Working Groups

The Sustainability Working Groups will function as broad campus-wide interest groups for various aspects of sustainability. For example, initial sub-committees include the Native Plants and Landscaping Committee, a Recycling and Waste Management Committee, and a Curriculum Committee, which have organically formed over time and are working toward their own agendas. Other interest groups will be formed as critical mass of interest is achieved in the community.

Climate Campaign

Chair:  Carrie Meyer (cmeyer@gmu.edu), Economics
The Climate Campaign working group is involved in communication and outreach efforts to ensure broad awareness on Mason's campuses of our commitment to achieve climate neutrality; of actions that Mason has taken and is taking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and of how each member of the campus community can contribute to meeting our goal. 

Co-Curricular Initiatives (such as Earth Week, Focus the Nation, and Fall for the Book)

Contact Lenna Storm (lstorm@gmu.edu) if you are interested in helping to plan for any of these events, OR if you're interested in coordinating your own event!

Curriculum Greening

Co-Chairs: Andrew Wingfield (awingfie@gmu.edu), New Century College; Sharon deMonsabert (sdemonsa@gmu.edu), Faculty Fellow Sustainability Curricula, Department of Civil Engineering

The Curriculum Greening working group is actively involved in planning and executing a new Sustainability Minor program. The group also coordinates annual Sustainability Across the Curriculum workshops for faculty. This working group will continue to work with faculty, the Provost's office, and students to set curriculum priorities for sustainability on campus.

Energy and Climate

Co-Chairs: Aaron Hartman (ahartma2@gmu.edu), Libraries; Lenna Storm (lstorm@gmu.edu), Sustainability Office

Energy (including electricity, heating, and cooling) is a critical piece of our campus sustainability and our carbon footprint, and this working group will define and execute strategies to reduce our non-renewable energy consumption at Mason, including being key participants in the development of our Climate Action Plan. Please click here to link to the Energy and Climate Working Group page.

Food

Co-Chairs: Peter Schoebel (pschoebi@gmu.edu), Sodexo; Colin Bennett (cbennet6@gmu.edu), Sustainability Office

The Food working group will examine ways to make our food operations more sustainable. For example, they would seek to reduce the waste associated with dining on campus, increase campus awareness of the impact of various food choices, and reduce our carbon emissions from food services. They will conduct awareness campaigns and research to promote innovative approaches to achieving a sustainable food service.

Native Plants and Landscaping

Chair: Andrea Weeks (aweeks@gmu.edu), Geography Department

This working group will work with the administration to increase the number of native species used in landscaping on campus and to control invasive species, as well as examine ways to use landscaping for erosion control and water retention. They will assist student groups with coordinating project efforts around campus that align with these goals.

Recycling and Waste Management

Chair: Ron Lim (rlim2@gmu.edu), Facilities Management

The goals of this working group will assist the Recycling and Waste Management Coordinator increase the amount of recycled materials on campus and reduce waste. The working group will conduct awareness campaigns, help implement competitions for waste reduction, and will help to research and implement innovative recycling processes.

Transportation

Chair: Josh Cantor (jcantor1@gmu.edu), Director of Parking and Transportation Services (interim until new Transportation Coordinator is hired)

The Transportation Coordinator will chair a Transportation Advisory Committee and a Bicycle Committee. The Transportation Advisory Committee will work with the Coordinator to define and execute projects that will reduce our transportation footprint.



Link to the Sustainability Homepage