Sustainability Office and Affiliates
Climate Action and Sustainability Council Executive Steering Committee; Working Groups
A focused, high-level executive steering committee is essential to guide and ensure the implementation of the objectives that will lead to the achievement of Miami's goals for carbon neutrality and pursuit of a platinum ranking from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s (AASHE) Sustainability Tracking and Assessment Rating System (STARS). Formed in fall 2024, the Climate Action and Sustainability Council’s Executive Steering Committee — comprising members from the President’s Executive Cabinet — will have the appropriate authority and institutional knowledge to oversee the council’s six working groups.
Elizabeth Mullinex, Provost
Jayne Brownell, Senior Vice President for Student Life
David Creamer, Senior Vice President for Finance and Business Services and Treasurer
Brad Bundy, Vice President for University Advancement
Jessica Rivinius, Vice President, and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer
Randi Malcolm Thomas, Esq., Vice President for ASPIRE
Michael Crowder, Associate Provost and Dean of the Graduate School
Dawn Fahner, Associate Vice President for Human Resources
Communications and marketing liaison for the Executive Steering Committee and CASC Working Groups: Susan Meikle, Writer and Sustainability Communications, University Communications and Marketing
Energy Use and Production: Chaired by Malcolm Drane, Director of Energy Systems
- Responsible for reducing energy consumption; completing the transition of building heating and cooling systems off steam; electrifying the campus systems to reduce burning fossil-fuels on site; generating electricity from solar energy (zero-emissions energy) on-site; procuring purchased electricity from renewable sources; and offset the remainder.
Transportation (Scope 3 Emissions): Co-chaired by Cody Powell, Associate Vice President, Facilities Planning and Operations; and David Prytherch, professor of Geography, chair of City of Oxford Planning Commission, and member of the City of Oxford’s Climate Action Steering Committee
- Responsible for reducing Faculty, Staff, and Student commuting to campus and discouraging University Sponsored Air Travel to address Scope 3 emissions in alignment with Miami’s Climate Action Plan.
Environment & Sustainability Curriculum: Chaired by Tom Crist, professor of Biology
- Responsible for generating recommendations for how the University and the Institute for the Environment & Sustainability might enhance Miami’s curriculum relating to the environment and sustainability.
Procurement and Waste: Co-chaired by Allen Sizemore, Associate Director of Analytics and Data Administration, Office of Strategic Procurement, and Chelsea Green, assistant clinical professor of Finance and Business Legal Studies
- Responsible for quantifying Miami’s waste and procurement streams and developing a new plan to reduce the environmental impact of these activities.
Student Engagement: Chaired by Olivia Herron, Director of Sustainability
- Responsible for educating the student body about Miami’s efforts to address environmental problems and their opportunities for involvement on campus and in their professional careers.
Faculty & Staff Engagement: Chaired by Olivia Herron, Director of Sustainability
- Responsible for educating faculty and staff about Miami’s efforts to address environmental problems and how this relates to their duties as Miami employees.
