About Us

In September of 2011, Ryan was named the University at Buffalo’s first Chief Sustainability Officer. In his role as the CSO, Ryan connects people across the university with information, innovation, and tools to reduce UB’s footprint on the future and enhance quality of life by improving environmental stewardship, increasing economic efficiency and augmenting cultural values and awareness. He specifically works closely with university partners and employs an integrated campus-wide strategy that leverages the university’s operations, curriculum, external engagement and research to further UB’s sustainability efforts.

Derek works to connect students, staff and faculty across the university with information, innovation and tools to reduce UB’s footprint on the future and enhance quality of life. He does this by improving environmental stewardship, increasing economic efficiency and augmenting cultural values and awareness to the UB community through campus outreach and communication. Derek will coordinate the engagement efforts of the university’s Localizing Buffalo’s Renewable Energy Future project awarded by the State through the REV Campus Challenge.

Erin has over twenty years of experience, expertise and relationships in the sustainability field to move UB’s sustainability work forward.  Erin develops solution-based approaches to help departments achieve sustainability on campus, and assists passionate students in creating and implementing initiatives which further our climate neutrality goal.  Erin coordinates the UBReUSE move-out program, our professional clothing boutique HIRED, and develops collaborative strategies to achieve Zero Waste on campus.  Erin works closely with colleagues in Facilities, and Contracts and Purchasing to institutionalize sustainability practices.

A long time inhabitant of UB - both as a former student and administrative employee - Kayla supports UB Sustainability's unit operations including events, programmatic initiatives, partnerships, and student collaborations. She works to implement sustainable operations and business functions throughout the department while managing the unit's budget, finance, and human resources transactions. Kayla also stewards the use of the GRoW Clean Energy Center, UB’s ultra-energy-efficient demonstration home originally built by students, faculty and staff for a national competition, which now functions as a meeting and event space.

1. Name, hometown, year, major and personal passion: Hi there! My name is Michael Griffin and I’m a 3rd year MA student in the Sustainability Leadership program here at UB. I hail from a small town 45 minutes Northeast of Buffalo called Medina. I have a vested interest in energy consumption and efficiency systems, and I am currently writing my MA project on the benefits of academic competitions by analyzing the GRoW Clean Energy Center. 
   
2. Why did you decide to work with UB Sustainability? UB Sustainability offers a wide range of services that appeal to my interests. I believe that my involvement would promote the diversity, equity, and inclusivity subsets of sustainability in a manner that highlights public engagement and truthfulness about the issues at hand.
   
3. What do you love most about UB? I think it’s fantastic that UB has taken the steps to fund and initiate a wide range of programs that address our carbon footprint. As of this year, UB has been designated as one of NY’s flagship universities, so I hope to see potential increases in funding for both on and off-campus projects.
   
4. When you visit UB in 25 years, what do you hope to find? When I visit in 25 years, I hope to see the preservation of UB’s many green spaces. Academic greenspace promotes education outcomes while simultaneously promoting students’ mental and general well-being. Overall, I hope to see a further emphasis on the people/plant relationship and the effects it can have on day-to-day routines around campus.
5. Fun fact/secret skill: A fun fact about me is that I’ve recently inherited a 27-acre grape farm which I’m slowly turning into an area for permaculture testing. This summer I hope to take areas of soil with preexisting grape roots and measure nutrient content so that I may use that soil elsewhere on the farm for different projects! 

1. Name, hometown, year, and personal passion: Ava Fetzner (she/her), Erie, PA; Junior; Environmental Engineering. I have a passion for waste mitigation and food waste reduction!

2. Why did you decide to work with UB Sustainability? UB Sustainability has given me the opportunity to interact with students and the larger Buffalo community. I have the opportunity to help integrate communities and make a larger impact through education and implementation.

3. What do you love most about UB? My favorite part about UB is the amount of opportunities I have to get involved in the community! I love integrating my interests for engineering, the environment, and sustainability into different clubs and activities that I participate in around campus. I have had the opportunity to meet so many students from around the world!

4. When you visit campus in 25 years, what do you hope to find? I want to see the implementation of composting around more of campus, hopefully including the residents halls. I also hope that there is a large reduction in single use plastic and that as a community works to reduce waste as a whole. 

5. Fun fact/secret skill: I love to watch sunsets and look for beach glass! 

1. Name, hometown, year, major and personal passion: I am Kiara Wisniewski (She/Her), and I'm from Alfred, NY. I am a current freshman studying Health and Human Services through the UBTeach combined degree program. My passion is to teach people and establish good habits in hopes of a better future. 
2. Why did you decide to work with UB Sustainability? I decided to work with UB Sustainability to further some of my interests while being able to teach myself and others new ways to stay sustainable. 
3. What do you love most about UB? I love both how big UB is and the opportunities offered. Despite being a freshman, I have been able to meet and work with many great people while taking advantage of some amazing opportunities. 
4. When you visit UB in 25 years, what do you hope to find? When I visit UB in 25 years I hope to see the different climate action plans UB has created and incorporated on campus. I also hope to see more sustainability initiatives in residence halls. 
5.  Fun fact/secret skill: A fun fact about me is that I have a twin brother. A secret skill I have is that I can make a delicious, competition winning chocolate cream pie!

1. Name, hometown, year, major and personal passion: Hello! My name is Valerie Juang (she/her) and I grew up in the city of Buffalo. I am in the graduating class of 2025 pursuing a Psychology BS and Politics, Philosophy, and Economics BA. My personal passion is developing a thorough, compassionate, and solutions-oriented perspective on humanity and life. Although much of life is not within your control, developing your perspective according to your values allows you to live a life that is healthier, happier, and more fulfilling. Bonus points: happiness is infectious!

2. Why did you decide to work with UB Sustainability? As a co-founder and organizer of the WNY Youth Climate Council, working at UB Sustainability seemed like a natural next step. I'm excited to be working towards equity and community engagement in a team that leads UB to consistent national rankings for sustainable development.

3. What do you love most about UB? I love that UB is a school of opportunity. From jobs, internships, and clubs to educational events with complimentary food (for some reason, the cookies are always really good), there is always fun to be had, a community to join, and a social contribution to be made.

4. When you visit UB in 25 years, what do you hope to find? When I visit UB in 25 years, I hope to see more accessible service learning opportunities based in the local community and student access to therapist-social workers for confidential mental healthcare and connections to resources. I would also like to see more greenspace designed for socializing or studying near campus buildings!

5. Fun fact/secret skill: Before moving to Buffalo, I spent six years in NYC professionally studying to become an actress. But it turns out that my interest in acting was more an interest in psychology!

1. Name, hometown, year, major and personal passion: Omar Suri (he/him), White Plains NY, First Year Graduate Student, Urban Planning. My passion is eating sustainably and cooking meals for my friends.

2. Why did you decide to work with UB Sustainability? UB Sustainability's goal of making the university carbon neutral by 2030 is admirable. I support large-scale and immediate climate action. In addition, I thought the hands-on experience I'd get at the office would make a good supplement to my graduate studies. I look forward to working with students from other majors/programs.

3.  What do you love most about UB? My favorite thing about UB is how kind and helpful all the students and faculty have been. Also being in the city of Buffalo has given me an endless list of things to do.

4. When you visit UB in 25 years, what do you hope to find? When I visit in 25 years I hope to see fewer cars, smaller parking lots, a greater variety of green commuting options, and safe walk and bike ways for longer distance commuting.

5. Fun fact/secret skill: For my Eagle Scout project I created an outdoor classroom for Rye Nature Center in Rye, NY. At their parking lot there were dead trees that were at risk of falling. After we removed the trees we used their wood to create benches. We positioned the benches near a pond so that campers and field trips could rest and learn about pond ecology.