ONE VCU Sustainability Plan

VCU and VCU Health

The Team

This important initiative will be led by the ONE VCU Sustainability Plan Development Committee comprised of university and health system students, faculty, staff and team members. Let’s meet the team.

Please note that this list is subject to change.

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee consist of VCU and VCU Health System leaders who will provide input during the development process to include establishing high-level priorities in alignment with VCU and VCUHS strategic plans and missions and help render decisions, as needed. Once the plan has been developed, they will provide leadership to implement the plan and advocate for the goals set in the plan. 

Team members:

  • Marlon Levy, M.D., interim senior vice president, VCU Health Sciences and interim CEO, VCU Health System 
  • P. Srirama Rao, Ph.D., vice president, VCU Research and Innovation
  • Ralph Rios, vice president of support services, VCU Health, co-chair
  • Michael Roussos, president, VCU Medical Center
  • Fotis Sotiropoulos, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, VCU Office of the Provost
  • Meredith Weiss, Ph.D., senior vice president for finance and administration and CFO, VCU, co-chair

 

Development Committee

The committee is primarily responsible for the development of the plan and will include student, staff, faculty and team member representation from across the university and health system. 

The committee will help explore topics that need detailed study, receive suggestions from the Advisory Committee, seek to balance the many competing needs and limited resources of VCU and VCUHS, and make sound recommendations to the Executive Sponsors. Through their professional roles, the committee members will also lead the implementation of the final plan.

Team members

  • Andrew Barnes, Ph.D., professor for health behavior and policy, VCU School of Medicine, Faculty Senate representative
  • Stephen Barr, director of business services, VCU Business Services
  • Sara Barton, senior manager of sustainability programs and policy, VCU Sustainability, environmental equity, partnerships and engagement working group co-chair
  • David Berdish, instructor, term faculty, supply chain management and analytics, VCU School of Business, advisory co-chair and environmental issues working group co-chair
  • Jay Bonfili, M.P.A., senior associate vice president for health sciences, finance and administration, VCU
  • Tom Briggs, assistant vice president, VCU Safety and Risk Management
  • Carlos Brown, executive director of support services, VCU Health, environmental issues working group co-chair
  • Nathan Cunningham, MPH, director of patient experience, VCU Health, environmental equity, partnerships and engagement working group co-chair
  • Michael S. Donnenberg, M.D., professor of internal medicine, microbiology and immunology, biochemistry and molecular biology; senior associate dean for research and training; director, medical scientist training program; VCU School of Internal Medicine; teaching, research and innovation working group co-chair
  • Jeff Eastman, university planner, VCU Planning and Design
  • Lisa Ellis, MS, MD, MCAP, associate professor, VCU School of Medicine Internal Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, health and well-being working group co-chair
  • Jesse Goldstein, Ph.D., associate professor of sociology, VCU College of Humanities and Sciences, Faculty Senate representative
  • Puru Jena, Ph.D., distinguished professor of theoretical condensed matter and theoretical nanoscience, VCU Department of Physics, teaching, research and innovation working group co-chair
  • Ann Kildahl, Ph.D., director, VCU Sustainability, co-chair
  • John McHugh, director, VCU Procurement Services
  • Michael McNeely, vice president of finance, VCU Health
  • Steve Montgomery, operations manager, Plant Operations, VCU Health
  • William Nelson, executive director of academic finance and administration, VCU Office of the Provost
  • Brett Neville, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, associate vice president, associate chief nursing officer, VCU Health
  • Josh Plauny, senior director, supply chain, VCU Health
  • Robert (Bobby) Scott, Medical Students for a Sustainable Future, VCU School of Medicine student
  • Larry Shirts, director, support services, plant operations & maintenance, VCU Health, biodiversity and campus ecology working group co-chair
  • Amanda Simmons, associate director for facilities & operations, VCU Recreation and Well-Being, Staff Senate appointee
  • Rich Sliwoski, associate vice president, VCU Facilities Management 
  • Josh Stone, CAPP, executive director, VCU Parking and Transportation
  • Paul Thrift, grounds superintendent, VCU Facilities Operations, biodiversity and campus ecology working group co-chair
  • Rob Tombes, Ph.D., vice provost, VCU Life Sciences and Research
  • Suzi Weaver, M.S., director for operations and wellness, VCU Employee Health Services, and health and well-being working group co-chair

Meetings

  • January 30, 2024
  • April 27, 2023
  • September 3, 2022
  • July 12, 2022
  • April 14, 2022

Advisory Committee

The Advisory Committee will consist of sustainability advocates from a wide range of backgrounds and disciplines, including faculty, staff and students. 

The committee will support the working groups and provide critical operational and academic feedback to the Development Committee. The committee members will provide advice that is consistent with the strategic plans and missions of both VCU and VCUHS and viewed as balanced, objective, fair, practical and in the best interests of the entire campus community.

Team members

  • Daniel Albrecht-Mallinger, assistant professor, VCU Center for Environmental Studies
  • Lauren Bailey, project manager, VCU Planning & Design
  • Sarah Barber, project manager, VCU Planning & Design
  • Orina Chen, ONE VCU Sustainability Plan intern
  • Andria Davis, MBA, CMRP, director, supply chain operations, VCU Health
  • Dean Hendricks, ONE VCU Sustainability Plan intern
  • Corin Hewitt, professor, Department of Sculpture + Extended Media, VCUarts
  • Jonathan Jones, Ph.D., assistant professor, VCU Center for Environmental Studies
  • Nitin Kanuri, ONE VCU Sustainability Plan intern
  • Kevin Last, program manager capital programs, VCU Health
  • Parker Long, manager of sustainability administration and operations, VCU Sustainability 
  • Trey Mount, ONE VCU Sustainability Plan intern
  • William R. Muth, Ph.D., professor emeritus, teaching and learning, VCU School of Education
  • William Neston, manager, food and nutrition services, VCU Health
  • Hank Papiernik, operating room, VCU Health
  • Roxanna Rafat, ONE VCU Sustainability Plan intern
  • Jade Shull, ONE VCU Sustainability Plan intern
  • Adam Silvis, senior director of food & nutrition, VCU Health
  • Carissa Trieu, ONE VCU Sustainability Plan intern
  • Christine Wellstood, ONE VCU Sustainability Plan intern
  • Jim Welsh, director for environmental services, VCU Health
  • Mark D. Wood, Ph.D., associate professor, VCU School of World Studies
  • Wilhelm Zuelzer, MD, Orthopedic Surgery, VCU Health

Meetings

  • January 31, 2024
  • September 31, 2023
  • April 28, 2023
  • July 29, 2022
  • April 18, 2022

Working Groups

The working groups will explore each focus area. They will be comprised of a variety of subject matter experts who will work together and collaborate with other working groups. These groups will study the current state of sustainability at the university and health system and research opportunities to incorporate into university and health system operations, administration, academics and research that can be included in the draft and final ONE VCU Sustainability Plan.

Community Advisory Committee

The committee is comprised of members from local neighborhood associations who will provide input on the development of the ONE VCU Sustainability Plan from a community perspective. They will also share information about the project with their associations and the Richmond community as a whole so they are informed of progress and can play an active role in the development of the plan. 

Team members

  • Copeland Casati, Historic West Grace Street Association
  • James Fune, Randolph Neighborhood Association
  • Stephanie Harrington, Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association
  • Rachel Loughlin, Newtown West
  • Jerome Legions, Carver Area Civic Improvement League
  • Tom Lisk, Prestwould Resident Council/Association
  • Rob Long, Greater Scott's Addition Association
  • Chris Morem, Fan District Association
  • Felicia Shelton, Historic Jackson Ward Association
  • Tom Stallings, West Avenue Improvement Association

Meetings 

  • October 12, 2023
  • July 27, 2023

Project Team

The project team will oversee the development of the plan and keep the various stakeholders informed of progress.

Team members:

  • Sara Barton, senior manager of sustainability programs and policy, VCU Sustainability
  • David Berdish, instructor, term faculty, supply chain management and analytics, VCU School of Business, advisory co-chair and environmental issues working group co-chair
  • Jessica Bryant, senior director, strategic initiatives, VCU Administration
  • Molly Case, communications manager, VCU Administration
  • Carolyn Conlon, assistant vice president for finance and administration, VCU
  • Jeff Eastman, university planner, VCU Planning & Design
  • Jane Hagen, sustainability data coordinator, VCU Sustainability
  • Elsa Hoppe, VCU Sustainability intern
  • Ann Kildahl, Ph.D., director, VCU Sustainability 
  • Steve Montgomery, operations manager, Plant Operations, VCU Health
  • Lisa Morris, project coordinator, VCU Health Enterprise Portfolio Management Office
  • Isabella Schmidt, VCU Sustainability intern
  • Liv Weatherford, VCU Sustainability intern
  • Megan Wood, project manager, VCU Administration