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Faculty Ad Hoc Committee for Sustainability

In October 2022, the provost appointed Dr. Melissa Bilec to serve as Special Assistant to the Provost for Sustainability. Bilec led a Faculty Ad Hoc Committee of Sustainability to determine how to most effectively advance a broad academic and research sustainability program to the benefit of our Pitt faculty, students, and community.

Committee Charge

The Faculty Ad Hoc Committee for Sustainability was charged with developing recommendations for a University-wide sustainability institute.

  • Vision, mission, and goals
  • Measurable actions to elevate sustainability research, education, and outreach
  • Faculty cluster hire in sustainability
  • Governance model including connections with Business and Operations
  • Phased budget model

Through this effort, the Ad Hoc Committee engaged a broad stakeholder group across the University. The recommendations were prepared for a presentation to Pitt’s executive leadership in Spring 2023.

Report of the Ad Hoc Committee

Read the final report and recommendations: Pitt Sustainability Institute Proposal, December 2023

Membership

Chair 

Melissa Bilec, Special Assistant to the Provost for Sustainability William Kepler Whiteford Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Co-Director, Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation

Faculty Committee

  • CB Bhattacharya, Zoffer Chair in Sustainability and Ethics, Katz Graduate School of Business
  • Allyson Delnore, Executive Director of Academic Affairs, University Center for International Studies
  • Tony Delitto, Dean, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
  • Tina Ndoh, Associate Professor, Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health
  • Betsy Farmer, Dean, School of Social Work
  • Michael Glass, Director, Urban Studies Program
  • Matt Kropf, Associate Professor, Engineering Science & Technology; Director, Energy Institute, Pitt Bradford
  • Ruth Mostern, Professor, History; Director, World History Center
  • Daniel Mosse, Professor and Associate Dean for Professional Graduate Programs, School of Computing and Information
  • Cassie Quigley, Associate Professor, School of Education
  • David Sanchez, Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Patrick Shirey, Assistant Professor, Geology and Environmental Sciences
  • Carissa Slotterback, Dean, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs
  • Göetz Veser, Professor, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
  • Jennifer Wasco, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing

Staff Liaisons

  • Gena Kovalcik, Co-Director, Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation
  • Aurora Sharrard, Executive Director, Office of Sustainability
Additional Information