that I haven’t worked with.

What is your education or training?
I hold a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Cognitive Neuroscience, along with a minor in Biology. Specifically, my degree focuses on applied statistics and mathematics related to human cognition that allowed me to develop some really cool skills in the realm of data science. During undergrad studies, I spent time in Honduras volunteering in rural communities as an advocate for public health. 

How does your job relate to sustainability?
If you’ve heard of Project Cowbell, then you have definitely seen our Greenhouse Gas Emission Reporting. All of those pretty graphs and even some of the tables were a collaboration with IT’s Data Warehousing team, as well as CP+S to allow us to leverage our historical and future data that will allow us to use said data to make better decisions on our campus’ sustainability initiatives. As a member of that team, I mostly focused on compiling and cleaning the historical data, as well as creating some of the graphs and charts you will see in our future reporting. I was also involved in compiling data with multiple other projects such as Environmental Frontiers, as well as giving a guest lecture on our campus’ energy usage for The Chicago Studies program for their Data in Dialogue Series.

How long have you been with the University?
2 years

What department and/or unit are you in?
The Geophysical Sciences Department

What is your education or training?
I consider myself a scientist by background. I received my B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Cornell University. After realizing that chemical engineering was not for me, I stumbled into the field thanks to some wonderful advice from my academic advisor. I’ve always been passionate about chemistry, but materials science taught me the joy of physics (I’ve successfully managed to avoid biology since high school).

I went on to pursue my Ph.D. in Applied Physics at Harvard University, where I did very fundamental research. I used experimental hard spheres to model the behavior of atomic systems. More specifically, my thesis was the “Structure and Dynamics of Colloidal Grain Boundaries.” Most of my time was spent analyzing and visualizing data using MATLAB. When I came to UChicago, I transitioned to the field of environmental research. I’m used to studying things on the nanometer and micron scale, so I’m still wrapping my mind around data measured in kilometers.

How does your job relate to sustainability?
I’m involved with sustainability in two different ways:

1. With the Data Science for Energy and Environmental Research (DSEER) program, I help provide computational and statistical training to graduate students doing work related to food, energy, and water (including climate and ecological systems). These skills are becoming increasingly important across fields, but Ph.D. students are often left to struggle to learn them on their own (that was certainly my own experience). I’ve really enjoyed being a part of improving that experience and building an interdisciplinary community of students doing environmental research.
2. With the Center for Robust Decision-making on Climate and Energy Policy (RDCEP), I help support the Environmental Frontiers Initiative. I’ve been particularly involved with a project focused on evaluating and improving the energy performance of laboratory buildings. It’s a super fun, collaborative effort that brings together faculty, staff, and undergraduate students. I’ve learned a lot about challenges and opportunities for tackling sustainability problems on campus, and I’ve been so impressed by what our amazing teams have put together. From my background working in fundamental science, it’s exciting to be a part of something with such a direct impact.

How long have you been with the University?
About 3.5 years

What department and/or unit are you in?
Energy Services and Sustainability within Facilities Services

What is your education or training?
I received both my Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology and Master of Science in Technology with a major concentration in Sustainable Energy Systems from Purdue University. During my undergrad time, I was lucky and got involved with a professor at Purdue who focused in that area. He had a lab that included solar panels, a heat recovery unit, and some building automation equipment that I was able to play with and found it to be interesting. I worked in that lab for a while during undergrad and then worked with that professor during grad school too.

After graduating, I worked for almost 10 years as an MEP consulting engineer primarily focused on the design of building automation systems. Prior to joining the University of Chicago Facilities Services team, I worked at another university for almost three years in a similar role as my current position of Energy and Utilities Manager.

How does your job relate to sustainability?
One of the Energy Services and Sustainability group’s main goals is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on campus. I contribute to achieving this by procuring renewable energy for the campus and implementing energy efficiency projects in buildings. I am also involved in utility metering and the energy management information system which is used to collect utility data and track energy consumption in buildings across campus.

How long have you been with the University?
A little over 9 years

What department and/or unit are you in?
Office of the Provost

What is your education or training?
Like many who work in higher education, I started my career as an academic. I received my B.A. from UCLA in English and an M.A. from UChicago’s Master of Arts Program in the Humanities, where I focused on the intersection of humanities and STEM (you can probably still find my funky thesis on posthuman evolution somewhere!). After starting a Ph.D. program at UC Davis, I realized I wanted to take a break from pure theory for a while. I’ve worn a number of hats working at UChicago since then – program manager, strategic planner, internal consultant, change manager, and even public art tour guide. I can never stay away from formal education for too long, though, so I started a part-time MBA at Booth in 2019, where I’m part of the Chicago Booth Energy and Booth Social Impact clubs. At Booth, I am concentrating in behavioral science, economics, and strategic management, and I’ve been fortunate to expand my training through a variety of extracurricular projects, including as a Net Impact Board Fellow and Polsky Small Business Growth Program team lead.

How does your job relate to sustainability?
Since last year I have had the distinct pleasure of leading the University’s environmental research and sustainability initiative, which we relaunched in April 2021 as UChicago’s Environmental Community (UChicago ECo), a platform for connecting and supporting related research, education, and campus projects under the guidance of an ECo Advisory Group. Our flagship project was the development of eco.uchicago.edu, an online hub aimed at overcoming the challenges of a decentralized approach to environmental work, and a paired Earth Week celebration that showcased some of the unique ways sustainability is embedded in our academic units, administrative offices, centers, institutes, and affiliates. I have continued to work closely with the Office of Sustainability, UChicago Environmental Alliance, Program on the Global Environment, Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation, and other campus partners to develop plans for expanding UChicago ECo’s efforts in a way that is distinctive among the many university-based sustainability programs. My experiences with UChicago ECo and my related work in my MBA program have been transformative for me on a personal and professional level, inspiring me to pivot to a full-time career in sustainability. While it is bittersweet to say that my tenure at the University is coming to an end in September, I am thrilled to be joining Anthesis, a global sustainability consulting group working to accelerate the fight against climate change by helping businesses transition to a Net Zero future.

How long have you been with the University?
I have been with the University since May 2014, so 7 years total.

What department and/or unit are you in?
I am an Energy Engineer with Energy Services and Sustainability, a team that provides and oversees various facets of the University’s utility infrastructure. Some of my responsibilities include energy conservation efforts, metering, and management of electricity, natural gas, water, and steam across campus and the utility plants. 

I also lead communication and engagement efforts to highlight recent energy conservation and sustainability success stories to students in the College. The intention is to encourage student-led initiatives, ENERGY STAR® treasure hunts, and improve student engagement in energy and sustainability. For this reason, we have developed relationships with various student-led organizations, including the Phoenix Sustainability Initiative, Campus Committee on Sustainability, Sustainability Ambassadors, and more. 

What is your education or training?
I am an alumnus of the University of Illinois – Urbana/Champaign.  

How long have you been with the University?
3.5 years

What department and/or unit are you in?
The Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation

What is your education or training?
I’m a program manager by trade, and in addition, have had significant training in organizational design and management. But from an academic standpoint, I’m a product of a liberal arts education! I received my Bachelor of Arts from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN in Political Science and Media Studies. Since then, I have been fortunate to participate in several professional training programs including the New York University Fellowship for Emerging Leaders in Public Service, StartingBloc Fellowship for Change Leaders, and the University of Chicago Booth Executive Program for Emerging Leaders, each with its own emphasis on unique skills and strategies for how to build teams, partnerships, and systems to create positive change. 

How does your job relate to sustainability?
I have the privilege of managing the Mansueto Institute’s Environmental Frontiers Initiative, which brings together University of Chicago faculty, students, and staff to collaborate on finding innovative ways to build a more sustainable future on campus and beyond. This includes overseeing the EFCampus program, which is the campus-based component of the Initiative supporting teams of undergraduate research assistants who are charged with analyzing campus data, operational systems, and community behaviors to identify actionable recommendations that advance the University’s sustainability goals. It’s been very rewarding to help bring together this diverse group of campus stakeholders around shared sustainability interests. And, it’s been quite powerful to see the impact that faculty, staff, and students can have together to identify, evaluate, and deploy tangible interventions that help reduce energy, save water, optimize our campus forest, and make our own ecosystem more sustainable and resilient.