2025 UNH Sustainability Awardees Celebrated

Tuesday, November 04, 2025

Designed to celebrate and spotlight individuals and teams doing important sustainability work in the areas of research, curriculum development and teaching, campus initiatives, and external engagement, the UNH Sustainability Awards program raises the visibility of these activities and achievements to help build a deep culture of sustainability that permeates all facets of our institution, community, and how we work.

At the recent celebration ceremony, some of the many individuals and groups that make UNH’s sustainability excellence a reality were honored. Faculty, staff, students, and alumni from colleges and units all across campus were recognized who help make the university a proud national leader in sustainability in higher education.

Congratulations to the 2025 UNH Sustainability Awardees

Faculty Awards

Lifetime Achievement

Jingfeng Xiao, Research Professor, Earth Systems Research Center, Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space | Jingfeng has conducted pioneering and internationally recognized research on the impacts of climate change on ecosystems and human society. His ground-breaking work has significantly advanced our understanding of climate change impacts, informed important climate mitigation efforts, and earned him exceptional distinction as a one of the most cited scholars in his field, and as the recipient of the 2024 UNH Faculty Excellence in Research Award.

Campus & Community Engagement

Eleta Exline, Scholarly Communication Librarian and Associate Professor, UNH Library | Eleta educates and advocates for practices that make scholarship available with minimal barriers to access, such as open access publishing and open educational resources.
Charlie French, Extension Professor and Program Leader, Community and Economic Development, Cooperative Extension, College of Life Sciences and Agriculture | Charlie French has advanced sustainable, resilient, and equitable community development, including leading UNH's engagement in the New Hampshire Digital Equity Planning Initiative, connecting NH residents with access to high-speed internet, digital devices, training, and a host of services and resources made possible through digital technology.
Health Sciences Simulation Center, College of Health and Human Services | The Center is implementing zero-waste initiatives, including glove recycling and an upcoming audit of reusable and recyclable materials. These efforts reduce waste and promote sustainable practices in healthcare education.

New Curriculum

Kari Dudley, Principal Lecturer, Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts | Kari developed a new undergraduate course, Psychology for Sustainability, designed to prepare students to be changemakers in their communities while addressing their own personal wellbeing.

Existing Curriculum

Betty Woodman, Faculty, Sustainability Dual Major, College of Life Sciences and Agriculture | Betty has evolved Sustainability in Action, the second of three core courses in the sustainability dual major, to help students build a sense of belonging, leadership skills, learn approaches to strengthen communities, facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration, apply critical thinking tools, and brainstorm new solutions to challenges that matter to them.

Emerging Research

Szu-Feng Chen, Professor and Director of Design and Theatre Technology, Theatre and Dance Department, College of Liberal Arts | Szu-feng is integrating environmental stewardship, social equity, and economic mindfulness into creative theatre set designs.
Glen Miller, Professor, Department of Chemistry, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences | Glen is developing and demonstrating technology that could lower our nation’s energy footprint while reducing hazardous waste and promoting more sustainable manufacturing practices.

Established Research

Meghan Howey, Professor, Anthropology Department and Earth Systems Research Center and Director, Center for the Humanities, College of Liberal Arts | Meghan developed and directs the Great Bay Archaeological Survey, a community-engaged and interdisciplinary archaeology project that weaves together archaeological fieldwork, cutting-edge remote sensing technologies, archival research, and strong collaboration with Indigenous knowledge keepers and community members.
Paula Mouser, Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences | Paula has been studying PFAS, "forever chemicals", in wastewater, sludges, surface waters, sediments, precipitation, and surface water "foams" through collaborations with communities and state agencies.
Jeannie Sowers, Professor, Department of Politics and International Affairs, College of Liberal Arts | Jeannie's research has focused on the impacts of conflict on both civilians and the environment where the conflict takes place, to understand the ways in which humanitarian organizations, communities, and civil society provide basic services to alleviate human suffering while also addressing environmental damage.

Staff Awards

Lifetime Achievement

Michael Routhier, Geospatial Science Instructor/Researcher, Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space | Routhier was honored for a 30-year career at UNH focused on the sustainable uses of our natural resources, humans living in balance with their environments, and the education of our next generation of researchers, environmental managers, and conservationists with the use of geospatial technologies.

Campus Culture and Operations

Career and Professional Success (CaPS) – Alternative Break Challenge Team | CaPS' UNH Alternative Spring Break Challenge was redesigned last year to focus on marine conservation and community engagement.
Patty Mathison, Basic Needs Coordinator and Case Manager | Patty provides vital intervention and coordination of services for students facing personal, medical, academic, or financial difficulties. This includes managing Cats Cupboard, the student Emergency Financial Assistance Fund, the Swipe it Forward program, the UNH Laptop Loaner, and Inn-Between programs.
UNH Child Study and Development Center, College of Health and Human Services | CSDC provides children with high-quality education that incorporates outdoor education and community gardening, while providing a laboratory learning and research experience for UNH students studying in fields such as early childhood education, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.
The SHARPP Center Prevention & Engagement Team | The Center provides vital work that helps UNH meet its goals of being welcoming and safe for all students. They deliver comprehensive education, awareness-raising, and campus engagement campaigns around the prevention of interpersonal violence on UNH's campus, reaching over 11,000 people last academic year.

Campus Community and Engagement

Center for Impact Finance, Carsey School of Public Policy, College of Liberal Arts | The Center is a national leader in advancing inclusive and equitable community finance, having trained hundreds of community lenders in clean energy finance, supported policy advocacy to ensure climate programs reach low-income and disadvantaged communities, and facilitated the creation of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Support Collaborative.
Sarah Stinson, Digital Collections Coordinator, UNH Library | Sarah champions sustainability at UNH through her leadership of UNH Library's participation in the annual COMMUTE SMART challenge, bringing visibility to sustainable transportation models by encouraging her colleagues to log their commuter trips every May, while providing encouragement and motivation to consider ways to carpool, bike, walk, or telecommute when possible.
Amy Hollar, UNH Extension State Specialist, Nutrition Connections and team, UNH Extension, College of Life Sciences and Agriculture | Amy and the Nutrition Connections team have reached thousands across the state annually with educational programming, policy and system changes, and social marketing interventions to significantly support the health and well-being of low-income NH families and communities.
NH Small Business Development Center, Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics | The Center’s work helps even the playing field for small businesses and helps ensure NH has a thriving small business economy. They provide no cost confidential advising and additional resources, so businesses can launch, grow and thrive, providing a vibrant NH economy for all.

Alumni Awards

Lifetime Achievement

Eric Gibbs ‘93, Senior Vice President for Global Strategy, Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA) | Eric has spent his career dedicated to sustainable international development and clean energy. Earlier in his career managing the development of rural energy access projects and electric cooperative distribution utilities in villages around the world with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. CEBA is a business trade association comprised of over 400 members, which combined have over $30 trillion in market capitalization and represent the largest clean energy buyers in the world.
Dr. Jennifer Jenkins ‘98G, Chief Science Officer, Rubicon Carbon | Jennifer completed her Ph.D. in ecosystem science at UNH. With over 30 years of influential roles in helping address the climate crisis across academia, government, and the private sector, she is a recognized authority in carbon cycling and ecosystem science. She was a co-recipient of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize as part of the IPCC team along with Vice President Al Gore. She is also the lead author of the 2003 “Jenkins Equations,” the widely accepted method for estimating tree biomass
Jennifer Moore ‘92, Founder and co-creator, Project Upcycle | Project Upcycle is an annual sustainable fashion competition in Portsmouth, NH that challenges emerging designers to rethink fashion using thrifted, surplus, and deadstock materials. She also leads PortSwap, a grassroots clothing swap that has been building community through fashion reuse for nearly 15 years. In 2025, it welcomed 1,000 people and is now an official City of Portsmouth program.

Graduates of the Last Decade

Torey Brooks ‘18, ‘19G, Senior Sustainability Manager, Pembroke | Torey began her career as a structural engineer and sustainability coordinator on building projects throughout New England, developing expertise in green building, greenhouse gas reporting, and sustainable construction materials. She later worked for the US Environmental Protection Agency, and in 2024, was selected as a State Department Embassy Science Fellow. As Senior Sustainability Manager at Pembroke, she applies a triple bottom line approach to chart an ambitious path to net-zero for a diverse global portfolio of buildings. 
Dr. Allison Leach ‘18G, Corporate Standard Associate for the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, World Resources Institute’s Climate Program | Allison is writing the guidance that supports organizations all over the world in measuring and reporting their GHG emissions. Alley’s career started at UNH, completing her Ph.D. under the guidance of , Dr. John Aber. Alley was a developer of UNH’s SIMAP, a campus carbon and nitrogen footprint tool hosted by the UNH Sustainability Institute and led the research and development and user support for SIMAP and helped create two exciting greenhouse gas accounting training programs at UNH.
Cassidy Yates ‘20, ‘22G, Climate Resiliency and Sustainability Engineer, Weston & Sampson | Cassidy is working as a consultant to municipalities and state agencies across New England to accelerate their climate adaptation and mitigation.  
Andy DeMeo ‘18, Creator and Host, Granite Goodness | As the creator and host of Granite Goodness, a new newsletter and podcast that shares optimistic stories of progress, innovation, and problem solving from across New England.
Mikey Pasciuto ‘21, Chief Sustainability Officer, Scrapp | Scrapp, a start-up he co-developed during his time at UNH, is dedicated to creating data-driven sustainable waste programs, leading a revolution in making products and packaging recyclable.
Rachel Rymaszewski ‘20, Senior Mission-Aligned Investment Research Analyst, Prime Buchholz | Rachel oversees and contributes to mission-aligned investing initiatives across Prime Buchholz, a private investment advisory firm. Rachel also serves as Chair of the Green Team, helping to guide the firm’s environmental stewardship efforts.

Student Awards

Student Organization of the Year

The Butterfly Garden Club:
- Teagan McCausland ‘28, Club President, environmental conservation and sustainability, Calla Streeter ‘27, Club Treasurer, wildlife and conservation biology, Zachary Holt ‘27, Club Secretary, electrical engineering | The Club aims to promote and educate others on the importance of New Hampshire native pollinators and plant species through interactive, hands-on events, use of their own plot of land, and through collaborations with other campus departments and organizations, for the entire UNH community.

Campus Culture, Operations, and Engagement

Taylor Barry '28, community and environmental planning and sustainability dual major | Taylor built on her commitment to advocacy in high school by becoming a UNH Changemaker Fellow as a first-year student at UNH, volunteering on campus to encourage students to vote, and by participating in climate initiatives throughout New Hampshire.
Jo Field, ‘26G, Ph.D. student, natural resources and environmental studies | As a Ph.D. student working with NH Listens, Jo has played a pivotal role in NH’s comprehensive climate action plan. She helped design and facilitate public stakeholder engagement activities in collaboration with the NH Department of Environmental Services to support this important project.
Gracie Solomon ‘26, environmental conservation and sustainability dual major | Gracie has dedicated time to the UNH Trash 2 Treasure program, making time between her multiple summer jobs to help clean, sort, organize, and process students donated items which are offered to the UNH community at affordable prices at the annual fall sale.
Jordan Wright '27, community and environmental planning and sustainability dual major | As a student at Lead UNH 2025, an immersive student leadership program, Jordan helped enrich her peers' understanding of the intersections between inclusive leadership and sustainable practices, encouraging them to expand their leadership journey and get involved with sustainability at UNH.