University of St. Thomas
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination

The Sustainability Council acts as a conduit and advocate for sustainability-related activities on both the St. Paul and Minneapolis campuses. The council’s members coordinate and collaborate on the development and implementation of sustainable policies, practices, research and curricula across the University with approval by the president’s senior staff. The council manages the University's sustainability web page and its contents to ensure completeness and robust descriptions of sustainability activities. The council recommends long-term sustainability goals for the University and identifies the means to achieve them related to the President’s Climate Commitment. Council members are expected to solicit input and to champion and communicate to each member’s respective areas of involvement so that all campus stakeholders become informed and take ownership of sustainability initiatives.

Sustainability Council Members (listed alphabetically):
Elise Amel, Psychology Professor, Psychology, OSI Faculty Fellow
Nichole Boehmke, Director of Facilities Services
Bernard Brady, Professor Theology, Associate Director of Office for Mission
Bryce Butzer, Director of Public Relations, Marketing Insights and Communications
Maria Dahmus, Director, Office of Sustainability Initiatives & Sustainable Communities Partnership
Steve Griffin, Executive Director, Dining Services
James Hammar, Senior Systems Communication Specialist, University Registrar
Karen Harthorne, Associate Vice President for Procurement Services
Kristen Hatfield, Director of Admissions
Travis Hornik, Director of Athletics Events and Operations
Diana Kaardal, Director of Parking Services
Molly Kelley, Human Resources Business Partner
Joe Klancher, Director of Environmental Health and Safety
Kelsey Lahr, Staff Council Representative, Construction Project Manager, Facilities
Dan Lamatsch, Director of Media Production Infrastructure
Cora LaVallie, Undergraduate Student Government Sustainability Representative
Tim Lewis, Associate Vice Provost for Global Learning and Strategy
Aaron Macke, Associate Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life
Ande Nesmith, Professor and Director, School of Social Work
Jason Patit, Professor, Management, OSI Faculty Fellow
Pamela Peterson, Associate Vice President for Auxiliary Services
Rachel Schauer, Office of Sustainability Initiatives Program Manager
Zach Smith, Sr. Investment Analyst, Investment Office
Mark Vangsgard, Vice President for Business Affairs and Chief Financial Officer
Andy Vollbrecht, Corporate Partnership Specialist, University Advancement
Lori Williamson, Associate Vice President, Development
Wendy Wyatt, Vice Provost
Kha Yang, Associate Vice President of Inclusive Excellence

The Office of Sustainability Initiatives (OSI) prepares students across disciplines to be sustainability leaders in their university years and beyond and collaborates with units across the University to create a culture of sustainability on campus.

OSI accomplishes this through curricular and campus initiatives. We create opportunities for experiential, applied learning in sustainability across academic disciplines through the Sustainable Communities Partnership (SCP), and we support faculty in integrating sustainability across the curriculum. We cultivate student leaders and create hands-on opportunities for all students to engage with campus sustainability through our Student Sustainability Leadership Program (SSLP). We also partner with the Sustainability Council and units across campus to comprehensively assess and continually improve our University’s own sustainability practices, to achieve goals set in the University’s “Live and Work Sustainably” Strategic Priority and Sustainability Strategic Plan, and to create a culture of sustainability on campus.

During the previous three years, members of the St. Thomas Sustainability Council and the university's sustainability officers have launched several new initiatives to advance sustainability across the institution. Several notable accomplishments include:
- Completed the university's second STARS report
- Supported the inclusion of sustainability as a strategic priority in the 2025 St. Thomas strategic plan (the first time sustainability has been included as a major theme in our University's strategic plan)
- Included a required module on sustainability in our First-Year Experience course (a part of the undergraduate core curriculum required for all undergraduate students)
- Received a regional leadership award from the US Green Building Council in 2021 (https://news.stthomas.edu/st-thomas-receives-2021-usgbc-leadership-award/)
- Board of Trustees approved a university commitment to divest our endowment from fossil fuels (https://news.stthomas.edu/st-thomas-commits-to-divesting-from-fossil-fuels/)
- Achieved LEED Silver certification for Tommie North, a new residence hall, in September 2021
- Developed an online Sustainability Essentials digital badge that provides an introduction to sustainability and to sustainability initiatives at St. Thomas to students, faculty, and staff
- Supported the development of two online digital badges that provide an introduction to the importance of pollinators, how to protect and create habitat for pollinators, and an introduction to our Pollinator Path on campus
- Submitted our Laudato Si' Action Plan to the Laudato Si' Action Platform as part of our commitment to sustainability and deepening our engagement with Catholic climate movement organizations

The Director of the Office of Sustainability Initiatives (OSI) will lead and direct OSI and the Sustainable Communities Partnership (SCP) and will provide university-wide leadership to 1) advance the University’s mission and sustainability goals, 2) create a culture of sustainability on campus and prepare students to be sustainability leaders, and 3) leverage the University’s commitment to sustainability as a competitive advantage for the university. The Director will supervise OSI and SCP staff and faculty fellows, manage the OSI and SCP budgets, develop partnership and professional services contracts, lead the university’s internal and external sustainability reporting, and participate in regional and national sustainability networks.

The Sustainability Program Manager actively supports the implementation of the university’s sustainability strategic plan and its vision of catalyzing university-wide engagement to prepare St. Thomas students to be sustainability leaders. This position will coordinate with students and staff to develop resources, trainings, and activities that engage all students and members of the St. Thomas community in sustainability initiatives. This position will supervise a team of student leaders and provide project management support for peer education and engagement activities. This position also gathers data for sustainability assessments; and develops annual reports, proposals to funders, and communications for internal and external audiences.

In addition to 2 FTEs, the Office of Sustainability Initiatives has 2 Faculty Fellows who receive one course release per semester to work on projects to advance the campus sustainability strategic plan.