President's Commission

The EMU Sustainability Commission consists of approximately 18 members and meets as a full commission every Fall and Winter semester. The commission chair is appointed by the university president with recommendation from the commission. Most of the work of the commission will be completed in subcommittees originally divided by STARS categories with consistent designees from relevant offices. If you are interested in joining the commission or helping out EMU with their sustainability efforts please go to our Getting Involved page.

The recommendations for the composition of the Sustainability Commission by STARS category from the Sustainability Commission Planning Committee are below:

  • Academics: four commissioners from any staff position from the provost office, undergraduate studies, graduate studies and research development, institutional research and information management, faculty, department heads, librarians.
  • Engagement: three commissioners from undergraduates and graduates and all staff from student government, faculty development center, VISION volunteer center, engage @ EMU, campus life, residential life, communications, marketing, human resources
  • Operations: six commissioners from professional staff from physical plant, dining, business and finance, purchasing, health and safety, student center, residential life
  • Planning and Administration: three commissioners from professional staff from enrollment management, faculty senate, diversity and community involvement, business and finance, human resources, financial aid, advancement, risk management, foundation

In addition, an open call from the student body for two students with maximum of one student per STARS category.

2023–2024 President's Sustainability Commission

The commissioners for the 2023–2024 academic year are as follows: 

  • Tom Kovacs: Chair of the Commission, Academic (Geography and Geology Faculty)
  • Mary Jane Fallot: Engagement (Alumni)
  • Chris Grant: Operations (Facilities)
  • Kate Greenwald: Academic (Biology Faculty)
  • Alistair Halton: Planning and Administration (Children's Institute)
  • Kasim Korkmaz: Academic (School of Visual and Built Environments)
  • Sean McCormick (Student Representative)
  • Emily McKinnie:  Operations (Residence Life)
  • Kirsten Olson:  Operations (Alumni)
  • Dieter Otto: Operations (Facilities)
  • Sara Reder:  Engagement (Student Representative)
  • Ronald Rich: Academic (Sociology, Criminology and Anthropology Faculty)
  • Beth Smith: Operations (EMU Dining)
  • Mike Valdes: Operations (Business and Finance)
  • Aurelia Wade: Operations (Student Representative)
  • Anke Wolbert: Academic (Communication, Media and Theatre Arts Faculty)
  • Luke Yates: Engagement (Engage @ EMU)

Meeting Minutes 

Commission Bylaws

Skip Section Navigation