Reed Named Interim Director of UNO Center for Urban Sustainability
- published: 2017/11/30
- contact: University Communications - School of Public Administration
- phone: 402.554-2625
- email: unonews@unomaha.edu
- search keywords:
- research
- sustainability
- public administration
- Christine Reed
- engagement
Omaha – A new interim director has been named for the Center for Urban Sustainability at UNO.
Christine Reed, School of Public Administration, will take over director duties from Steve Rodie who has been the center’s director since it was founded in 2014.
The goal of the Center for Urban Sustainability is to work across all colleges on the UNO campus to find ways that engaged research can provide tangible benefits to the city of Omaha and its citizens.
A member of the UNO faculty since 1982, Reed brings her experience as a faculty fellow for the University of Nebraska Daugherty Water for Food Institute and research on topics such as environmental ethics and natural resources management; she has also taught courses on environmental policy and management and urban sustainability.
Prior to being named director, Reed was on the Center for Urban Sustainability’s leadership committee. The role will be in addition to her teaching responsibilities.
I believe that UNO is uniquely positioned to support efforts by leaders in our community that contribute to energy conservation, green building design and infrastructure, recycling and other sustainability-related priorities identified by those leaders."
“My goal for the next two years as interim director of the Center is to build on the accomplishments of Steve Rodie,” Reed said. “One of the ways I hope to do that is by facilitating engaged research by interested faculty on sustainability-related challenges identified by public, nonprofit, and private leaders in the metropolitan area. On a more reflective note, I believe that UNO is uniquely positioned to support efforts by leaders in our community that contribute to energy conservation, green building design and infrastructure, recycling and other sustainability-related priorities identified by those leaders."
Among the research and community engagement topics explored by the Center for Urban Sustainability include measurement of energy usage by commercial buildings, determining air quality in highly-trafficked pedestrian areas in Omaha, the use of real-time monitoring approaches to conserve energy in buildings, and the development of green infrastructure projects and research in partnership with the Omaha Public Schools and the City of Omaha.
“Steve Rodie’s efforts as director of the Center have been a key part of the momentum behind UNOs broader sustainability effort and I am grateful for Steve’s leadership and look forward to his continued affiliation with the Center,” said Scott Snyder, UNO’s chief research officer. “Chris Reed’s expertise in the public management of natural resources, including Nebraska’s vital water resources, brings additional visibility to the Center. In her role as interim director Chris will work with the campus to set the vision for the Center for Urban Sustainability going forward.”
Sustainability is one of UNO’s five academic priority areas. In addition to the Center for Urban Sustainability, UNO is home to the Office of Sustainability and several academic programs, including the Master of Science in Urban Studies offered by the School of Public Administration and an environmental studies concentration in the Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies offered by the Division of Continuing Studies.