In creating the Task Force on
Environmental Sustainability on February
1, 2006, President Kermit Hall outlined
the broad goal it would help address.
"As a public higher education
institution, the University at Albany
has both an obligation and an
opportunity to be a leader in
environmental sustainability. Our
institution can and should set an
example as an environmentally
responsible citizen—a model for other
colleges and universities as well as a
model for our own students and the
community in everyday life.The task
force is assessing the state of the
University's current sustainability
policies and practices through the work
of six committees. The group is
gathering facts and developing an
environmental scorecard to benchmark and
track conditions in areas ranging from
energy use to waste management. The task
force will also recommend ways to raise
awareness university-wide, promote a
culture that supports sustainability, as
well as improve policies and practices
long-term. The creation of a permanent
group was envisioned to report annually
at the Spring Faculty Meeting on
progress.
Task Force Members
Co-Leaders
Andrei Lapenas,
Associate Professor, Department of
Geography and Planning
Kathryn Lowery, Vice
President for Finance and Business
George Robinson,
Associate Professor, Co-Director,
Campus Natural Areas Studies,
Department of Biological Sciences
Other Members
John Delano,
Distinguished Teaching Professor,
Department of Earth and Atmospheric
Sciences
Kenneth Demerjian,
Professor, Department of Earth and
Atmospheric Sciences, and Director
of Atmospheric Science Research
Center
Michael Fancher,
Associate Professor, College of
Nanoscale Science and Engineering
Edward Fitzgerald,
Associate Professor, Department of
Epidemiology and Biostatistics,
School of Public Health
Vincent Franconere,
Director, Environmental Health and
Safety, Division of Finance and
Business
Katie Himmelfarb,
Student representative, Department
of Geography and Planning
Helmut Hirsch,
Distinguished Teaching Professor,
Department of Biological Sciences
Jon W. Jacklet,
Professor, Department of Biological
Sciences
Gary Kleppel,
Professor, Director of
Biodiversity, Conservation and
Policy Program, Department of
Biological Sciences
Catherine Lawson,
Assistant Professor, Director of
Masters of Regional Planning
program, Department of Geography and
Planning
Michelle McConville,
Assistant Director, Physical Plant
Robert Nakamura,
Professor, Department of Political
Science, Rockefeller College of
Public Affairs and Policy
Richard R. Perez, Senior
Research Associate, Atmospheric
Sciences Research Center
John Pipkin,
Distinguished Service Professor and
Chair, Department of Geography and
Planning
Blanca Ramos, Associate
Professor, School of Social Welfare
Michael J. Sattinger,
Professor, Department of Economics
Miriam Trementozzi,
Associate Vice President for
Community Engagement
Katherine Trent,
Associate Professor, Department of
Sociology
Staff
Normajean Bennett,
Administrative Assistant to the Vice
President for Finance and Business
Matthew C. Ryan,
Student Assistant Webmaster to the
Task Force
Committees and
Objectives
(Note: Individuals whose names are
italicized are members of the task
force)
Energy Use Committee
Objectives:
To assess energy use and resultant air
pollution at UAlbany; promote
conservation and green energy use;
reduce air pollution and produce
savings; and focus particularly on
engagement and sustainability.
Members:
Andrei Lapenas, Chair; Martin
Daley, Master's student, Geography &
Planning; John Delano;
Kenneth Demerjian; Michael
Fancher; Vincent Franconere;
Richard Perez; Lorre Smith,
University Libraries; Matthew C. Ryan
Built Environment
Committee
Objectives:
Address areas around and between campus
buildings and other places where people
interact with their surroundings, with
the goal of improving these
interactions.
Members:
Catharine T. Lawson, Chair;
John Pipkin; S. Thyagarajan,
Lecturer, Department of Geography and
Planning; Jason Zogg, undergraduate
student, Department of Geography and
Planning; Ashley Gardner, Master's
candidate, Department of Geography and
Planning; Ben Weaver, Ph.D. candidate,
School of Education
Environmental
Landscape Committee
Objectives:
To build an information base on land
holdings, land cover, and surface
waters; develop policies for sustainable
land planning; and create more
interesting and appealing campus
grounds.
Members:
George Robinson, Chair; John
Arnason, Assistant Professor, Earth and
Atmospheric Sciences; Matthew Burak,
environmental science major; John Davis,
M.S. student; Andrea Indelicato, M.S.
student; Jon Jacklet; Donald
Keenan, University Libraries; Melissa
Peterson, M.S. student; Christopher
Tran, Graduate Assistant to the Task
Force
Solid and Hazardous
Waste Committee
Objectives:
To understand sources of waste
production on UAlbany's campuses and
develop more proactive, responsible ways
of reducing waste.
Members:
Vincent Franconere and
Michelle McConville, Co-Chairs;
Doug Cornwell, Custodial Services; Lisa
Donahue, Assistant Director of
Environmental Health and Safety;
Robert Nakamura; Tim Reilly,
Supervisor, Grounds Department
Green Commerce
Committee
Objectives:
To examine procurement practices at
UAlbany; assess the waste stream and
potential for composting and replacing
"disposables" with "re-usables;" and
focus on "green" product purchases.
Members:
Gary Kleppel, Chair; Donna
Armstrong, Associate Professor,
Department of Epidemiology and
Biostatistics, School of Public Health;
Terrance C. Beckett; Julia Filippone,
Executive Director, University Auxiliary
Services; Katie Himmelfarb;
Kenneth Jones, Assistant Director of
Institutional Services; Ralph Lembo,
Chartwells Regional District Manager;
Grayce Raye, graduate student,
Department of Anthropology; Lorre Smith,
University Libraries
Campus Sustainability
Education Committee
Objectives:
To assess the prevalence of daily
choices that are based on ecological
knowledge; incorporate concepts of
sustainability into all academic
activities; and develop campus
sustainability service-practicum.
Members:
Helmut Hirsch, Chair; Donna
Armstrong, Associate Professor,
Department of Epidemiology and
Biostatistics, School of Public Health;
Edward Fitzgerald; Elaine
Hills, PhD student, Department of
Epidemiology, School of Public Health |
