Two members of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications faculty and staff were recently selected to serve on the newly formed Chancellor’s Environment, Sustainability and Resilience Commission.
Assistant Professor of Advertising and Public Relations Adam Wagler was elected chair of the Community Engagement action team. In the role, Wagler will lead the action team in cultivating partnerships with the community to amplify the University’s local and global impact. Additionally, the team will focus on promoting environmental resilience and sustainable development initiatives in both urban and rural communities.
“It is important that the University plays a leadership role in these areas and I am excited that the CoJMC is well represented on the commission,” Wagler said.
Carly Morse, graduate student services coordinator at the CoJMC, was elected co-chair of the Health and Well-being action team. The goals of this action team include: promoting the integration of sustainable and healthy foods at Nebraska, developing a plan to reduce exposure to indoor air chemicals by improving air quality and using cleaning products that are less harmful to the environment, and creating and promoting standards for environmental settings that enhance health and wellness and collaborate with other groups to increase participation and access to wellness programs at Nebraska.
“We have a responsibility as part of our land grant mission to create resilient systems that are adaptable to change and promote stewardship,” Morse said. “We want sustainable choices to become habit and the expectation... We want to make UNL a place where employees and students feel supported to make healthy choices, through providing healthy options, sustainable solutions and promoting wellness.”
The commission was formed in answer to a directive from Chancellor Ronnie Green’s Jan. 15 State of the University Address. The commission, which includes seven action teams, is charged with providing strategic recommendations about campus sustainability to university leadership.
Ultimately, the commission will develop and maintain an environment, sustainability and resilience master plan for the University. The group will outline campus goals, outcomes, timelines, responsibilities and metrics, while working to implement the approved master plans.
The commission is led by nine members including Prabhakar “Prabs” Shrestha, sustainability coordinator for the University; Dave Gosselin, director of environmental studies; and the leaders of each of the seven action teams.
Those teams and individuals recently appointed to serve as part of the commission, are:
Teaching and Learning — Adam Thompson, Amy Schmidt, Anthony Schutz, Ben Wingerter, Christine Haney Douglass, Dana Fritz, Jennifer Ruyle, Hannah Opfer, Julia Torquati, Katharine Hogan, Katherine Nashleanas and Tom Lynch.
Health and Wellness — Alison Stewart, Boyd Epley, Carly Morse, Dale Kruse, Kat Woerner, Keith Zaborowski, Luke Andersen, Sherri Tompkins and Sydney Brown.
Research and Innovation — Clay Lewis, Connor McFadden, Emma Clausen, Daniel Piatkowski, Sam Wortman, Kristi Barmore, Stacy Asher, Tom Larson and Ursula Kreitmair.
Land Resources and Ecosystems — Brenda Osthus, Charles Francis, Connor Barnes, Craig Allen, Eric North, Kendall Weyers, Simanti Banerjee, Tyler Quick and Kim Todd.
Campus Operations — Amanda Christi, Drew Haven, Erica DeFrain, Joel Webb, Jon Garbisch, Linda Pickett, Seth Krone-Keith and Sharon Kuska.
Campus Facilities — Amanda Colborn, Emily Casper, Gary Kimmianau, Hannah Cass, John Hay, Kyle Cacciatore, Sneha Bhoir, Steve Bowen and Tim Wentz.
Community Engagement — Alyssa Amen, Adam Wagler, Elizabeth Park, Joseph Holmes, Katrina Jagodinsky, Mike Shambaugh-Miller, Liana Calegare, Sarah Rakes, Morgan Battes and Troy Thompson.
An immediate goal of the commission is to increase collaboration with the city of Lincoln. Areas of interest include projects linked to food, water and energy security.
To learn more about the commission, visit https://sustainability.unl.edu/chancellors-environment-sustainability-and-resilience-commission.