Announcing the Rutgers-Camden Sustainability Cabinet (Feb. 4, 2010)

To the Campus Community:

As The State University of New Jersey, Rutgers has a deep commitment to environmental stewardship. During the past decade, we have worked to better understand the environmental challenges that we face and to promote a greater commitment throughout the University to sustainable development in our community and beyond. Indeed, President Richard L. McCormick has included key elements of sustainability in his most recent annual addresses and has established such initiatives as the University Sustainability Committee.

In order to create a more sustainable world, we at Rutgers–Camden must find ways to become good stewards of our campus, our communities, and our planet.  We should incorporate sustainability into our core missions and support the efforts of our faculty and staff to create innovative programs to meet this goal.  These efforts may include a number of different, though related, components: basic research and other academic programs; business practices (such as our “green” purchasing initiatives); civic engagement; community partnerships; and creative and artistic activities.

In an effort to make Rutgers–Camden a distinctive "green" campus in New Jersey and to become a leader in environmental education, waste prevention and recycling, and other sustainable practices, I have established a Rutgers–Camden Sustainability Cabinet comprised of students, faculty, and staff.  This cabinet will advise me on best practices and policies to green our campus and initiatives to empower our students, faculty, and staff toward these ends.  The cabinet will work proactively with all who wish to participate.

The members of the committee are:

Stella Bonaparte                               alumna, CFAS

Alvin Cooley                                       senior buyer, University Procurement

Co-Chair Bernie DelGuidice         director, facilities maintenance services

Cathy Donovan                                 assistant director, communications

Dr. Sean Duffy                                   assistant professor, CFAS-psychology

Robert Emmons                               associate director, Honors College

David Katz                                           student, CFAS

Dr. Sidney Katz                                  professor emeritus, CFAS-chemistry

Co-Chair Nathan Levinson           associate dean for administration, SBC

Joan McCracken                               MBA senior program coordinator, SBC

Dr. Richard Michelfelder               assistant professor, SBC-finance

Sherry Pisacano                                secretary, CFAS-sociology

Marcos Rivera                                   housing coordinator

Prof. Jerry Vildostegui                   associate professor, CLaw

Members at large:          

Dr. Kevin Lyons                 executive director, University Procurement

Mike Kornitas                    energy conservation manager, New Brunswick Campus

This effort is an extension of all we do at Rutgers–Camden: learn from others, share knowledge, and work toward a brighter future.   Please join me in offering our support to the members of this initiative as they engage in this important work.

Wendell Pritchett

Chancellor