Sustainability Working Group
President Scott Green formed the Sustainability Working Group in Fall 2021 to develop and recommend a strategic approach to enable the University of Idaho to become known for sustainability. To this end, the working group’s output is focused on 1) making a case for sustainability that distinguishes the university from our peers, 2) recommendations for our academic and research programs, 3) recommendations for university operations and facilities, 4) integrating sustainability into the cultural fabric of the university, and 5) establishing governance and program expectations to ensure accountability towards desired progress. These recommendations serve to challenge the university community to execute our strategic desire to be known for sustainability.
The working group divided into three focus areas to brainstorm and put together initial plans and ideas around the following:
- Academics
- Operations
- Student Experience
Sustainability Working Group Members
Co-Chairs
- Dennis Becker, Dean – CNR
- Lee Espey, Division Operations Officer, DFA
Executive Sponsor
- Chandra Zenner Ford, President’s Office
External
- Victor Borque Castillo, Vice President, Business Development for N. America, Sacyr
- Todd Combs, Associate Lab Director, Energy & Environment, INL
- Heather Druffel, Policy & Engagement Specialist, Hancock Natural Resource Group
- Brett Dumas, Director, Environmental Affairs, Idaho Power
- Byron Flynn, College of Engineering Advisory Board & retired GE Executive
- Chris Meyer, Director of Education, Coeur d’Alene Tribe
Internal
- John Barnhart, Sr. Director, Marketing & Creative Services
- Patricia Colberg, Associate Dean, College of Engineering
- Matthew Doumit, Associate Dean, Student Affairs, CALS
- Erik Elordi, Director of Campus Services, Auxiliary Services
- Jerry Fairley, Department Head, Geological Sciences, COS
- Jennifer Ladino, Professor, English, CLASS
- Tim Link, Professor, Hydrology, CNR
- Ben McLuen, Associate Vice President, Development - Advancement
- Amin Mirkouei, Assistant Professor, COE, Idaho Falls Campus
- Jeremy Mutart, Surplus & Solid Waste Supervisor, Division of Infrastructure
- Kyle Nagy, Superintendent & Sandpoint Orchard Operations Manager, CALS
- Dylan Hedden Nicely, Associate Professor, Law
- Brad Ritts, Sr. Associate Vice President, ORED
- Cathy Roheim, Senior Associate Dean, CALS
- Yvonne Sertich, Executive Director, Energy Executive Course, CBE
- Scott Slovic, Distinguished Professor, Enviro Studies, CLASS
- Olivia Wiebe, Sustainability Coordinator, Student Sustainability Cooperative
- Damon Woods, Director, CAA Integrated Design Lab, U of I Boise
Students
- Clara Abplanalp, Recycling Event Coordinator, Environmental Science
- Madison Dougherty, Environmental Science
- Ian Glasgow, Mechanical Engineering
- Olivia Niemi, Director of Sustainability, ASUI