The second of three finalists for the Ohio University director of sustainability position fielded questions from a crowd of about 20 students and university employees during Friday’s open forum in Baker University Center.
Nicholas Hennessy, currently the sustainability coordinator at Bowling Green State University, stressed environmental responsibility, education and grant-funded initiatives during the hour-long forum.
“Saving the university money is a part of sustainability,” Hennessy said. “Being environmentally responsible and doing the right thing is also important.”
A graduate of Muskingum University, located in New Concord, Hennessy said he is accustomed to rural Ohio and enjoys employing a hands-on style of sustainability management.
“I have ruined many pairs of pants,” Hennessy said. “I get dirty, and I like to do that. I recognize that a director isn’t the only one who has to be out there doing things, but I think it’s a combination (of the two).”
When questions were raised regarding possible budget limitations for sustainability initiatives, Hennessy said prioritizing is key.
“You can’t have everything,” Hennessy said. “What’s important is to figure out priorities. Make a long list of desirable things and make a list from those. It’s the process which you prioritize.”
In March, representatives from various environmental groups said Ohio University administrators were committed to closing the Lausche Heating Plant by 2016, making the switch from coal-based energy. Hennessy said he would support the decision.
BGSU made the switch from coal in 1996, Hennessy said, adding that it was a “financially based” decision.
After working at a law firm in Tampa, Florida in the beginning of his career, Hennessy decided to return to Ohio to pursue a more “satisfying” line of work in sustainability.
“I thought his presentation was spot on,” said Harry Wyatt, OU’s associate vice president for Facilities, adding that it is too early to declare a favorite for a position.
The other finalists are OU’s interim director of sustainability, Erin Sykes, and Annie Laurie Cadmus,a sustainability specialist at Waubonsee Community College in Aurora, Ill.
Wyatt added that he liked Hennessy’s focus on education and student involvement.
“We’re looking for the right balance,” Wyatt said.
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