SUNY Sustainability Conference Full Agenda

Welcome Address
Carter Strickland
Chief Sustainability Officer, SUNY System Administration

Robert S. Prezant, Ph.D.
President, Farmingdale State College

12:00PM-12:50PM

Session A

Demonstration of the Results from the Climate Hazard Analysis of the SUNY Buildings
Sadie Ross, Director of Sustainability and Climate Action, SUNY System Administration
The SUNY Office of Sustainability worked with a consultant to assess the exposure of each SUNY building to the hazards of extreme wind, heat, cold, fire, precipitation, and sea level rise. Exposure was analysed in the base year 2020 and then predicted for years 2050 and 2080, based on CMIP6, SSP5-8.5. The results of the analysis are organized into an easy to navigate GIS map and available to all SUNY employees. This presentation will provide a walk-through of the GIS map for a demonstration of the information that is provided and suggestions on how the information can be used, with various campus audiences in mind.

Green Energy Loan Fund Program Overview
Rebecca Erwin, Energy Manager, SUNY System Administration
This presentation will provide an overview of the Green Energy Loan Fund, a five-year program financing shovel-ready energy efficiency projects that save money and reduce carbon emissions for SUNY's State-operated campuses. Projects awarded for the first funding cycle will be highlighted.

12:00PM-12:50PM

Session B

How to Communicate Energy Issues so People Will Listen
Peter Hoffman, Director of Sustainability, Energy, and Environmental Programs, DASNY
There are myriad of false beliefs we all carry about energy and demand use. Misinformation and oversimplified narratives continue to shape decisions across policy, operations, and program design - often undermining otherwise well-intentioned efforts. This session challenges some of the most common false beliefs in the energy and demand management space and explores why technically sound solutions so often fail to gain traction in the real world. We’ll explore how people actually think, decide, and assign value. Participants will examine how to communicate energy concepts in ways that resonate with human priorities and how to avoid unwinnable debates.

STARTING your Clean Energy Master Plan
Matthew Brubaker, Chief Sustainability Officer and Energy Manager, SUNY Cortland
At this point we all have a Clean Energy Master Plan!  Yeah!  Addressing where to start and actually starting are the key next steps to meeting campus and SUNY goals, so let’s get started!  Join and learn about SUNY Cortland’s journey to starting.  

Lunch & Commitment to Action: Reducing Single-use Plastic Through the Plastic Reduction Partner Program
Mary Ellen Mallia, Director of Sustainability, University at Albany &
Meghan Popcun, Assistant Director of Sustainability & Communications, University at Albany
In February of 2025, the University at Albany became the first SUNY institution to receive a certification from the National Wildlife Federation Plastic Reduction Partner Program. The conference presentation will explore how other SUNY campuses can use the program to advance and communicate their efforts to reduce single-use plastics. We will review the certification process, UAlbany’s path to bronze certification, communication strategies, building a culture around reducing single-use plastic, and more.

2:00PM-2:50PM

Session A

Teaching Sustainability through Art, Teaching Art through Sustainability
Dan DeZarn, Applied Learning Specialist, SUNY Geneseo
This presentation is a case study of an experimental class that I taught this year that fulfils general education requirements for both fine arts and sustainability studies. We will discuss the value of hands-on learning and creative ideation to engage undergraduate students in understanding key sustainability concepts and developing creative problem-solving skills that serve both visual communication as well as visualizing solutions to sustainability challenges

Say What? (And When and Where and How): Sustainability Communication Strategies
Juliana Smith, State University of New York (SUNY)
Participants will learn various approaches for developing communication strategies to use regarding sustainability on their campus. We'll go through an example strategies--including messages, audience, and medium—and then everyone will have a chance to develop their own strategy that they could use on their campus to more effectively speak to students, administration, staff, or faculty.

2:00PM-2:50PM

Session B

Earthrise: A Commons for Interdisciplinary Learning & Action
Sarah Wyman, Associate Professor, Co-Coordinator Sustainability Faculty Learning Community, SUNY New Paltz
An introduction to Earthrise Learning Commons, an interactive website designed to share curricular resources for teaching the environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainability action and engagement.  Using the concept of personal ecology, we emphasize the way human beings shape and are shaped by the environments they inhabit. With contributions from educators across the disciplines and around the world, we present new stories to live by (Stibbe) that can shift the narrative so we might work towards greater human, more-than-human, and planetary thriving: earthrisecommons.org. 

Communicating Scope 3 Emissions using Study Abroad Air Travel and Web GIS
Megan Swing, Energy & Sustainability Engagement Coordinator, SUNY Cortland
As universities increasingly highlight sustainability performance through programs such as the AASHE STARS framework, measuring campus carbon emissions has become a key component of sustainability reporting. This presentation examines a Spring 2025 collaboration at SUNY Cortland among campus sustainability professionals and advanced GIS students to develop a protocol for calculating Scope 3 emissions associated with study abroad and international travel. Students analysed a full year of travel-related emissions across countries, continents, airports, and academic terms using ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, ArcScenes, and StoryMaps. The project provided valuable emissions data for campus reporting and identified opportunities to balance study abroad destinations with carbon reduction goals.

3:00PM-4:00PM

Vendor Networking Session and Student Poster Presentations

4:00PM-5:00PM

Break

5:00PM-6:30PM

Keynote & Dinner Buffet
Dinner will be served at 5pm sharp. The keynote address will begin at 5:30pm.

David Wallace-Wells is the author of The Uninhabitable Earth, an instant New York Times bestseller. It was named one of The New Yorker’s Favorite Books of 2019 and one of TIME's 100 Must-Read Books of that year. Wallace-Wells is a columnist and staff writer at the New York Times, and was previously the deputy editor at New York Magazine.

Gleeson Plaza

7:00PM-8:00PM

Happy hour sponsored by RAMBOLL

Gleeson Plaza
(Rain location: Campus Center Ballroom)

Campus Center Ballroom

10:00AM-10:50AM

Session A

Growing Pains: Inter-Generational Sustainability Workplace Conversations
Erin Kluge, Sustainability Coordinator, Stony Brook University &
Megan Swing, Energy & Sustainability Engagement Coordinator, SUNY Cortland

There are a breadth of different ages and experience levels within higher education sustainability that impact how we see the world, talk about climate change, create solutions, and manage our students. Young professionals can struggle to find a voice when advocating for sustainability projects, while more seasoned professionals are tasked with managing change-adverse departments. Join us for an open discussion about best approaches to our work through an inter-generational lens in order to help build institutional knowledge.

School of Business, Room 120

10:00AM-10:50AM

Session B

Integrating Energy, Hydraulic, Borefield & GIS Models to Enable a Phased Decarbonization Plan at UAlbany
Rob Neimeier, Client & Market Officer, Ramboll &
Mary Ellen Mallia, Director of Sustainability, University at Albany
The presentation will discuss the technical tools that UAlbany is leveraging to create a dynamic and implementable thermal energy network master plan. Tools include energy models to understand building level loads and opportunities, hydraulic models to determine ideal locations for energy hub and extent of piping modifications, borefield modelling to analyse both heat exchange and energy storage capacity at varying timescale, and GIS tools for data collection, phasing, funding plan, and status documentation for a multi-year migration to low temperature district system.

Turning Heat into Hope: How We Can Leverage Obstacles into Opportunities to Decarbonize
Ryan McPherson, Chief Sustainability Officer, University at Buffalo
As universities conform the challenge of decarbonizing legacy energy systems, the University at Buffalo is turning a potential obstacle into a transformative opportunity by integrating a 15MW AI data center into its clean energy strategy. Rather than increasing emissions, the project captures waste heat to reduce reliance on geothermal systems by up to 70%, accelerating the campus’s transition to low-carbon energy. Guided by a comprehensive Clean Energy Master Plan, this system – now in design and moving to construction – will deliver sustainable heating to five new megastructures and more than 100 existing buildings over the next 20 years.

Knapp Hall, University Club

11:00AM-11:50AM

Session A

Storytelling for Sustainability

• Jacqueline Emery, Chair & Associate Professor, SUNY Old Westbury
• Jesse Curran, Lecturer, SUNY Old Westbury
• David Lei, Wildlife Photography & Author
• Lori Yamond, Student, SUNY Old Westbury

This panel will explore different forms of storytelling (for example, photography, narrative, poetry, creative nonfiction) and their vital role in facilitating environmental connections and communication. Learning outcomes of this panel include deepening an appreciation for how literature and art help us better understand our connection to nature, wildlife, and the environment. In addition, these presentations aim to help individuals reflect on their relationship to nature, wildlife, and the environment and what we can do to protect the natural world and coexist with it.

School of Business, Room 120

11:00AM-11:50AM

Session B

Mapping the Path to the STARS: Targeted Assessment Strategies for Institutional Point Gain and Advancement
Martin Larocca, Deputy Chief Sustainability Officer, Binghamton University
This session will explore Binghamton University’s process for completing a successful STARS 3.0 submission, including stakeholder engagement, credit assessment, data collection, and strategic analysis of submissions to maximize institutional performance. Attendees will leave with a practical framework for evaluating effort, coordinating campus partners, and identifying opportunities for advancement in sustainability reporting and benchmarking.

Knapp Hall, University Club

11:00AM-11:50AM

Session C

Gleeson Plaza

Campus Center Amphitheatre

1:00PM-1:50PM

Session A

Give a (Food) Scrap: Diversity of University Diversion Programs
Panel Presentation

• Rachel Kornhauser, Associate Director of Sustainability, SUNY Oneonta
• Celia Darling, Sustainability Coordinator, Skidmore College
• Dan DeZarn, Applied Learning Specialist, SUNY Geneseo

This presentation will highlight food waste diversion case studies across the state. Attendees will come away with examples of pre- and post-consumer food waste diversion techniques from different campuses and ideas on how to communicate, educate, and engage their campus in food scraps diversion. SUNY Oneonta will share about their Grind2Energy food waste management system and communicating this system to their campus partners. Skidmore College will discuss their on and off campus compost programs and engaging their community with them through sporting events, compost parties, and short form videos. SUNY Geneseo will share their innovate techniques in tackling this challenge as well.

School of Business, Room 120

1:00PM-1:50PM

Session B

Optimizing Campus Energy Use Through Data-Driven Occupancy Scheduling
Christian Guzman & Tom Lanzilotta, Stony Brook University
This presentation explores how Stony Brook University leverages data analytics to align building operations with actual occupancy, reducing energy waste while maintaining occupant comfort. By integrating data from submetering systems, WiFi device activity, and academic class schedules, the SBU energy management team gain a detailed, real-time understanding of how spaces are truly used across campus. The session will highlight how these data streams are analyzed and translated into actionable insights to optimize Building Management System (BMS) occupancy schedules. Attendees will learn how dynamic scheduling replaces static assumptions, enabling more precise control of HVAC schedules in response to real demand.

Knapp Hall, University Club

1:00PM-1:50PM

Session C

Bike ride through campus with FSC’s new “Ram Rides” bicycles

Gleeson Plaza

2:00PM-2:50PM

Session A

Roundtable Discussion on AI & Sustainability
Lisa Mitten, Chief Sustainability Officer, SUNY New Paltz
Join colleagues across higher education in exploring the connections between AI and sustainability in a roundtable, discussion format.  How is AI showing up in your campus?  How are social, environmental, and economic considerations showing up in this moment?  How are you connecting with and responding to AI as a professional, as an educator, as a representative for sustainability at your institution of higher learning?  Show up as human beings and as sustainability advocates in higher education to meet this moment of transformation in society and in higher education.

School of Business, Room 120

2:00PM-2:50PM

Session B

From Campus to Community: Advancing Circularity Through Student Engagement
Melissa Young, Director, Institute for Sustainability Engagement &
Kathryn Walker, Executive Director, Center for Sustainable Materials Management
SUNY campuses are filled with students eager to make a meaningful impact on sustainability, yet many opportunities remain confined to the classroom or campus. This interactive session, led by the Center for Sustainable Materials Management (CSMM) and the Institute for Sustainability Engagement (ISE), explores how to connect students with real community-identified sustainability needs through applied projects in recycling, composting, reuse, and circular systems. Presenters will highlight successful models, including ISE’s SMM Stewardship Program and CSMM’s Recycle Right NY initiative, which engage students in hands-on community outreach and technical assistance. Participants will reflect on opportunities at their own institutions and learn practical, replicable strategies for integrating students into place-based sustainability work. The session will conclude with a regional case study from the Long Island Organics Initiative and provide attendees with resources from ISE and CSMM to support waste reduction, reuse, and recycling education.

Scaling Campus Composting: From Waste Audits to On-Site Solutions
Marjorie Spitz, Co-Founder, Table2Ground/Long Island Organics Council &
Akshay Illiparambil, Student, Stony Brook University
This session explores how universities can move from waste audits to operational composting programs. Featuring insights from a student-led “Weigh the Waste” initiative, we’ll demonstrate how a pilot program can build momentum and scale into broader campus adoption. Participants will gain a practical understanding of implementation considerations and explore scalable solutions, including on-site, in-vessel composting. The session will also share strategies for aligning stakeholders to turn pilot efforts into lasting, campus-wide systems.

Knapp Hall, University Club

3:00PM-5:00PM

OFF CAMPUS TOUR OF CHOICE

Experience the beauty of Long Island and join us for one of three tour options.

• Sunken Meadow State Park
• Jones Beach State Park
• Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park (now full)

Meet in front of Campus Center

5:00PM-6:00PM

Dinner on your own

6:00PM-8:00PM

S‘mores & Networking

Campus Center Amphitheatre

Breakfast & Networking Tables: Working in Sustainability with the YPs
Juliana Smith, Sustainability Coordinator, State University of New York (SUNY) & Isabella Gerace, Sustainability Coordinator, Purchase College

10:00AM-10:50AM

Session A

Design For the Future of Fashion – Sustainably
Panel Presentation

• Karen Pearson, Professor and Chair FIT Sustainability Council, Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)
• Leydi Zapata, Assistant Deputy to the President, Fashion Institute of Technology
• Whitney Crutchfield, Assistant Professor, Fashion Institute of Technology
• Sarah Guadagnino, Student, Fashion Institute of Technology
• Anja Harrell, Student, Fashion Institute of Technology

The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) is committed to workforce development and leadership in sustainability across the fashion and creative industries. Key examples are visible within our curriculum, research and creative work spearheaded by our faculty, staff and facilities team.  The discussion will focus on how building multi-disciplinary partnerships and collaborations work to expand student and community engagement and workforce readiness for graduates through curriculum, initiatives and programming.

10:00AM-10:50AM

Session B

Academics and Action: Integrating Sustainability at Purchase College
Panel Presentation

• Ragnild Utheim, PhD, School of Liberal Studies Director
• Melissa Forstrom, PhD, Associate Professor of Global Studies (Chair) and Arts Management
• Isabella Gerace, Purchase College Sustainability Coordinator

This presentation examines how Purchase College advances sustainability through institutional initiatives, academic curricula, and extracurricular programming. Triangulating theory, practice, and pedagogy, we explore how intercultural and interdisciplinary learning environments foster deeper understanding of global sustainability challenges. Purchase College’s multifaceted approach demonstrates how higher education can engender sustainability literacy and action through interconnected experiential learning.

Reintroducing Missing Middle Housing: A Path to Sustainability and Affordability 
Kaveh Samiei, Assistant Professor of Building Systems and Energy at the School of Constructed Environments, Parsons School of Design – The New School
Housing typology, size, and design can drive residential sustainability and affordability. As case studies suggest, American cities should explore and relegalize missing housing types that could reduce carbon emissions, energy consumption, and material costs. Reintroducing the missing middle fosters downsizing, density, and walkability while expanding choices based on family size, income, and location preference.

11:00AM-11:50AM

Session A

Recycled Waste-Modified Cement Concrete: A Case Study for Sustainable Construction
Shohana Iffat, Assistant Professor, Farmingdale State College
Concrete’s ubiquity is undermined by its high self-weight, which presents significant efficiency and sustainability challenges in the built environment. This study investigates lightweight concrete alternatives incorporating recycled waste materials. Three such concrete mixtures were evaluated, demonstrating potential for non-structural applications while reducing CO₂ emissions and embodied carbon through decreased reliance on natural aggregates and diversion of waste from landfills.

11:00AM-11:50AM

Session B

Teaching Sustainability Through Practice: Life of the Practitioner
Eugene Kwak, Associate Professor, Farmingdale State College
This presentation explores how sustainability education can move beyond theory through applied, interdisciplinary, and community-engaged learning. Drawing from the honors course Life of the Practitioner, students investigate real-world challenges related to energy, food systems, materials, globalization, and the environment while developing research, civic engagement, and implementation strategies grounded in professional practice.

Stories That Sustain: Communicating Sustainability
Orla Smyth-LoPiccolo, Professor & SUNY Sustainability Faculty Fellow, Farmingdale State College
Professor LoPiccolo will share sustainability stories from the built environment and demonstrate how storytelling can promote stakeholder buy-in. Participants are encouraged to bring their own sustainability stories to share and discuss.

Lunch