University of Nebraska - Lincoln
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination

The Chancellor's Environment, Sustainability and Resilience Commission (CESRC) provides strategic recommendations to the Chancellor relating to campus sustainability initiatives, the development of resilient infrastructure systems, and socially responsible economic practices through the involvement of all major stakeholders within the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL). The Chancellor’s Environment, Sustainability, and Resilience Commission (CESRC) was reinvigorated in 2019 with the goal of developing a master plan that provides strategic vision related to environment, sustainability, and resilience topics at UNL and serves as an aspirational framework for change. As a result, UNL’s Environment, Sustainability, and Resilience Master Plan was adopted in 2020 and since adoption, progress has been made in a variety of areas towards reaching the aspirational goals outlined in the plan. In Fall 2022, the CESRC adapted its structure to further support implementation of the ESR Master Plan through creation of the ESR council. The ESR council will provide leadership for the development and prioritization of actions that will continue to move UNL forward in meeting the aspirational goals. The larger ESR commission, which includes faculty, staff, and student members, will support the council through service as ESR ambassadors. They will provide peer education and support to further enhance the development of a culture of sustainability at UNL.

CESRC co-chairs:
David Gosselin, Environmental Studies Program Director, School of Natural Resources
Morgan Hartman, Sustainability Coordinator, Office of Sustainability

ESR council members:
Amy Goodburn, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Undergraduate Education
Mike Boehm, Vice Chancellor, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Charlie Foster, Special Assistant to Vice Chancellor, Diversity and Inclusion
Jane Ferreyra, Director, University Press
Josh Overocker, Associate Vice Chancellor, Student Affairs
Chris Walsh, Executive Director, University Operations
John Ingram, Associate Athletic Director, Capital Planning & Construction
Kateri Hartman, Copy Writer, Media Relations Associate

CESRC members:
Abigail Ridder, UCARE Student Worker
Adam Thompson, Lecturer, College of Arts and Sciences
Adam Wagler, Associate Dean of Academic Programs, College of Journalism
Alexia Woodall, Student
Anna Oetting, Sustainability Program Assistant, Office of Sustainability
Anne Kluthe, Student
Anthony Schutz, Associate Professor, College of Law
Aziza Cyamani, Assistant Professor, College of Architecture
Brenda Osthus, Director, Environmental Health & Safety
Brett Bieber, Asst. VP, IT Client Services Information Technology Services
Brianne Wolf, Global Learning/Engagement Coord, Global Engagement
Charles Francis, Retiree UNL
Christina Hoyt, Asst Forester/Bureau Chief, Nebraska Forest Service
Chynna Hardy, Assistant Director, Athletics
Conor Barnes, Graduate Research Asst, School of Natural Resources
Dana Fritz, Professor, School of Art, Art History & Design
Derek Niewohner, Sr Marketing & Communications Associate, Student Affairs Marketing and Communication
Drew Havens, Graduate Research Asst, Agricultural Economics
Eileen Bergt, Assistant Director, Landscape Services
Elizabeth VanWormer, Assoc Professor, Vet & Biomedical Sciences
Erica DeFrain, Associate Professor, University Libraries
Erin O'Sullivan, Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor
Gary Kimminau, Systems Software Support Specialist, Student Affairs
Hillary Mason, Lecturer, Environmental Studies
Himani Patel, student
John Hay, Exten Educator, Biological Systems Engineering
Jon Garbisch, Associate Director, School of Biological Sciences
Joseph Holmes, Art Fabrication Space Manager, School of Art, Art History & Design
Julia Torquati, Professor, Child, Youth & Family Studies
Katherine Nashleanas, School of Global Integrative Studies
Kendall Weyers, Spec Sustainable Landscapes, Nebraska Forest Service
Kim Todd, Professor, Agronomy & Horticulture
Liana Calegare, Coordinator, Agricultural Research Division
Linda Pickett, Affiliate, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
Mariah McCashland, Graduate Research Assistant, Nutrition and Health Sciences
Marissa Pakiz, Campus Recreation
Matt Brooks, Graduate Teaching Asst, Educational Psychology
Maya Kaechele, Student Worker, Environmental Studies
Melisa Spilinek, Graduate Research Asst, Textiles, Merchan & Fashion Design
Michael Shambaugh-Miller, Temporary Lecturer, School of Global Integrative Studies
Neil Rutledge, Research Compliance Serv Specialist II,
Research Resp-Human Subj Prot Prog
Rachel Hines, University Libraries
Rachel Summers, Student Worker, Office of Sustainability
Robert Vavala, Instructional Designer, Center for Transformative Teaching
Sharon Kuska, Interim Dean, College of Architecture
Stacy Asher, Associate Professor, School of Art, Art History & Design
Steve Woita, Asst Dir for Well Svcs & Fitness Prgms, Campus Recreation
Sydney Brown, Asst Dir, Ctr for Transformative Teach
Theodore Hibbeler, Assoc Exten Educator, Nebraska Extension
Thomas Lynch, English
Timothy Wentz, Retiree UNL
Tyler Quick, Recruitment Specialist, Agronomy & Horticulture
Ursula Kreitmair, Assistant Professor, Political Science
Xu Li, Professor, Civil & Environmental Engr

Established in 2014, the Office of Sustainability (OS) provides support for sustainability initiatives within the UNL campus community through implementation of programs and initiatives aimed at supporting UNL’s Environment, Sustainability, and Resilience Master Plan, adopted in November 2020. Activities of the OS are aimed at fostering a culture of faculty, staff, and students who are socially, economically and environmentally responsible. Examples of activities include support of student initiatives such as the Sustainability Coordinator advising the ASUN Green Fund Selection Committee, engagement with community members through programs such as Sustainability on Wheels and on-campus tabling events, and infusing sustainability into core operations of the UNL campuses.

In November 2020, UNL’s Chancellor adopted the Environment, Sustainability, and Resilience Master Plan, which provides strategic vision for the future of sustainability at UNL through the presentation of aspirational goals, strategies, and action items related to creating a sustainability-centric culture across all major components and constituencies of UNL. It serves as a guiding framework for change and was developed by the Chancellor’s Environment, Sustainability, and Resilience Commission (CESRC) through an integrated, collaborative process involving individuals serving UNL in a wide variety of roles including students, faculty, and staff. Since adoption of the Master Plan in 2020, the Office of Sustainability (OS) has supported the CESRC in information gathering and baseline data collection related to the action themes of the plan and planning for operationalizing the ideals of the plan to meet aspirational goals. The OS is currently focused on aligning its efforts with the strategic goals and initiatives outlined in the 2020 Master Plan.

Also in 2020, the Office of Sustainability was awarded a pair of grants from the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) and the Nebraska Environmental Trust (NET) for the development of a comprehensive and efficient recycling operation at UNL. Since being awarded these grants, UNL implemented its Recycling Pilot Project in select campus buildings in December 2020. Through the Pilot Project, standardized waste stations with collection areas for separate waste streams (paper, plastic, aluminum, landfill) and clear, concise labels and signage were placed in high impact, high traffic locations such as hallways/corridors near building entrances, restrooms, and stairways following an “All in the hall” methodology. These containers replaced randomly placed, mismatched containers throughout pilot buildings. Through partnership with UNL Custodial Services staff, materials from all waste streams (both landfill and recycling) are now being collected daily by Custodial Services staff in the pilot buildings, which is a change from previous operations where Custodial only serviced landfill waste. Custodial staff no longer provide once weekly landfill waste collection from individual private offices, and building occupants are empowered to take ownership of their personal waste items by transporting them to the centralized waste stations. Data collected through waste audits and stakeholder feedback has shown that the Pilot Project has had a positive sustainable impact on the campus’s waste management and reduction goals since implementation. Based on the success of the Recycling Pilot Project, the All in the Hall recycling program was adopted as the UNL recycling standard and approved for phased campus-wide implementation by the Chancellor and Executive Leadership Team in May of 2022.

In February 2022, the Office of Sustainability (OS) moved from a location near the outskirts of campus to new office space in the Canfield Administration Building near the heart of campus. The new, central location provides opportunities to better serve as a resource to the campus community through education and outreach activities. This provides the OS more visibility among students, a greater sense of connectedness with the campus, and assists the undergraduate students that work with the office.

The Sustainability Coordinator collaborates with campus stakeholders to implement University-wide sustainability initiatives and infuse sustainability into community culture through the integration of education, research, and University facilities operations. They act as organization-level strategist to position the University as a leader in sustainability and represent the University through participation in University, local, regional, and national sustainability organizations, conferences, and other events. This position is responsible for managing the Office of Sustainability through project development and implementation oversight and supervision of staff.

The Sustainability Program Assistant supports the Office of Sustainability as a temporary program assistant, focused on strategic communications planning and management, implementation of key programs and initiatives, support of grant-related activities, and sustainability education and engagement within the campus community. Specifically, this position engages in the following:
· Management of external communication efforts including Office of Sustainability social media, monthly newsletter, and website through collaboration with members of the UNL community. This includes creating content and visuals to communicate messages
· Participation in strategic communications planning for the Office of Sustainability through partnership with University Communications
· Assistance with planning and implementation activities related to Sustainability on Wheels program, recycling standardization related to Recycling Pilot Project, Sustainability Summit, and other events and initiatives
· Assistance with grant-related activities by conducting research on available funding opportunities, preparing grant applications, and managing implementation and reporting
· Support of Office of Sustainability education, outreach, and data gathering activities through participation in tabling events, engaging with student groups and other campus departments, and waste audits of campus building

The Office of Sustainability Undergraduate Visual Communications Intern supports the goals and initiatives of the Office of Sustainability (OS) through the development of creative and engaging visuals and graphics to communicate messages, including for print, digital display, and social media. This position also fulfills photography and videography needs of the OS and support OS education, outreach, and data gathering activities through participation in tabling events, engaging with student groups and other campus departments, and waste audits.