George Washington University
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination

As of 2018, GW hosts multiple sustainability committees. 1. SustainOps - This committee meets regularly to discuss how to collaborate and communicate across various operational functions within the university including water, waste, energy, and student and staff engagement. 2. Investment - The committee for sustainable investment was approved and announced in February 2018. Its charter is under development and will have significant student involvement, seeking to engage stakeholders on issues relevant to responsible investing for a designated portion of the endowment to be directed to the recently announced Sustainable Investment Fund. GW will establish the Sustainable Investment Fund with an initial $2 million from the university endowment. 3. Climate Adaptation - In 2018 the university is establishing a committee to create a Climate Adaptation Plan for GW's own operations and as related to its role in the local community. 4. Academic Institutes, Centers, Programs - The Institute and Centers that make up the Sustainability Collaborative meet periodically to coordinate research, engagement, and academic initiatives. These meetings are an opportunity to convene on current and future ways to collaborate with regards to research and other activities.

Advisory Committee for Sustainable Investment: Members are in the process of being selected and will include students (3), faculty (2), staff (2), alumni (1). SustainOps Committee Meghan Chapple, Director, Office of Sustainability John Ralls, Director for Communications and Outreach, Division of Operations Janine Helwig, Environmental Management Engineer, Facilities & Campus Development Zach Pittinger, Horticulture, Grounds, & Pest Control Manager, Facilities Services Adam Aaronson, Director, Campus Development Management David Dent, Executive Director, Planning, Development & Construction Kris Ferguson, Zero Waste Coordinator, Facilities Planning and Resources Harold Speed, Executive Director, Facilities Maintenance Andy Ludwig, Project Manager, Energy & Environmental Programs, Facilities & Campus Development Nancy Giammatteo, Director, Facilities Planning and Design Review Kaitlyn Hunter, Horticulturist, Facilities Services Kimberly Williams, Stakeholder Engagement Associate, Office of Sustainability Climate Adaptation Committee: Members are in the process of being selected and will represent students, staff, and faculty from across the university. Academic Institutes, Centers, Programs: Antibiotic Resistance Action Center Center for Real Estate and Urban Analysis Environmental and Energy Management Institute Food Institute Institute for Corporate Responsibility Institute for International Economic Policy Partnerships for International Strategies in Asia Redstone Center for Prevention and Wellness Rodham Institute Sustainable Energy Initiative Planet Forward Sustainability Advisory Council: Jose Andres, ThinkFoodGroup Christopher Bradshaw, Dreaming Out Loud George Coelho, Quadia Ventures Hilary Davidson, Duke Energy Corporation John Ehrmann, Meridian Institute Kelly Horton, Mars, Incorporated Izzy Moody, GWU Student Terry Murphy, Deputy Provost for Academic Affiars, GWU Bob Perciasepe, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions Shauna Sadowski, Annie's, Inc. Adam Warthesen, Organic Valley

GW envisions a future with healthy and thriving resource systems for all. The Office of Sustainability leads the university in its commitment to being a model of urban sustainability by building a greener campus, creating a culture of sustainability, and addressing the university's impact on the planet and its community. • The Office of Sustainability partners with stakeholders to achieve university-wide sustainability goals in areas such as energy management, construction, finance, living, working, and community engagement. • Our approach is to innovate, pilot, and scale new models and technologies that create thriving ecosystems, and to bridge action with learning. • The Office of Sustainability coordinates closely with faculty and academic leaders to create programs, projects, and initiatives that bridge practice with research and learning. The Sustainability Collaborative was launched in 2014. The purpose is to coordinate campus-wide sustainability activities across research, teaching, and engagement as well as to identify opportunities for GW leadership.

The Office of Sustainability and the Sustainability Collaborative work closely together to bridge and align sustainability efforts across the university. The Collaborative is an umbrella organization formed in 2014 and connects 11 research institutes, affiliated faculty (both those teaching sustainability related courses and those undertaking sustainability-related research) and Planet Forward. The purpose of the GW Sustainability Collaborative is to coordinate GW activities and communicate those activities internally and externally. Further, the purpose is to provide the organizational framework for our multi-disciplinary team to identify emerging opportunities to advance the field. The Office of Sustainability is responsible for managing and coordinating with partners across the university and externally to advance sustainability on campus and in practice, in Washington DC, and globally. The Office works closely with many departments on campus such as the president’s office and the provost’s office, food and dining, procurement, investment, human resources, finance, fundraising and development, student engagement, community engagement, facilities services, campus development, as well as various schools to integrate sustainability into the fabric of the organization.

The Executive Director of Sustainability leads the GW Sustainability Collaborative. The Executive Director builds partnerships within and outside of the university to position GW to lead on policy and governance for sustainable systems. The Executive Director drives the national and international debate on sustainability, attracting leading faculty from a variety of disciplines to participate in that discussion. The Executive Director works with faculty and staff with sustainability expertise to develop academic programs and to advance grant-supported sustainability research. https://sustainabilitycollaborative.gwu.edu/leadership-team

The Director of the Office of Sustainability leads the Office to set, monitor, and advance the university's sustainability strategy in practice. The Director leads the university in engaging stakeholders across the university and in the community, and is responsible for building a culture of sustainability at the institution. The Director is also Senior Advisor on University Sustainability Initiatives, and as such supports GW leadership in strategic decisions related to sustainability.

The Research Director at the Sustainability Collaborative builds interdisciplinary research teams in the pursuit of grants focused on sustainability, particularly in the areas of urban sustainability, climate change, sustainable food, and public policy. https://sustainabilitycollaborative.gwu.edu/collaborative-staff’

https://sustainabilitycollaborative.gwu.edu/leadership-team