The College of Wooster
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination

The institution has a Sustainability Committee consisting of two faculty members, two students, the Director of Campus Sustainability, a representative from Facilities, and a representative from Residence Life.  The commitee meets 2-3x per semester.

Brian Webb

Director of Campus Sustainability

Brian Webb serves as the Director of Campus Sustainability, with his primary responsibility being to lead the college’s efforts to promote environmental stewardship at an institutional level. This includes planning sustainability events and programs, working with faculty to incorporate sustainability into the curriculum, partnering with facilities to reduce energy usage, and coordinating with the administration to implement policies and procedures that help elevate Wooster’s position as a leader in environmental sustainability.

Before coming to Wooster in August 2023, Brian worked at Houghton University as the Director of Sustainability and as an Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies. Under Brian’s leadership, the college achieved a 46% carbon footprint reduction in just ten years. In 2020 Brian helped create a new Environmental Studies academic program, where he taught such creative courses as Global Climate Leadership, Environmental Communication, Environmental Public Policy, and God, Country, and Climate Change.

Brian brings a diverse academic background to Wooster, with an undergraduate degree in French, a master’s degree in Experiential Education from Minnesota State University, and a second master’s degree in Sustainability and Environmental Management from Harvard Extension School. Brian also serves as an active leader in the faith-based environmental movement and co-directs the Christian Climate Observers Program, which mentors emerging faith leaders by bringing them to the annual UN climate conference. His research area of interest centers around the intersection between climate change policy, environmental communication, and faith communities in the United States and elsewhere.

Brian enthusiastically enjoys many outdoor activities, especially mountaineering, hiking, camping, birding, and ultimate frisbee. He loves to travel with his family, and has a life goal of climbing the highest peak in all 50 U.S. states. Brian comes to Wooster with his wife, Becky, and their three children—Cadie (14), Lilee (12), and Ian (10).

We have a full-time Director of Campus Sustainability and a half-time Administrative Coordinator for Sustainability, who serves as an assistant and also coordinates sustainability activities with our Ex Uno Fonte program.

1.       Built student and employee awareness for sustainability activities through key events, improved signage, and public appearances, including:

a.       Regular “Sustainability Corner” column in both the employee Sway and student Sway

b.       323 Instagram followers after first year

c.       Planned and facilitated 14 environmentally focused events, including one event (Party for the Planet) that brought an estimated 300 participants.

d.       Made 24 distinct presentations on campus, including guest lecturing in 11 classes

2.       Mobilized a dedicated group of 21 sustainability interns, who attended biweekly meetings and helped plan and implement sustainability activities and events.

3.       Performed a complete carbon footprint analysis of The College of Wooster, including all Scopes 1 and 2 emissions, plus all relevant and currently accessible Scope 3 emissions.  Provided multiple public reports to Wooster students and employees about our footprint.

4.       Made progress on addressing recycling problems by analyzing causes of poor recycling through a waste audit, improving recycling infrastructure, adding new signage for bins and dumpsters, and educating students about correct recycling practices.

5.       Helped secure funding for two new sustainability programs, including:

a.       A $100,000 self-perpetuating “Green Revolving Fund,” which will be used to fund energy efficiency projects.

b.       A $200,000 donation (with potential for up to $500,000) to create the “Ex Uno Fonte Fund,” which works at the intersection of religion and the environment, and includes funding for student education, support for research, and community outreach programs.

6.       Represented The College of Wooster by presenting at public events off campus, including:

a.       A Science Café talk in Wooster

b.       The Scarlet, Gray, and Green Fair at the OARDC campus in Wooster.

c.       A presentation at the Wooster United Methodist Church

d.       A presentation for the local Citizens Climate Lobby chapter

e.       Multiple presentations at the “Faith. Climate. Action.” conference in Santa Barbara, California

f.        Presentation on Christian-Islamic Perspectives on the Climate Crisis at a consultation hosted by the Abu Dhabi Form for Peace in the United Arab Emirates

g.       Serving as an invited panelist at the Faith Pavilion at the COP28 UN climate summit in Dubai.

7.       Launched and managed the new ScotShare electric carshare program.

8.       Began the process for multiple energy efficiency/clean energy projects, including providing guidance for Douglass Hall renovations, initiating repair work for the broken solar inverters, starting the process of pursuing a campus energy audit, getting an estimate for a decarbonization study, and starting the process for measuring and tracking building-level energy monitoring.

9.       Overhauled the College of Wooster public-facing sustainability website

10.   Partnered with Creative Dining Services to launch a new reusable mug program for the cafés and an improved reusable to-go container program for the dining hall.

11.   Submitted a detailed proposal for a Center for Sustainability/carbon- neutral ice cream shop.

12.   Began the process of pursuing AASHE STARS certification (will complete next year).

13.   Submitted an application for The College of Wooster to obtain “observer status” with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

14.   Increased public awareness for Wooster’s sustainability commitments and enhanced our networking opportunities by joining the Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), attending a Clean Energy Summit hosted by RMI, joining (and actively participating with) the Ohio Higher Education Sustainability listserv, and networking with local peer institutions.

15.   Assisted the Business Office in identifying and pursing $22,000 in federal rebates for previously purchased electric vehicles and EV charging stations.

16.   Served as a mentor with the Student Leadership Institute