Business View - October 2015 21
she helped “kick-start” the university’s Sustainability Of-
fice and drafted its Climate Action Plan, part of the car-
bon neutrality pledge that Southern made in 2007 as a
charter signatory to the American College and University
Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC).
According to Dr. Susan Cusato, a long-time Southern fac-
ulty member in Environmental, Geography, and Marine
Sciences, Southern’s path to recognition in 2014 by the
Princeton Review as one of the 332 most environmental-
ly responsible colleges in the United States and Canada
began via a bottom-up dynamic. “It was a group of stu-
dents - an undergraduate environmental club - that actu-
ally went to the President’s office and requested that she
sign the President’s Climate Commitment,” she relates.
“That was strictly a student-organized and focused event
and thanks to them, we do have that long history of being
an early signatory to the Climate Commitment.”
In a similar way, Huminski credits an enlightened admin-
istration, faculty, and staff for embracing sustainabil-
ity concepts throughout the campus and expanding the
Sustainability Office’s scope and reach. “Students have
always been involved,” she says, “but Facilities Opera-
tions and Southern’s executive leadership are also a driv-
ing force in adopting sustainability. Effective leadership is
critical to success. This was not something that students
had to rally for years and years to finally get movement
on. Our Executive Vice President at the time and our As-
AT A GLANCE
WHO:
Southern Connecticut State University Of-
fice of Sustainability
WHAT:
A recognized leader in teaching and pro-
moting a wide array of sustainability concepts and
programs
WHERE:
New Haven, Connecticut
WEBSITE
:
CLEAN & GREEN
