Sustainability

Sustainability Committee

Made up of faculty, staff, and students, the Sustainability Committee oversees Southwestern’s Tree Campus Higher Education recognition, Bee Campus USA affiliate certification, and the Sustainable Advancements Funding Endeavor.

The Sustainability Committee (SC) is charged with the promotion of practices and programs that support the principles of social, financial, and environmental sustainability of Southwestern University as outlined in the Talloires Declaration and the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment.

In keeping with the principles of these agreements, this committee is tasked with: 

  1. promoting civic engagement and interdisciplinary learning to reduce climate change; 
  2. increasing awareness of and practices of sustainability within the campus and among community stakeholders; 
  3. reducing negative impacts on the global climate; 
  4. creating an institutional culture of sustainability; and 
  5. fostering environmental literacy.

The SC collaborates with groups devoted to curriculum, student life, and facilities and space utilization, among others. Issues on which the committee advises include, but are not limited to: energy use; recycling and composting; sustainability initiatives; building and landscape design; faculty and curriculum development; community partnerships; and civic engagement.

Sustainability Committee 2024-2025

  • Aaron Prevots, Chair, Faculty Representative
  • Sara Massey, Faculty Representative
  • Jennifer Stokes, Faculty Representative
  • Christy Schaller, Staff Representative
  • Kelly Lessard, Staff Representative
  • Brandon Quintanilla, Facilities Staff Representative
  • Layla Hoffen, Student Staff: Bee Campus USA
  • Kevin Love, Student Staff: Tree Campus USA
  • Sydney Strange, Student Staff: Social Media and Web Presence
  • Cameron Comiskey, Student Representative
  • Kamryn Shaffer, Student Representative
  • Jess Hower, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs, Ex officio
  • Rowan Prothro ’15, Tree Campus and Bee Campus Community Liaison, Ex officio
Sustainable Advancements Funding Endeavor (S.A.F.E.) and the Snead Institute Sustainability Fund

The Sustainability Committee encourages students, staff, and faculty to submit proposals for S.A.F.E. funding to advance sustainability at Southwestern. Snead Institute funding supports the completion of student research projects. More information is available here.