Ohio University’s first finalist for its director of Sustainability position said her experience in the office makes her the best candidate.
Interim Director of Sustainability Erin Sykes, who has worked in the office for four years and has served as its interim director since January, was the first of three finalists to host a public forum where she discussed why she should replace former Director of Sustainability Sonia Marcus.
During the Friday’s forum in OU’s Human Resources Training Center, Sykes detailed her experience and qualifications to a 12-person audience mostly made up of sustainability, facilities, design and construction employees.
Her involvement with sustainability-centered projects during the past few years shows her commitment to the office and its message, Sykes said, adding it is important to target students who already care about sustainability efforts.
Our office has limited time; we have limited resources, and we have a big, big agenda,” Sykes said. “… If you’re trying to target people who are resistant, you’ll be beating your head against the wall.”
Sykes is currently serving on a committee that will help close the Lausche Heating Plant by 2016 and look for alternative replacement energies.
“I’m a part of leading that initiative,” Sykes said. “Right now, we’re working on hiring a consultant to take a look at the plant and making recommendations for what they believe could replace it now that we have said we’re moving away from coal. I’m excited to be a part of that.”
Sykes graduated from OU in 2009 and was the first student to receive a graduate certificate in sustainability. Before being named interim sustainability coordinator, she served as a graduate assistant, program coordinator and administrative assistant in the Office of Sustainability.
Her OU experience makes her the better candidate for the position, Sykes said.
“There’s not going to be any lag time with me getting up to speed and figuring out how things go here,” she said.
Sykes also said she would continue to reach out to other offices and departments at OU and will expand her collaboration with them to help reduce the university’s overall energy use.
“… (The fact that) I am charged with changing the school’s mindset as far as its impact on the environment — that is a huge task,” she said.
“If we can reduce our peak energy, that is a huge cost-savings initiative.”
Coordination between the Office of Sustainability and the Facilities Department is important in conducting energy-efficient construction projects, said Mike Gebeke, executive director of Facilities Management, after the forum.
“Erin works with us on how we do things,” Gebeke said. “We try to operate in as sustainable and as energy-efficient way as possible.”
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