Office of Sustainability
The mission of UNCG’s Office of Sustainability is to encourage and support the development and implementation of sustainable practices in administrative units of the university and create a meaningful link between academics and operations that supports use of the campus as a teaching laboratory.
Sean MacInnes, Sustainability Specialist
Sean joined UNCG in the Fall of 2018 from Christian Brothers University in Memphis, TN, where he wore many hats, from serving as the administrative assistant for the Rosa Deal School of Arts, to teaching English composition as an adjunct professor, to interim positions as the director of the writing center and as the coordinator for CBU’s online learning management system. He also chaired CBU’s sustainability committee for seven years, managed the campus community garden, and advised student environmental clubs. He was also a member of the Memphis Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Active Transportation Advisory Committee, and served as the chair of the Alternate Transportation and Fuels Working Group for the Mid-South Regional Greenprint Consortium. LinkedIn
Sustainability Council
The Sustainability Council was formed in 2010 and consists of UNCG faculty, staff, and students. The Council works to identify and recommend responsible and sustainable practices in all aspects of institutional culture including operational activities, academic programs, and community relationships.
Sustainability Faculty Fellows
The program, which consists of one Academic Sustainability Coordinator (ASC) and two Faculty Fellows annually, promotes collaboration among scholarly disciplines in order to encourage the integration of sustainability in research and teaching across the campus. Fellows work on clearly specified projects that may include but are not limited to co- or extra-curricular campus programs, curriculum activities (including team-taught and individual courses), and innovative research projects or collaborations. The mission of the Academic Sustainability Coordinator is to lead the development of sustainability in the academic trust by increasing the quantity and improving the quality of sustainability outreach, teaching, and research activities at UNCG. This program is on indefinite hiatus until funding can be secured.
Previous Fellows
Dr. Sarah Praskievicz (ASC); Geography, Environment and Sustainability
After serving two years as an SFF, she served a two-year term as Academic Sustainability Coordinator (ASC). Dr. Praskievicz’s research focuses on river systems, water policy, and urban streams. As the ASC, she continued to collaborate with the Office of Sustainability on the Sustainability Lecture & Dialogue Series and worked to create a toolkit to help faculty integrate sustainability projects into their teaching. Collaboratory Project
Dr. Gwen Hunnicutt, , Associate Professor, Sociology
Support was provided to conduct research and community outreach to cultivate a culture of sustainability at UNCG through the process and practice of nonviolence.
Tara Webb, Lecturer, Costume Technology
Support was provided to coordinate with multiple campus and community stakeholders to offer educational opportunities, including the development of a local dye color pigment map to identify non-native plants, locally foraged resources, and food waste in an effort to create low-impact creations without compromising design integrity. Collaboratory Project
Dr. Etsuko Kinefuchi (ASC), Associate Professor, Communication Studies
Dr. Sarah Praskievicz, Assistant Professor; Geography, Environment and Sustainability
Support was provided for her research on the environmental aspects of river systems, including impacts of climate change on water resources, particularly the ecological health of North Buffalo Creek in Greensboro.
Dr. Wenliang "Will" Li, Assistant Professor; Geography, Environment and Sustainability
Support was provided for his research toward understanding building energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions on the UNCG campus.
Dr. Etsuko Kinefuchi (ASC), Associate Professor, Communication Studies
Dr. Sarah Praskievicz, Assistant Professor, Geography
Support was provided for her research on the environmental aspects of river systems, including impacts of climate change on water resources, particularly the ecological health of North Buffalo Creek in Greensboro.
Dr. Olav Rueppell, Professor, Biology
Support was provided to study the genetic traits, social behavior, aging, and health of honey bees.
Dr. Meredith Powers, Assistant Professor, Social Work
Support was provided to create and maintain a carbon offset program for travel by the membership of the Federation of Social Work.
Sarah Dorsey, Head, Harold Schiffman Music Library
Continued support for the UNCG Sustainability Film & Discussion Series.
Dr. Etsuko Kinefuchi (ASC), Associate Professor, Communication Studies
Dr. Justin Harmon, Assistant Professor, Community and Therapeutic Recreation
Continued support for the Celebrate the Trail to Recovery program, which provides opportunities for people dealing with cancer and their support networks to get out in nature and re-acclimate to their pre-illness levels of recreational activity.
Dr. Chanelle James, Lecturer, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Hospitality & Tourism
For continued support for the creation of a sustainable enterprise lab for student entrepreneurs.
Dr. Meredith Powers, Assistant Professor, Social Work
To maintain, manage, and grow the sustainability research network at UNCG.
Dr. Malcom Schug, Associate Professor, Biology
For continued support of the construction and academic integration of new wetlands on campus.
Dr. Marianne LeGreco (ASC), Associate Professor, Communication Studies
Sarah Dorsey, Head, Harold Schiffman Music Library
Continued support for the UNCG Sustainability Film & Discussion Series.
Dr. Justin Harmon, Assistant Professor, Community and Therapeutic Recreation
To support the Celebrate the Trail to Recovery program, which provides opportunities for people dealing with cancer and their support networks to get out in nature and re-acclimate to their pre-illness levels of recreational activity.
Dr. Chanelle James, Lecturer, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Hospitality & Tourism
To support the creation of a sustainable enterprise lab for student entrepreneurs.
Dr. Stephen Holland, Professor, Economics
To support research and campus conversations to support the implementation of socially responsible investment strategies into UNCG’s investment policies.
Dr. Gwen Hunnicutt, Associate Professor, Sociology
To support collaborative work with student groups to promote plant-based food options for students on campus.
Dr. Malcolm Schugg, Associate Professor, Biology
For continued support of the construction and academic integration of new wetlands on campus.
Dr. Marianne LeGreco (ASC), Associate Professor, Communication Studies
Sarah Dorsey, Head, Harold Schiffman Music Library
To support the UNCG Sustainability Film & Discussion Series.
Dr. Amanda Gale, Assistant Professor, Interior Architecture
For the development of an interdisciplinary course on the topic of sustainability in the built environment using the LEED rating system and WELL Building Standard as models.
Dr. Malcolm Schug, Associate Professor, Biology
For the construction and academic integration of new wetlands on campus.
Clubs
Student groups play a vital role in the promotion of sustainability on campus and in the community. From community gardening, fighting food waste, eating vegan, to adopting streams and streets, there’s plenty of opportunities to get involved and provide service to our campus and city communities. See a list of all the clubs on campus and the events they’re sponsoring via Spartan Connect.
Audubon Birders & Conservationists
UNCG's Audobon Birding & Conservationists is a group of students in the Triad area who are interested in learning more about birds and the places they live. We want to provide students with the gear, training, and hands-on opportunities to build long-lasting beautiful habitats to support wildlife in the Greensboro community. Join our group if you are interested in conserving plants & wildlife or keeping our green spaces on campus clean for students and community members to enjoy. Instagram
Food Recovery Network
Food Recovery Network (FRN) is a national non-profit that unites students on college campuses to fight waste and feed people by recovering excess food and donating it to local people in need. Founded in 2011, FRN has grown to include chapters at over 230 colleges and universities in 30 states. Together, these chapters have recovered over 2 million pounds of food to date. Each chapter works with on-campus dining halls and other, off-campus outlets to divert food from the landfill to community members in need while simultaneously raising awareness about food waste and hunger in America. The FRN at UNCG, with the support of Dining Services, donates leftover food from Fountain View Dining Hall to the Salvation Army shelter in Greensboro. Facebook / Twitter / Instagram
Garden Club
A service learning student organization focused on sustainable and organic gardening on and off campus. The Garden Club aims to educate the UNCG community about the principles of sustainable food production, to build healthy and interactive urban communities through the collective production of locally grown organic food, and to support the role of student action for a healthier world. Instagram
UNCGreen
UNCGreen believes that a harmonious relationship between humanity and the environment is essential for the well-being of present and future generations as well as of other species. In collaboration with the Office of Sustainability, members of UNCGreen serve as Eco Reps and work to further the mission of the club, which is to educate and spread awareness about sustainability issues, to promote lasting, positive change through both policy and direct action, and to serve in an effort to create and maintain an ecological society, on campus and in our community. Facebook / Twitter / Instagram
