In January, the Office of Sustainability kicked off efforts to update the University’s Sustainability Strategic Plan (SSP), documented here in the first installment of SSP updates. Since then, we have conducted focus groups with student leaders, faculty, and staff to understand their opinions on what a shared vision of sustainability should look like at UK, the most important sustainability issues we will face, and potential goals we can set to address these issues. Based on focus groups and campus feedback, we developed the first draft of the vision statement and guiding principles for the SSP. You can read about the development process here in the second installment of SSP updates.
As the Sustainability Strategic Plan began to evolve and take shape, task forces were assembled and assigned to support each of the five guiding principles. Continue reading to learn more about each of the five guiding principle task force operations in this third installment of Sustainability Strategic Plan progress updates.
Guiding Principle Task Forces
Task forces will meet throughout the summer to develop specific, measurable, actionable, and time-bound goals for their guiding principles to help set a path forward toward implementation and measuring success. These task forces are made up of a diverse group of co-chairs, members, students, and interns supporting their work. These task forces are already making great progress toward our goal of releasing a draft plan in the fall semester. Find the current active members listed below:
Guiding Principle 1: Make the pursuit of these goals an integral part of the UK student experience (GP1)
- Ray Clere (co-chair), Director of Stuckart Career Center
- Betsy Beymer-Farris (co-chair), Director of Environmental and Sustainability Studies
- Trisha Clement-Montgomery (member), Dean of Students at UK
- Staci McGill (member), Graduate Research Assistant
- Jacob Most (member), Manager in the UK Athletics Department
- Miko McFarland (member), Executive Director of Education Abroad & Exchanges
- Ned Crankshaw (member), Professor and Chair of the Department of Landscape Architecture
- Wayne Centers (member), Director of Student Relations
- Dr. Mary Arthur (member), Professor of Forest Ecology
- Callie Dickman (member), Student and SGA Leader
- Chelsea Colley (intern support), Student
Guiding Principle 2: Decarbonize campus operations (GP2)
- Courtney Mcarthy (co-chair), Assistant Director for Facilities and Operations
- Harry Smith (co-chair), Utilities Systems Analyst Mechanical Engineering
- Aaron Patrick (member), Manager, Technology Research and Analysis at LG&E and KU Energy
- Jesse Okorafor (member), Vice President of UK Energy Club
- Don Colliver (member), Director of Graduate Studies, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering
- Andrea Smith (member), Air Quality Compliance Manager
- Carter Whitton (member), Engineer Facilities
- Niamh Minion (member), Associate Director of Education Abroad and Exchanges
- Marvin Whitt (member), Superintendent PPD Garage Operations
- Jeff Stringer (member), Chairman, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources
- Chris Barton (member), Professor of Forest Hydrology and Watershed Management
- Alice Turkington (member), Associate Professor of Geography
- Jada Walker Griggs (member), Program Manager Senior Sustainability for LFUCG
- Amber Dotson (advisor), Student
- Kate Heidari (intern support), Student
- Chelsea Colley (advisor), Student
- Shane Tedder (advisor), Sustainability Coordinator for UK
Guiding Principle 3: Become a zero-waste campus (GP3)
- Esther Moberly (co-chair), Waste, Recycling and Trucking Manager
- Phillip Schwieterman (co-chair), Director of Oncology and Pediatrics Pharmacy
- Lorra Miracle (member), Director, Supply Chain UK Healthcare
- Scott Geisinger (member), Assistant AD for Operations
- Robert Eversole (member), Director Of Sustainability for UK Dining
- Wayne Thomas (member), Capital Construction Director
- Ary Gomez (member), Energy Efficiency Intern
- Ritchie Katko (member), Department of Landscape Architecture
- Gwenn Ross (member), Custodial Superintendent
- Maridely Loyselle (member), Assistant Director of Waste Management
- Fazleena Badurdeen (member), Director of Graduate Studies for Manufacturing Systems Engineering
- Jada Griggs (member), Program Manager Senior Sustainability for LFUCG
- Shaun Lavin (member), Student
- Kate Heidari (intern support), Student
Guiding Principle 4: Model environmental excellence (GP4)
- Sandra Broadwill (co-chair), Alternative Transportation Manager
- Bob Kjelland (co-chair), Director – Environmental Quality Management Department
- Robert Eversole (member), Director Of Sustainability for UK Dining
- Jada Griggs (member), Program Manager Senior Sustainability for LFUCG
- Dr. Erin Haynes (member), Professor in Preventative Medicine and Environmental Health
- Anita Taylor (member), Nursing Operations Administrator
- Amanda Gumbert (member), Extension Water Quality Specialist
- Lee Moser (member), Agriculture Extension Associate Senior
- Marie Lynge Oleson (member), Student
- Stacy Borden (member), Grounds Manager at UK
- Marcus Elswick (member), Sports Turf Technician
- Wayne Thomas (member), Capital Construction Director
- Kate Heidari (intern support), Student
Guiding Principle 5: Reinforce the university’s commitment to justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion (GP5)
- Tiana Thé (co-chair), Office of the President Research Assistant
- Dr. Kendriana Price (co-chair), Inclusion and Diversity Program Coordinator
- Robert Eversole (member), Director Of Sustainability for UK Dining
- Dr. Serenity Wright (member), Associate Director for Social Innovation for the Office of Technology and Commercialization
- Claire Hilbrecht (member), Research Assistant at the University of Kentucky
- John Blaine (member), UK’s Center for Graduate and Professional Diversity Initiatives (CGPDI)
- Laura Butler (member), Research Policy Administrator
- Mason Bishop (member), Student, Environmental Analysis Intern
- Marilyn Clark (member), Supplier Diversity Manager
- Jamahl McDaniel (member), Director for the King Center
- Chelsea Colley (intern support), Student
Get Involved: Provide Feedback!
After these task forces draft a set of goals that align with all five guiding principles, another round of community feedback will take place in early fall. Providing feedback on the draft plan is the perfect opportunity to get involved in sustainability on campus! Subscribe to WholeSum updates at the bottom of this page to be notified when community feedback begins and follow along with the continuing progress of the Sustainability Strategic Plan!