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Climate Action Commitment Renewal and Updates: Working Group

Trees around the Duck Pond.

Delivering on a November 2019 charge from President Tim Sands to renew and revise the 2013 Climate Action Commitment, the 2020 Climate Action Commitment goals are the culmination of a year-and-a-half collaborative effort led by a working group of 20 faculty, students, and community members appointed by Senior Vice President and Chief Business Officer Dwayne Pinkney.

Working Group Membership

Faculty

  • Committee Chair: John Randolph, professor emeritus of urban affairs and planning,  College of Architecture and Urban Studies
  • Vice Chair: Todd Schenk, assistant professor of urban affairs and planning; and Commission on Faculty Affairs member
  • Tim Baird, associate professor of geography, College of Natural Resources and Environment
  • Shannon Bell, associate professor of sociology, College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
  • Erin Hopkins, assistant professor of apparel, housing, and resource management, College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, and faculty representative to the Energy and Sustainability Committee
  • Chen-Ching Liu, American Electric Power professor, electrical and computer engineering, College of Engineering
  • Kray Luxbacher, Charles T. Holland Professor and associate head, Department of Mining and Minerals Engineering, College of Engineering
  • Sean McGinnis, associate professor of materials science and engineering and director of the Virginia Tech Green Engineering Program, College of Engineering
  • Annie Pearce, associate professor of building construction, College of Architecture and Urban Studies
  • Peter Sforza, director of the Center for Geospatial Information Technology, College of Natural Resources and Environment

Students

  • Brooke Baugher, graduate student and former graduate assistant in the Virginia Tech Office of Sustainability
  • Jayme Bibbins, undergraduate student, Student Government Associate at-large
  • Brandon Burkey, graduate student and graduate representative to the Energy and Sustainability Committee
  • Owen Callahan, undergraduate student, Student Government Associate at-large
  • Brogan Dineen, undergraduate student and student representative to the Energy and Sustainability Committee
  • Gustavo Ventura Gargioni, graduate student and graduate student representative to the Energy and Sustainability Committee
  • Drew Harris, undergraduate student and student worker in the Virginia Tech Energy Manager’s Office
  • Natalie Koppier, undergraduate student and student representative to the Energy and Sustainability Committee
  • Jack Leff, graduate student representative, Graduate Student Assembly at-large
  • Phil Miskovic, graduate student and graduate student representative to the Commission on University Support

Staff (non-voting)

  • Blake Bensman, sustainability manager, Dining Services and Housing and Residential Life
  • Rob Glenn, director of Virginia Tech Electric Services and Facilities representative to the Energy and Sustainability Committee
  • Christopher E. Kiwus, associate vice president and chief facilities officer and ex officio member of the Energy and Sustainability Committee and Commission on University Support
  • Anthony Purcell, assistant director for Dining Services

Community (non-voting)

  • Carol Davis, sustainability manager, Town of Blacksburg
  • Shayla Utzinger, Blacksburg High School liaison