Sustainable Operations Council (SOC) Membership

Chartered in 2016, the Sustainable Operations Council serves to integrate sustainability as a core business strategy that strengthens and accelerates the ability of Penn State Finance and Business (F&B) and other units to provide quality service. The SOC has since brought together diverse perspectives and expertise to enhance sustainability efforts of F&B as well as additional units and groups within the university, including Penn State Athletics, Academic Colleges and Campuses, University faculty, staff, and student representatives. SOC members have been involved with projects and initiatives that advance sustainable operations at Penn State through efforts focused on energy savings, food waste reduction, renewable energy, recycling and waste initiatives, sustainable purchasing strategies, transportation, sustainability literacy and teaching, and many others.

Click here to see the charter.

Executive Team

Sara Thorndike

Senior Vice President, Finance and Business

Photo of Mark Miller wearing a dark suit and blue shirt with blue tie

Mark Miller

Associate Vice President and Chief Facilities Officer

David R. Snyder

Associate Vice President
Auxiliary and Business Services (ABS)

Council Members:

Office of the Physical Plant
Meghan Hoskins, Co-Chair
Krista Bailey
Shelley McKeague
Ayo Oluwalana
Jack Rumery

Penn State Auxiliary & Business Services (A&BS)
Haley Sankey, Co-Chair

Office of Central Procurement
Meg Harpster

Commonwealth Operations
Jonathan Kukta

Transportation Services
Rick Ward

Human Resources
Christy Helms

Penn State Information Technology (IT)
Vacant

Penn State Athletics
Dave Bittner

University Park Undergraduate Association
Vacant

Graduate and Professional Student Association
Vacant

Council of Commonwealth Student Governments
Vacant

Student Sustainability Advisory Council
Vacant

College of Medicine Finance & Business
Duncan McIlvaine
Mark Heisey

Office of Real Estate
Tamia Kramer

Penn State Global
Matt Lockaby Leet

University Faculty
Shelly Grinar, Penn State Abington
Mary Ann Smith, Penn State Schuylkill
Tim White, College of Earth & Mineral Sciences

University Staff
Deb Gulick, College of Arts & Architecture

If you are interested in learning more about the projects and initiatives the Sustainable Operations Council is involved with, please contact Meghan Hoskins, Director for Sustainable Operations via email: meh200@psu.edu.

The SOC looks to the Penn State Strategic Plan as well as the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as framework for priortizing initiatives. The 17 SDGs are at the heart of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and planet. These goals recognize that “ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.” – sustainabledevelopment.un.org