A growing role at UD - University of Dayton
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2018-2020 HSI IMPACT REPORT role at UD A growing
Table of contents
• Introduction by Ben McCall, HSI executive Evolving the Institution: Page 20 Leaning into Research: Page 36
director: Pages 2-3
• Curran Place a ‘living lab’: Page 21 • Research includes energy, nutrition: Page 37
• 2019-2020 HSI staff: Page 4
• Carbon neutrality paper wins award: Page 22 • Working with Climate Analytics: Page 38
• 2019-2020 HSI student leaders: Page 5
• UD earned AASHE STARS gold: Page 23 • Research on sustainability in higher education:
• 2019-2020 sustainability majors/HSI GAs: Page 6 Page 39
• Flowers. Power: Page 24
• Building bridges between science and faith:
• Temperature setbacks saved money: Page 25 Page 40
Developing Leaders • HSI student leader highlights: Pages 26-28
2018-2020 HSI IMPACT REPORT
for a Just Future: Page 7 • Sustainability scholars: Page 41
• GAs start office ecology project: Page 29 • SURF will fund undergraduate research: Page 42
• Growing the sustainability major: Pages 8-9
• Evolving, by the numbers: Page 30 • HSI names faculty affiliates: Page 43
• Sustainability majors video: Page 10
• HSI student leaders program has grown: Page 11
• Sustainability students traveled abroad: Page 12
Building Relationships Media/Achievements: Page 44
with the Community: Page 31
• Student spotlight on Darion Smith: Page 13 • Select HSI media mentions: Page 45
• HSI affiliations: Page 32
• Co-curricular learning starts early: Page 14 • Select UD sustainability achievements: Page 46
• Affiliations, sustainability-related events: Page 33
• Graduate certificate has expanded: Page 15
• UD joins resilience commitment: Page 34
• HSI video for GCSHE: Page 16
• GAs led Second Nature assessment: Page 35
• 3 Marianist universities team up: Page 17
• Students call for action in climate strike: Page 18
• Developing leaders, by the numbers: Page 19
1
McCall: 2018-2020 a time of exciting expansion for HSI
The past three years have been a remarkable At the time (early 2021) of this writing , HSI efforts in the 2019 Global Climate Strike, and
period of expansion for the Hanley was in the final stages of its first strategic we’ve built on a collaboration with our sister
Sustainability Institute, and I’m pleased to planning process, which has engaged more Marianist universities.
share this summary of HSI’s impact during than 200 people from UD and the
this period. surrounding community. We’ve organized We’ve also strengthened our signature
this report around the themes emerging from Student Leaders program, which has enabled
Our expansion has been partly physical: In that process: Developing Leaders for a Just UD students to make a tangible impact on
2019, we moved into a larger and newly Future, Evolving the Institution, Building campus sustainability through efforts in
renovated space on the fifth floor of Fitz Hall, Relationships with the Community and energy efficiency, waste reduction, native
with more offices and student collaboration Leaning into Research. plantings, local food production, peer
space. education and impact on campus
2018-2020 HSI IMPACT REPORT
We’ve been developing leaders for a just sustainability.
Ben McCall: HSI It’s also been personal: In 2018, we hired our future inside and outside of the classroom. As
executive director; first executive director (yours truly) as well as the academic sustainability program These critical student projects are part of our
professor of a sustainability planning and evaluation (formerly known as the SEE Initiative) work on evolving the institution, but not all of
sustainability manager (a position shared with Facilities became integrated into HSI, we launched two it. HSI led an effort to determine the
Management, which in 2020 shifted fully to new transdisciplinary majors (B.A. and B.S.) feasibility and economic impact of a near-
Facilities). In 2019, we hired a in sustainability, and already had 28 majors in term conversion to a carbon-neutral campus.
communications coordinator.
Several key the first full year of the program. We launched
The academic paper that emerged from that
a graduate certificate in sustainability, which
positions In 2020, we hired Felix Fernando as UD’s first
assistant professor of sustainability. He also is
now draws 14 students per year into our
work was recently recognized with the 2020
Campus Sustainability Research Award from
foundations in sustainability course.
were added the first tenure-track faculty member at UD the Association for the Advancement of
to be housed outside of a traditional academic Outside the classroom, we provide Sustainability in Higher Education.
to HSI’s department. experiences for first-year students through an
In 2018, AASHE recognized UD with a Gold
employee This was quickly followed by appointments of
integrated learning-living community and a
rating in the Sustainability Tracking,
sustainability mini-course.
roster from Bob Brecha and myself as professors of Assessment and Rating System (STARS), an
sustainability. In just a single year, we went We’ve continued working with student effort led by former HSI graduate assistant
2018 to 2020. from zero tenure-line faculty to three! organizations, we’ve supported our students’ (continues on next page)
2
McCall: HSI poised for continued success in years ahead
Leah Ceperley. In partnership with Regional Green, the emerging Gem City Another key initiative being launched in
Facilities Management, Leah also led an Market co-op, and the City of Dayton’s 2021 is a graduate fellowship program to
effort to install a 6.5-acre pollinator sustainability plan. HSI has also attract exceptional graduate students to
prairie beneath a massive solar array that partnered with both regional (e.g., Green UD to support the research of
was “planted” in 2018. Energy Ohio and Five Rivers MetroParks) sustainability scholars in addition to HSI’s
and local (e.g., East End Community programmatic work.
HSI also has been actively building Services and Mission of Mary
relationships with the community. A Cooperative) organizations. Our faculty are leaning into research,
signature element of this theme has been from Felix Fernando’s work on the human
UD’s signing of Second Nature’s Resilience HSI also has been leaning into research, as dimensions of energy extraction, to Bob
Commitment in 2019, which committed we build capability within HSI and across Brecha’s analysis of the intersection of
2018-2020 HSI IMPACT REPORT
us to working with our local community to campus. We've launched a new energy and the United Nation’s
perform a climate resilience assessment community of practice called the sustainable development goals, to
Important and eventually a resilience plan. sustainability scholars, which includes Rebecca Potter’s work on sustainability
initiatives in HSI faculty and graduate students worked
about 100 faculty and researchers from 30 literature and curriculum, to Marianist
different programs and departments. Sister Leanne Jablonski’s work building
the near future through the pandemic to complete the bridges between scientific and faith
assessment due to be released in mid- This community facilitates new communities.
include 2021. connections among its members and also
advises HSI on research initiatives. The work of HSI and its sustainability
scholarship and In concert with the Resilience partners at UD has been consistently
Commitment, UD established a high-level One such upcoming initiative is the
internship Climate Action, Resilience, and Sustainability Undergraduate Research
gaining visibility, both in terms of media
attention and campus sustainability
opportunities, Environmental Sustainability (CARES) Fellowship (SURF) program, supported by recognitions. It seems clear HSI and UD
Council to oversee campus sustainability a gift from UD alumnus John Alberici. are poised for continued success in the
a strategic plan, and climate resilience work. years to come.
The SURF program will enable an annual
undergraduate HSI faculty, staff and students also have cohort of outstanding UD undergrads to Consider joining our twice-monthly
and graduate participated in many community
initiatives, including the Montgomery
spend a full year (including a summer)
working on a transdisciplinary research
Sustainability Spotlight newsletter at
https://mailchi.mp/0371cc92b784/udayto
research. County Food Equity Coalition, Dayton project with sustainability scholars. nhsi.
3
2019-2020 HSI staff
Bob Brecha, professor; department
of physics, University of Dayton
School of Engineering renewable and
clean energy program (on leave)
Leah Ceperley, sustainability
planning and evaluation manager
Felix Fernando, lecturer in
sustainability; sustainability graduate
certificate coordinator
Mark Gokavi, communications
coordinator
2018-2020 HSI IMPACT REPORT
Sr. Leanne Jablonski FMI, HSI scholar
for faith and the environment
Brooke Jones, senior administrative
assistant
Ben McCall, HSI executive director
Rebecca Potter, HSI director of
curriculum, sustainability program
director, associate professor of
English
Katie Schoenenberger, director of
student engagement
Many University of Dayton students, staff and faculty members attended the 2018 AASHE conference in Pittsburgh.
4
2019-2020 student leaders
Claire Abele, civil and environmental engineering
John Barnard, environmental biology
Jenny Capka, marketing and communications
Ummiya Chaudhary, civil and environmental engineering;
business administration, sustainability minors
Marla Diaz, environmental biology
Hannah Gibson, human rights studies; sustainability minor
Sean Handel, mechanical engineering; sustainability minor
Maura Hohl, dietetics
Jared Marsh, human rights studies; sustainability minor
Elizabeth Miles, dietetics
2018-2020 HSI IMPACT REPORT
Marigrace Moses, environmental biology; sustainability
minor
Sophia Palmer, mechanical engineering; sustainability
minor
Amanda Ratliff, environmental biology
Claire Roberts, environmental biology; sustainability minor
Emily Sandstrom, environmental biology; sustainability
minor
Emily Shanahan, international business management;
human rights, sustainability minors
Izzy Schutte, environmental biology; geology minor
Claire Sullivan, biology; sustainability,
political science minors
Vince Wilson, mechanical engineering An HSI student leaders retreat featured Dr. Brian Raison, Ohio State University assistant professor and
extension field specialist, to facilitate a strategic alignment workshop. Activities included determine shared
values, customers, a SWOT analysis and brainstorming.
5
2019-2020 sustainability majors
Pilar Bertollini, BS-watershed
Carter Creviston, BS-watershed
Nicholas Clarke, BA-urban
Richard Danyko, BA-urban/English
Nichole Dunham, BS-watershed/environmental biology
Lindsey Elchert, BA-urban
Caroline Garvey, BS-energy
Dylan Grogan, BS-energy
Catherine Jensen, BA-urban P. Bertollini A. Moore
Mary Kauper, BA-urban
Molly Klimo, BS-undecided
2018-2020 HSI IMPACT REPORT
Abigail Kropp, BA-undecided
Peyton Majerski, BS-undecided
Jackson Mescher, BA-urban
Abbey Moore, BS-watershed
Yamilet Perez Aragon, BA-food studies/graphic design
Mark Ryan, BS-undecided
Abigayle Smith, BS-watershed Y. Perez Aragon M. Ryan
Darion Smith, BA-urban
2019-2020 graduate assistants
Christopher Baldasare, engineering management Professor John Clarke, Caitlin Marshall ’19, Payton Oakes ’19,
Tess Isemann, renewable and clean energy; graduate certificate in sustainability University of Dayton President Eric Spina and Emily Gorenc ’19
Meg Maloney, biology; graduate certificate in sustainability pose when the design students presented their project for
Jack Rees, renewable and clean energy signage at the solar prairie outside Daniel Curran Place.
Lauren Wolford, public administration; nonprofit leadership and sustainability graduate certificates
6
Developing
Leaders
for a
Just Future
Former HSI student leader Elise Erhart at the solar prairie.
7
Potter: Growing the sustainability major a group effort
At the beginning of 2018, Jessica “Jesse” Clarke, who discovered the major as a faculty to teach sustainability-related
Carbonaro was in my office talking about junior, took courses ahead of the major’s courses, an expansion that the college and
her last semester as a self-designed launch so that he would be able to departments have embraced.
sustainability major and environmental complete requirements on time. Carter
biology major. Jesse had been active in the was the first sustainability major at UD, Since 2018, departments across the
Hanley Sustainability Fund, and and this May (2021) “Nico” will be the first university have launched new faculty
Sustainability Club, and knew she wanted graduate with the degree. searches for positions that highlight
D EVELOPING LEADERS FOR A JUST FUTURE
to pursue environmental law. sustainability in their job descriptions, and
When the BA and BS degrees appeared for a new cadre of brilliant scholars from
She had come to my office the year before, the first time in the 2019-2020 University lecturer to associate professor have joined
days after the sustainability program was of Dayton course catalog, even more UD, developing new courses and revising
established, ready to create a self-designed students noticed. At the start of the 2019 existing ones, working with students and
Rebecca Potter: major around sustainability, and her fall semester, other students quickly joined engaging in community-based research.
sustainability timing was good. The graduate certificate Carter as sustainability majors, about
had launched, and a group of faculty, staff evenly divided between the bachelor of This has expanded sustainability-related
program director; education available to all students, not just
HSI curriculum had been designing two new bachelor’s arts and bachelor of science.
degrees in sustainability building on an those earning a major or minor. It has been
director already robust minor. Within short order, those 12 doubled in an encouragement for many of those
number, and then by fall 2020 had students to pursue further study.
Two HSI student leaders, Grant Karda and increased again. During the COVID-19
Potter, plus Lauren Murray, had been collecting pandemic, my office was online but Currently, 19 UD faculty or staff teach
students, staff, student feedback on the proposed design students still found it. courses offered directly through the
sustainability program (“SEE-numbered”
of the major. Even before the BA and BS
faculty and degrees in Sustainability were launched, By December 2020, there were 28 UD courses), often in team-teaching
students who, like Jesse, wanted to make students majoring in sustainability, and arrangements that pair expertise across
administrators Sustainability their academic major were that number continues to grow rapidly. fields and even across academic units.
built the new finding my office.
Building the program has been a very Many more teach sustainability content
UD major of Carter Creviston prepared the paperwork expansive group effort that incorporated
faculty, staff and administrators from
through their disciplines and contribute to
sustainability education in myriad ways.
to declare the major weeks before the
sustainability. board of trustees approved it. Nicholas across UD. It required an expansion of (continues on next page)
8
Potter: Sustainability emphasizes experiential learning
A program is not just an assemblage of courses, and a sustainability By the Numbers
program has to be considerably more than that; it needs to be connected to
the community through experiential learning. UD’s sustainability program
needs to incorporate that fundamental principle of a Catholic, Marianist STUDENTS MAJORING
university, educating the whole person. Here are some of the sustainability
major’s innovations and achievements from 2018-2020:
28 IN SUSTAINABILITY BY
THE END OF 2020
D EVELOPING LEADERS FOR A JUST FUTURE
• Constructions of Place, taught by Hsuan Tsen and Glenna Jennings,
presented Dinner in the Desert Kitchen.
• Sustainability Research I, taught by Don Pair and Viorel Paslaru (2018)
and Zach Piso (2019-20), led student teams to address sustainability
19
education. Student leaders took up several of those projects under the FACULTY/STAFF
“Since 2018, skilled guidance of Katie Schoenenberger, illustrating how our campus CURRENTLY TEACHING
departments can be a living lab for student learning. PROGRAM COURSES
• Sustainability Research II , taught by Kelly Bohrer with Paslaru (2018),
across UD Steve Bein (2019) and Piso (2020), had students work on a broad range of
have launched projects from solar power, waste reduction, watershed resiliency, soil
new faculty
searches for
positions that
health and community resiliency with a number of local community
partners. Those partners included the Miami Conservancy District,
Arthur Morgan Institute for Community Solutions, Mission of Mary
Cooperative, The Dakota Center, Edgemont Solar Garden, Dayton Solar
and the City of Dayton.
4 11
SUSTAINABILITY MAJOR PATHWAYS IN WHICH
highlight • Introduction to Sustainability , taught by Felix Fernando and Rebecca
Potter, participated in the GEMnasium, joining students in courses TRACKS: FOOD SYSTEMS; UD-SINCLAIR ACADEMY
sustainability across the University in a collaborative educational project led by URBAN SUSTAINABILITY; STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO
in their job ArtStreet. The Spring 2019 GEMnasium focused on food security in
ENERGY; SUSTAINABLE WORK TOWARD THE
Dayton; students presented their ideas from a mobile market to local co-
descriptions.” operative groceries and innovative urban food production. WATERSHEDS SUSTAINABILITY MAJOR
9D EVELOPING LEADERS FOR A JUST FUTURE
10
Click here
to playSchoenenberger facilitates HSI student leader projects
Over the past five years, I have had the sustainability leader alumni and GAs to Student Voices
pleasure of working with more than 50 inspire us for what comes next and to help us
undergraduate students, more than 10 reflect on our current UD experience.
graduate students, and many student, staff
and faculty volunteers as part of our I could not be more excited for the future of
sustainability leaders program. the leaders program and for all the areas in
D EVELOPING LEADERS FOR A JUST FUTURE
which the student leaders are learning and
Our goal in establishing the program in 2016 working on sustainability projects on
was to create a platform so students could campus and in our community. Some of our
gain leadership and professional very first projects, such as the Sustainable
development skills while exploring their Activation Program (SAP), Energy GPA, and
“(Katie) is the glue that
vocation. All of these students and partners the Student Neighborhood Composting connects us to HSI staff,
Katie brought to HSI their passion for Program, are now established, successful Facilities Management, and all
Schoenenberger: sustainability, their expertise in a wide programs with strong demand. Our team is
HSI’s director of variety of disciplines, and an excitement and still motivated and excited by these projects, other parts of campus. … Her
student commitment to a team approach. driven by how much their fellow students approach makes my HSI
value the programs.
engagement As a team we worked to contribute to and experience more than a
achieve ambitious goals while also As you read through the highlights (Pages
supporting each other’s personal and 26-28) of the last few years, you’ll also get a professional experience or an
“I could not professional goals. We worked to help UD glimpse of some of the new projects we are on-campus job. Katie makes
earn an AASHE gold rating and earn excited about, including work on native
be more national notice for our leaders program as planting areas, a vegetable garden and the student leaders program
excited for well as individual projects such as Energy collaborations with dining services, and feel as if we are a part of
GPA. We worked to engage students, staff, deeper outreach to offices, student
the future of faculty and our community in connecting organizations, and departments on campus. something bigger and pushes
their everyday life and work to Whatever is next for our student leaders, I us to achieve our potential.” –
the leaders sustainability. And we worked to stay know they have made a difference here at
Sophia Palmer, HSI student
program.” connected with each other, even after
graduation, warmly welcoming back our
UD and will no doubt continue to make a
difference in all of their endeavors. leader and sustainability minor
11Sustainability students have traveled abroad to learn
HSI student leaders and sustainability
students have benefitted from University of
Dayton programs that include overseas
travel and education.
UD’s Human Rights Center, ETHOS, the
Center for International Programs and
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other initiatives have offered study abroad
opportunities that intersect with
sustainability education. Pre-pandemic,
these programs enabled UD students to
study agriculture in India, human rights in
Malawi, Africa and other efforts in other
locations. Study abroad programs were also
held in places like Berlin, Prague and Peru.
Emily Shanahan (center column)
graduated with a major in international
business management and minors in
human rights studies and sustainability.
Shanahan, who grew up on a family farm in
Hillsboro, Ohio, served on HSI’s food and own challenges with the green revolution; She was on HSI’s education team. In
growing team. there was a lot of pressure for farmers to 2019, she did research in Malawi, “My
enter these predatory contracts with seed research focused on women’s roles in
In India, Shanahan stayed with a host farm
family in Sikkim in the Himalayan companies.” sustainable fish farming. I learned so
Students have
mountain range. The India experience “was much from the people I would interview
opportunities to
another way to look at food and farming Marigrace Moses (right), graduated with a including all aspects of life such as
learn abroad with
that was so vastly different to what I know. major in environmental biology with environmental, social and economical. I
campus partners. It provided that new perspective and its minors in human rights and sustainability. would definitely go back.”
12From F-16 mechanic to sustainability, local grad returns
Darion Smith grew up pretending to be the Smith said. “I became an F-16 aircraft
Crocodile Hunter, hiking in Glen Helen mechanic and was first stationed in Aviano,
Nature Preserve and credits (Clayton, Italy.”
Ohio) Northmont High School with
helping “encourage my love for nature and She completed two part-time semesters at
wildlife with cool field trips.” the online American Military University,
and later was stationed at Holloman AFB
D EVELOPING LEADERS FOR A JUST FUTURE
“I have always lived in suburban areas, and in New Mexico while finishing her service
the outdoors was my refuge, especially and getting an associate’s degree in
from family issues and stress,” she said. “I aviation maintenance technology with the
loved going on hikes, splashing in the Community College of the Air Force.
streams, listening to the birds.
Smith enrolled at New Mexico State
“As I grew older, however, I became aware University to major in civil engineering.
of the real issues facing society. Nature When the pandemic hit in March 2020, she
went from something I loved to play in, to and her husband decided to relocate closer
something I needed to protect and felt to her home in Ohio. She said financial aid
concerned for.” and scholarships made it possible for her to
enroll at UD with or without the GI Bill. part of the change for a cleaner, safer,
It’s no surprise Smith became a
sustainability major at the University of “I chose UD's sustainability major because more sustainable world. “I think
Dayton. But the journey she took to get I was hard pressed to find another like it,” sustainability concepts should be
there included several other schools, Smith said. “What's more, I have never infused into every single major or
working full-time and a stint as an F-16 before seen things like (the) urban degree offered at this point, as it
mechanic in the U.S. Air Force. sustainability (track), which exactly should be considered integral to any
describes the kind of work I am passionate and all disciplines,” Smith said.
Smith attended Sinclair Community about doing.”
College while working full-time before “If you live on this planet,
leaving school. “After a while of lacking Smith said she’s been passionate about sustainability relates to you and
Student Spotlight: motivation and direction, I decided to join nature, the planet and the environment everything around you.”
Darion Smith the military so I could get the GI Bill,” her whole life and that she wants to be Full story on HSI news blog
13Co-curricular learning begins in students’ first year
Sr. Leanne Jablonski coordinates the urban farm. They can visit Marianist
first-year experience of sustainability Environmental Education Center
at UD by designing and facilitating (MEEC) for service, interpretive
experiential learning events and hikes, and retreats. Field trips to the
engagement opportunities for Cincinnati Zoo (photo at right) and
students to connect with peers, Yellow Springs feature enjoyable
student organizations, faculty/staff tours of green initiatives.
D EVELOPING LEADERS FOR A JUST FUTURE
and professionals engaged in
sustainability. These all complement Dinner and virtual dialogue events
the residence life and academic with guest speakers, panels and
experience for students interested in sustainability-themed movies invite
exploring how sustainability connects students to join with staff, faculty and
with their major and career plans. off-campus community members to By the Numbers
mutually share perspectives on how
The sustainability integrated we can address climate change,
51
environmental justice and food
EVENTS WHERE JABLONSKI WAS
Sr. Leanne Jablonski, learning-living communities program
FMI: HSI scholar for is open to all first-year students security. Participants explore INVITED TO SPEAK; 14 PROFESSIONAL
regardless of major. Students in the connections between peace and the MEETINGS; 37 CLASSES OR OTHERS
faith and the
SEE ILLC live together in dorms and environment using the United
environment take humanities courses, and are Nation’s Sustainable Development
invited to participate with their Goals and mark “ecological feasts” of
“UDI 262 is a
78
friends and others interested in Earth Day and St. Francis/the Season MAJOR EVENTS AT UD/DAYTON FROM
sustainability in any of the broad of Creation, and our Marianist
great way to event menu. The spring semester one- Founders integrating faith-based ‘18-’20 ORGANIZED BY JABLONSKI
hour mini-course UDI 262 - resources. DRAWING 2,969 PARTICIPANTS
explore your Exploring SEE is open to any UD
First years are also encouraged to
interest in the first-year student.
connect with student groups such as
39
LOCAL, UD AND STUDENT GROUPS
Sustainability Students learn about urban Sustainability Club, HSI student
sustainability through visiting leaders and to participate or attend WITH WHICH JABLONSKI PARTNERS
Program.” downtown Dayton sites or events such as the Stander
FOR EVENTS AND PROJECTS
volunteering at Misison of Mary Symposium and Sustainability Week.
14Fernando: Graduate certificate has expanded since 2018
The graduate certificate in sustainability The two core courses are SSP 500:
was launched in 2018. The certificate foundations in sustainability (offered
provides an interdisciplinary perspective every Fall) and SSP 580: applied
on what it takes to address the world’s sustainability (offered every spring).
toughest challenges—from poverty and Approved elective courses from other
climate change to renewable energy and graduate programs constitute the two
urban development. elective courses.
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The program was designed as a Over the last two years, the certificate has
complementary qualification for graduate grown rapidly attracting a diverse group of
students interested in adding a certificate students from graduate programs such as
that could greatly enhance their renewable and clean energy, public
Felix Fernando: employability or for professionals administration, engineering, biology, “Sustainability is probably going
assistant professor interested in gaining a qualification that communication and business
of sustainability; can help them take the next step in their administration as well as professionals to be that one skill set that no
graduate career. pursuing the certificate. matter what field you go into, is
certificate Students must complete two core courses The SSP 500 course has increased from going to be critical, especially
coordinator (for six credits) and two electives (totaling three students in fall 2018 to 11 in 2019 to
at least six credits) for a minimum of 12 20 in 2020. The SSP 580 course has with addressing all the
credits total in order to obtain the graduate increased from six in spring 2019 to 14 in challenges humanity is facing
certificate in sustainability. 2020.
right now.” – Felix Fernando
Student Voices
“I could say experiential learning was almost a core to my education at the University of
Dayton and that’s what makes it unique. ” – HSI graduate assistant Meg Maloney, who was
a student leader and River Steward and who will earn the graduate certificate.
15D EVELOPING LEADERS FOR A JUST FUTURE
16
Click here
to play3 Marianist universities team up for watershed learning
As part of the sustainability curriculum, UD Utilizing elements of the three-credit river
piloted curricular partnerships built upon leadership course that had been developed
five years of faculty and staff collaboration
by the Rivers Institute of the Fitz Center for
at our three Marianist universities: UD,
Chaminade University in Honolulu and St. Leadership in Community with the Miami
Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, to Conservancy District, the City of Dayton
respond to Pope Francis’ encyclical, and other partners, many students also
D EVELOPING LEADERS FOR A JUST FUTURE
Laudato si’ in dialogue with the joined a pilot shared experiential lab course
Characteristics of Marianist Universities. held virtually once weekly in “real-time”
Called AMNIS (American Marianist with students from the AMU partners.
Universities Networking In Sustainability),
from the Latin for river or waterway, the This water culture and society course
collaboration was initiated and coordinated Participants at the beach in Hawaii.
focused on the socio-ecological
by Sr. Leanne Jablonski, FMI. characteristics, cultural history, assets and
The AMNIS goal was to develop exchange social justice challenges within each
and joint field experiences building on the from each institution could engage together watershed, featuring the ways each
cultural and ecological diversity of each virtually during the spring semester and university engaged and applied Marianist
location along with the common Marianist then participate together in a field values of service and leadership. Faculty and
values and mission, to educate about the experience at each university during the students from each institution shared in
“connection between the common good, the summer on a three-year rotation. An AMU delivering the content of the course, which
poor and care for the earth, our common seed grant of $5,000 catalyzed support from was completed with a two-week field
home”. . . “instilling in our students a respect each institution to fully fund three week- experience in Honolulu in May.
for the integrity of creation and a long site visits at each campus.
UD is part of the
commitment to environmental justice.” Zelalem Bedaso in UD’s geology department
Association of
Ecologists, other natural and social A pilot curriculum launched in spring 2019. led UD’s 2020 effort in a collaborative major
Marianist Universities
scientists, humanists, engineers and others At UD, HSI’s Rebecca Potter and Jablonski grant proposal submitted to National
(AMU) that includes
from each institution met by regular co-taught with Leslie King from the Rivers Science Foundation to fund a full three years
Chaminade and St.
conference calls, and site visits and designed Institute and Fitz Center and Jeff of experiential learning focusing on
Mary’s (Texas).
a curriculum where cohorts of students Kavanaugh from UD’s biology department. environmental justice and climate change.
17Students call for personal action during climate strike
Organizers of the on-campus event to board with the strike and provide support.
observe the global climate strike on Sept. 20,
2019, wanted their chants and written Speakers shared stories of plastic from the
messages to turn into personal and Midwest ending up in California ocean
transformative action. “We aren’t just here waters and said that everyone can take small
holding up signs. We aren’t here just telling or big steps to reduce their personal carbon
stories,” said organizer Jared Marsh, who footprint.
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graduated with a bachelor's degree in human
Executive directors Ben McCall of the
rights studies. “We’re here to start taking
Hanley Sustainability Institute and Shelley
pledges, commitments, start making the
Inglis of the Human Rights Center issued a
change.”
letter of support that included the strategic
Dozens of students, staff and faculty vision calling for UD to become The
members joined millions around the world University for the Common Good.
After the campus rally,
in striking ahead of the 2019 U.N. Climate
there was a march to “Climate change and environmental
Action Summit. A checklist sign at UD’s
Dayton’s Federal Building. event was entitled, “What Can I Do?” devastation pose an existential threat to
human rights for all,” said the letter from
After attending the strike, other items on the McCall and Inglis. “The responsibility for the
A grassroots effort from list involved taking a sustainability pledge, climate crisis lies primarily with the most
the Sinclair Peace Club, registering to vote, writing or signing a letter developed countries, like the United States.
the UD Sustainability to government officials, listening to why But the impacts of climate change are felt
Student Leadership speakers were striking, learning and most by the poorest and most vulnerable
supporting local businesses and turning a around the globe. Governments and other
Council, Dayton Sunrise
“personal narrative into a crafted message stakeholders have an affirmative obligation
Movement, HSI, the to take effective measures to prevent and
for climate justice.”
Human Rights Center, redress climate impacts, and mitigate
River Stewards, the Center Jared Marsh (with microphone) was a
Behind the scenes, HSI faculty such as Sr. climate change, for the full realization of
for Social Concern and Leanne Jablonski and Rebecca Potter helped human rights.” sustainability minor and an HSI student
others led to the 2019 UD give students direction about how to leader as well as a human rights major.
climate strike. organize the event, get the administration on Full story on HSI’s news blog Flyer News story.
18Developing Leaders for a Just Future: By The Numbers
6 15
D EVELOPING LEADERS FOR A JUST FUTURE
COURSES TO FINISH
A SUSTAINABILITY
DEPARTMENTS
MINOR REPRESENTED ON
THE SUSTAINABILITY
PROGRAM ADVISORY
COMMITTEE
12 The graduate certificate’s SSP 500 course increased from three students
282
SUSTAINABILITY STUDENTS IN
MAJORS AT THE START in Fall 2018 to 11 in 2019 to 14 in 2020. The graduate certificates’ SSP SUSTAINABILITY
OF 2019-2020 580 course increased from six in Spring 2019 to 14 in 2020. CLASSES ‘18-’20
19Evolving
the
Institution
Birds-eye view of Old River Park.
20Curran Place’s solar prairie blooms into a ‘living lab’
In less than two years, the University of
Dayton transformed the front lawn of
Daniel J. Curran Place into a “living
laboratory” dedicated to sustainability.
A solar array was installed in 2018 and a
pollinator prairie was planted under those
panels in 2019.
Leah Ceperley, who works for UD’s
Facilities Management and was a driving
force for the prairie in her role at HSI
(through spring 2020), said solar company
Melink agreed not to fence the solar panels
to allow students more access. “We are in a
unique position to use the solar prairie as a
EVOLVING THE INSTITUTION
living laboratory,” she said. “We have access
to the student solar panels and to the
prairie, opening up opportunities for
faculty and students to engage the site for
research, learning and teaching.”
HSI Executive Director Ben McCall noted
Ceperley and Matthew Worsham – former
HSI graduate assistants – helped grow the
Facilities Management idea to realization. "This has been a
led the project to fantastic collaboration among Facilities,
install solar panels at HSI and students," McCall said. "It's a
Curran Place and dramatic visual manifestation of the
commitment of UD’s leadership to
around campus.
sustainability.” Full story on HSI’s blog
21Paper on carbon neutrality pathway for UD wins award
A University of Dayton research paper on "Limiting global warming to 1.5C° (2.7F°) Higher Education.
the cost of carbon neutrality at the to prevent the worst effects of climate
University earned an Association for the change absolutely necessitates an “This recognition of our work shows how
Advancement of Sustainability in Higher immediate transition from a fossil fuel- powerful it can be when graduate
Education 2020 Sustainability Research based energy system to one that's students, faculty and Facilities
Award. renewably powered,” Shea said. Management personnel team up to tackle
sustainability challenges,” McCall said. “I
Graduate assistant Ryan Shea was the “Our research showed that at the hope there will be many more such
lead author of the paper - “A life-cycle cost University of Dayton, and likely other impactful collaborations at UD as we
analysis of transitioning to a fully- universities, this imperative is not only work to meet our commitment to
electrified, renewably powered, and possible but cost-effective.” becoming a carbon neutral campus."
carbon-neutral campus at the University
of Dayton,” - with co-authors Hanley The award was announced by Fahmida More than 400 applications worldwide
Sustainability Institute Executive Bangert, the director of sustainability and were considered for the 40 finalists in
Director Ben McCall, UD energy SEM business services at Stanford several categories with competition in
Former HSI graduate efficiency and renewable energy manager University. “This type of analysis will UD’s category from researchers in China,
EVOLVING THE INSTITUTION
assistant Ryan Shea Matthew Worsham, engineering really help not just Dayton, but other Indonesia and the United States.
was the lead author professor Andrew Chiasson and former universities to further reduce greenhouse
gas emissions from Scope 1 and 2 “While UD faces similar logistical and
of the study. A UD engineering professor Kelly Kissock.
emissions,” Bangert said. “So nice work, capital barriers that many local actors
session on the paper face when realizing their fully-electric
"Ben, Matthew, Kelly, Andrew and I are thank you and congratulations.”
was presented at the honored AASHE selected our research for and renewably-powered future, I hope
2020 Global their 2020 Campus Sustainability The research paper said UD’s conversion that this research, in concert with the
Conference on Research Award, signifying the would increase costs by just 2.4 percent continued hard work from dedicated
Sustainability in importance of transitioning to during a 30-year period. The paper was students, faculty, and staff, lays the
Higher Education. decarbonized campus energy systems,” published in the journal Sustainable necessary groundwork for UD to finally
Shea now works as a Shea said. Energy Technologies and Assessments and address its contribution to a warming
an update to the study was discussed in a world,” Shea added.
senior associate at
AASHE presented the award during an presentation during the recent 2020
Rocky Mountain online awards ceremony Dec. 3, 2020. Global Conference on Sustainability in Full story on HSI’s news blog.
Institute.
22UD earned its first gold rating in AASHE STARS in 2018
In 2018, the University of Dayton earned its first
gold rating for its sustainability achievements in
the Association for the Advancement of
Sustainability in Higher Education Sustainability
Tracking, Assessment and Rating System
(STARS).
With more than 800 participants in 30 countries,
the STARS program is the world’s most widely
recognized framework for reporting a college or
university's sustainability performance. UD's
After earlier earning a score ranked in the top 2 percent of all rated
silver rating, the schools, first in Ohio, and second among all U.S.
University of Dayton Catholic colleges and universities.
received a gold rating in
EVOLVING THE INSTITUTION
"We jumped nearly 23 points — and from a silver
2018. The effort was led rating to a gold rating — since our last report
by Facilities submission just 14 months ago, thanks to a joint
Management’s Leah Facilities Management and Hanley Sustainability
Ceperley, UD’s Institute effort to engage more units University-
sustainability planning wide in our sustainability initiatives," said Steve
and evaluation manager Kendig, UD’s executive director of energy
and also a former HSI utilization and environmental sustainability.
graduate assistant. UD "This rapid improvement … is only possible
earned a second gold because more units bought into the University's
rating and is making a sustainability goals and committed to evaluating,
push for platinum in a reporting and aligning performance and priorities
future set of rankings. to advance sustainability on our campus and in
our community.” Full story.
23Flowers.
Power.
This photograph taken
of the solar prairie
outside Daniel J.
Curran Place was one
of three finalists in the
2019 National Council
for Science and the
Environment (NCSE)
photo contest. In mid-
July the plants and
flowers were in full
EVOLVING THE INSTITUTION
bloom, which
attracted thousands of
pollinators. The prairie
plants with deep roots
were chosen to retain
water and cool the soil
below the panels,
which increases
efficiency.
Photo by Mark Gokavi,
HSI communications
coordinator
24Temperature setbacks during pandemic saved money
One byproduct of students not being at how to manage those buildings and make was going to be very hot and/or humid.”
the University of Dayton during spring sure that they were not getting too warm,
2020 because of the pandemic was many or too cold or too humid,” Worsham said. Rees and Worsham adjusted the air
buildings not seeing much use, which “We both probably learned more this handler schedules because of little use
resulted in lower energy use. summer than I have in the last three during the summer. Instead of operating
years of working with it. from morning to late afternoon, the
Jack Rees, a Facilities Management schedules were staggered to run for two
graduate assistant who also was an active “Jack set up views in the platform that we hours in the early morning to reduce
Hanley Sustainability Institute GA and could use to quickly assess the conditions humidity and cycle the air.
was still affiliated with HSI in 2020, of different buildings based on the
worked during that time to perform sensors that we had in place. And he also “The schedules were also staggered in all
temperature setbacks on all academic did some programming for new things of the buildings to help reduce electrical
buildings across campus. that we had come up with to manage load,” Rees said. “Air handlers were also
temperatures.” turned on manually if certain buildings
“I started by making trend studies of were consistently too warm and/or too
various temperature readouts for each air Rees said that once the trend studies humid. Matthew and I, as well as the rest
EVOLVING THE INSTITUTION
handler in all of the academic buildings,” were done, he and Worsham created of the energy team, are now trying to
said Rees, who worked with Matthew spreadsheets of every building on campus calculate the overall energy savings from
Worsham, UD’s energy efficiency and with every air handler associated with the temperature setbacks we put into
renewable energy manager. “These trend each building. place this summer.”
studies would allow Matthew and me to
Former HSI graduate view current and previous temperature “Matthew and I would then go through Facilities Management staff later
assistant Jack Rees data (going back 48 hours) in specific all of the trend studies and fill out the reported that they saved about $1 million
(left) and Matthew areas of buildings so that we could spreadsheet with high and low per year in energy savings across campus.
Worsham, UD’s energy monitor the temperature and humidity temperature and humidity readouts, as
well as make notes of any readouts that The HSI student leader energy teams
efficiency and readouts.”
were abnormally high,” Rees said. along with HSI grad students have helped
renewable energy Worsham said UD had never done track and save energy in programs all
manager, worked to temperature setbacks for more than a “We started the summer doing this every around campus. Full story on Facilities
make buildings more long weekend. “For weeks at a time, we day but then transitioned to doing it Management’s savings from retro-
efficient in 2020. had to come up with new strategies for every other day, or when a particular day commissioning and other projects.
25HSI student leaders program project highlights, part 1
Education Team Energy Team
The HSI education team is led by three sustainability The campus energy team is led by three sustainability
leaders who work with a group of about 20 student leaders and a GA supported through Facilities
volunteers to offer a series of sustainability education Management (FM). This team works in collaboration
events and programming for their fellow students and with FM and other campus partners on projects to
the broader campus and community. Their work reduce campus energy use and educate students about
includes: energy conservation and energy justice. Their work
includes:
• Sustainability Activation Program (SAP) - A series of
events focused on conservation, sustainable food and • Energy GPA – This collaboration with Facilities
consumer choices and social justice issues offered as Management, HRL and mechanical engineering is
Student leaders part of the Housing and Residence Life (HRL) led by HSI students who work with faculty and staff
AVIATE program to offer PATH points. Events to reduce carbon emissions from university
The sustainability leaders program is an include the Flyers Go Green lesson and small-group residential energy use.
EVOLVING THE INSTITUTION
experiential learning and professional conscious living and energy chats. SAP was
recognized by AASHE as a finalist in 2018 for their • Students in the UD student neighborhood receive
development program open to all UD monthly updates on their household energy use
Student Sustainability Leadership Award.
undergraduate students. The UD through the Energy GPA dashboard, where they can
campus and community benefit with • Dakota Center afterschool program - The team is not only see their energy use, but also how well they
expanded capacity in the work of making working with the Dakota Center, located in Dayton’s did as compared to average households (with a
our campus and community more McFarlane neighborhood, to develop and offer an grade) and the rest of the neighborhood. This
sustainable. Our sustainability leaders afterschool program focused on sustainability topics. program paves the way to present actionable ways
benefit with greater opportunity to students can decrease the amount of energy they use
• Student Sustainability Leadership Council - so in return they are better prepared to save energy
develop professional skills in the very Members of the education team co-leads, with SGA, a at UD now and in the future when they pay for their
diverse field of sustainability and group of student leaders from across campus who energy use in their own homes. Energy GPA was
valuable mentorship in exploring their coordinate and collaborate on sustainability and recognized in 2018 in the AASHE Campus Index.
vocation while at UD. social justice projects and discussions. (continues on next page)
26HSI student leaders program project highlights, part 2
• Office Ecology - In late 2019, HSI graduate assistants Tess Isemann recommendations. Topics covered included building energy
and Lauren Wolford worked with the Center for Leadership on a groupings, lighting, plug-loads, mechanical equipment, variable
pilot project to increase awareness of everyday habits in UD work frequency drives, water and HVAC systems.
spaces. They examined procurement, catering and food habits
including the use of paper plates or one-time plastic bags/utensils, Food & Growing Team
office plants, transportation to work and using power strips that get
turned off at the end of the work day. During the spring of 2020 The food and growing team is led by two sustainability leaders and a
(both in-person and remotely) the office ecology team also worked joint environmental biology-HSI graduate student. The team works
with student leaders from all of the project teams on a collaborative very closely with staff in Facilities Management (FM) to develop,
audit of the UD president’s house and presented their results and maintain and educate around projects related to all things that grow.
shared ideas with Dr. Spina and his wife, Karen. The energy team is Their work includes:
looking forward to picking up their work on office ecology once
faculty, staff and students return to campus full-time. • Members of the team worked with FM to plan, implement and
maintain the Curran Place solar prairie. This area of native prairie
• Building energy audits and energy efficiency projects - The campus plants is located under and around a 1.3 MW solar array in front of
EVOLVING THE INSTITUTION
energy team regularly works with Facilities Management staff to Curran Place. Planted in 2018, the project now includes day-to-day
support work to reduce energy in our campus facilities. Most maintenance support from team members, education events and
recently the team has worked on academic building lighting audits, programming and engagement with volunteers.
deployment of smart thermostats in junior and senior residential
houses and buildings, and development of systems monitoring and • In addition to the Curran Place solar prairie, the team also works
information methods. with facilities management to support the planning and
implementation of several more native planting areas on campus
• Empowered Energy Consumers PATH point events - Members of including the Merkle grounds facility, ArtStreet bioswale and radio
our campus energy team created three new peer education events tower hill by Stuart Hall. The team regularly works with volunteers
focused on energy justice, renewable energy and residential energy from the environmental biology program.
use. Each module was completed by more than 500 students.
• Tree map of main campus - The food and growing team worked with
HSI student leaders • Building Energy Education Program (BEEP) mini-course - The landscaping and grounds staff during the past few years to map trees
eight-week course covered how energy is used in buildings, how to over our entire campus. So far the team has completed the main
established a garden
monitor energy use, and how to propose various energy savings (continues on next page)
at Old River Park.
27HSI student leaders program project highlights, part 3
campus and mapped more than 1,600 trees and 75 Their work includes:
types. Our goal is to catalog the size and tree type and
By the Numbers
provide a mobile tool for staff to use to note tree • Student neighborhood composting program - The
350
condition and location of memorial trees. zero waste team leads this compost collection
program for residences in a section of the UD
• Pilot vegetable garden at Old River Park - The student neighborhood. This program has been
team is working with facilities management and offered since the fall of 2018 and now has grown to
dining services on a vegetable garden to explore serve up to 80 student residences. Students collect
growing at Old River Park for use by dining organic waste in five- gallon buckets, which are POUNDS OF
services and our on-campus catering chefs as well then picked up and exchanged by our team once a ORGANIC WASTE PER
as to support student learning and engagement. week, with about 350 pounds of waste collected
each week. The team then works with facilities WEEK COLLECTED
• Kennedy Union patio green roof - HSI worked management to compost this waste on-campus FROM THE UD
with facilities management, faculty in the for eventual use in our vegetable garden.
departments of biology and geology, and the KU NEIGHBORHOOD
staff in the fall of 2017 to install UD’s first green • Office and Flyer Enterprises compost program -
EVOLVING THE INSTITUTION
roof. The food and growing team continues to The zero waste team also supports composting
support maintenance of the roof and the (bucket exchange) for offices and coffee locations
temperature sensor network that is installed on-campus. This program started at the same time
under the roof. as our neighborhood composting program and
was serving 15-20 locations on-campus. The team
Zero Waste Team looks forward to re-starting this program, which
had to stop during remote work this past year.
HSI student leaders lead
composting on campus.
The campus zero waste team is led by three
sustainability leaders and an HSI GA. The team
supports the campus community in working towards
a zero waste campus through reduction of our waste,
increase in our recycling, and increase in composting
• Zero waste education and events - In 2018-19 the
team began supporting large campus events with
the goal of zero waste. These include partnerships
with dining services, senior week, family weekend,
80
STUDENT HOMES
The team has run a organic waste. The team also is working towards the MBA program, campus recreation, and
neighborhood composting reunion weekend. The team’s efforts led to a IN THE COMPOSTING
increased student involvement in their efforts, with
program since 2018. increased volunteer and student orgs engagement. typical diversion rate of 90-95 percent. PROGRAM
28HSI graduate assistants kick off office ecology project
Hanley Sustainability Institute graduate April Mescher, strategic partnerships Mescher said she hopes other UD offices
students Tess Isemann and Lauren and marketing director at the Center for take advantage of the program.
Wolford worked with the Center for Leadership, jumped at the opportunity
Leadership on a pilot project to increase for the Center for Leadership to be the “I think we should be leveraging these
awareness of everyday habits in case study after a “Lunch and Learn” put types of opportunities to make us
University of Dayton work spaces that on by HSI. stronger and more sustainable,” she said.
they hope will lead to sustainability “It’s painless. They are bright people that
improvements. Hosting more than 100 senior executives, will help us all be better. It’s really a zero
emerging leaders, front-line supervisors effort to host the audit on the office that’s
The duo examined procurement, and professionals from corporate, non- being assessed. You need to allow them
catering and work food habits including profit, education and government (to work) and be open to their feedback.”
the use of paper plates or one-time organizations weekly in their space,
plastic bags/utensils, office plants, made it the perfect spot to pilot the “We were actually able to celebrate a lot
transportation to work and using power program, according to Isemann and of really good best practices that they are
strips that get turned off at the end of the Wolford. already accomplishing.” Wolford said,
“The pilot of this program went very
EVOLVING THE INSTITUTION
workday, among other items. They then
compiled and presented their findings. There were plenty of opportunities in a well, and we're looking forward to adding
controlled space to observe and monitor on a few more offices.”
“We’re not looking to change up everything from how the space is
everything that you’re doing,” Isemann performing, team operations and This office ecology project piggy-backs
said. “We’re looking to make your preparations, printed items and catering, the HSI's Green Office Initiative that
(office’s) current way of life better for the and food waste. offered certifications to recognize best
planet and people. practices in work spaces. The Green
“By nature, I am always looking to ensure Office Initiative was part of the
The office ecology “Our team is able to identify where the we are leaving the planet a better place, Sustainability Tracking, Assessment &
project included using operations of the office are now, and anyway,” Mescher said, who added that Rating System (STARS) effort, which
infrared photography develop strategies to help the office meet Isemann told her, “You know your team ultimately resulted in UD earning a gold
to track heat sources in goals, which ultimately help the is already doing a lot of the right things, rating from the Association for the
offices around the UD University meet our climate but I think that we could offer some Advancement in Sustainability in Higher
commitments.” suggestions and alternatives.” Education (AASHE).
campus.
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