May's Sustainability Champions: Our 2018 Sustainability Leadership Award Winners

Each year the Office for Sustainability and leaders of campus sustainability groups host a Sustainability Banquet to reflect on the year's accomplishments and to recognize University of Richmond community members for their outstanding contributions to sustainability. Sustainability leaders are nominated by their peers and winners are presented with awards at the banquet. 

Harleen Bal

Harleen Bal, '18, was recognized for her ability to spearhead change and elevate conversations about sustainability. A recent graduate in Environmental Studies and Healthcare Studies, Harleen completed an ethnographic study of community health in Brazil and published a peer-reviewed article on the effects of gender on dairy production in Uganda. She has a unique ability to foster engaged, polite discussion on sensitive environmental issues. She was recognized by her nominators as a leader, a do-er, a supporter, and a listener who uses her creativity, compassion, and curiosity to lift up people around her.

Todd Lookingbill

Dr. Todd Lookingbill, Associate Professor of Biology and Associate Professor of Geography and the Environment, was recognized for his exceptional teaching, scientific expertise, and leadership by example. His students have been his co-authors and worked alongside him as field researchers on campus and in national parks. In only eight years, he supervised 34 students on 44 undergraduate student research projects and brought more than $1,000,000 into the University. As one nominator stated, "Todd walks the talk and invites you to join him on the journey."

James Campbell

James Campbell, Custodial Supervisor, received an award for his tireless efforts to steward recycling on campus during the University's first Rethink Waste football game and the rollout of Rethink Waste efforts across campus. He is a compassionate leader who puts his team’s needs before his own and is quickly becoming the face of the Rethink Waste effort at University of Richmond. 

Alexis Szepesy

Alexis Szepesy, '19, received an award for her active role in the analysis of state and federal water policy documents, work with the Sierra Club, and support of the Governor’s Virginia Advisory Council on Environmental Justice. She was instrumental in the success of the Riverfront UR project, and has been called an inspiration by her peers who is sure to make an impact with whatever she works on next.