Green speakeasy will feature Pitt’s newest deans

The Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation’s monthly Green Speakeasy on March 16 will feature Pitt’s two newest deans reflecting on the work ahead to achieve the University’s goal to become carbon neutral by 2037.

NOMINATE SUSTAINABILITY CHAMPIONS

Nominate a faculty member, staff or student who has gone above and beyond for sustainability at Pitt this year as a 2021 Pitt Sustainability Champion. Nominations are open through 5 p.m. March 8. The sustainability champions will be recognized during the Sustainability Symposium on April 23. Enter your nominations here.

Provost Ann Cudd will welcome Carissa Slotterback, who started as dean of the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs in October, and Maureen Lichtveld, new dean of the Graduate School of Public Health as of January, to discuss their work in sustainability and their hopes for Pitt’s sustainability efforts. 

Lichtveld studies environmental public health, focusing on environmentally induced disease, health disparities, environmental health policy, disaster preparedness, public health systems and community resilience. Her research examines the cumulative impact of chemical and non-chemical stressors on communities facing environmental health threats, disasters, and health disparities.  

Slotterback is widely recognized for her research and teaching on public engagement and decision making in environmental, land use and transportation planning. She has led a number of initiatives focused on interdisciplinary and engaged research and education and has held a number of leadership roles with the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning.

The School of Law’s Dean Amy Wildermuth will moderate the discussion.

“The Pitt Sustainability Plan was implemented in 2018, and while we have made great strides, it is only through these cross-campus collaborations that our goals will be achieved,” said Gena Kovalcik, co-director of the Mascaro Center.

The Green Speakeasy series was created in 2014 as a mechanism to bring together faculty, staff and student communities and to foster and advance interdisciplinary teaching, research and engagement on sustainability.

This talk at 4 p.m. March 16 is sponsored by the Mascaro Center, in partnership with Pitt Sustainability, and is part of the Swanson School’s 175th Anniversary Year of Engineering Excellence. Register here for the virtual event.