Drury forms council on sustainability

Drury has served as host of a speaker series and numerous conversations about making the most of resources and encouraging practices that minimize the impact of individuals and organizations and the environment. The school’s efforts were cited in a New York Times article about the “greening” of U.S. college campuses.

“Drury is well-positioned to make a unique contribution to the issue of sustainability, which has rapidly emerged as a national issue on many levels,” Sellars said in a news release. “In addition, Drury, as an institution, needs a plan to adopt sustainable practices, from recycling to energy management, to retrofitting older buildings to be more efficient and beyond.”

The President’s Council on Sustainability is co-chaired by Wendy Anderson, Ph.D., associate professor of biology, and Don Deeds, Ph.D., professor of biology. Anderson served as chair of Drury’s recently concluded Sustainability Theme Year.

“The campus’ response to this topic has been very exciting,” Anderson said in the release. “Staff, faculty and students all joined in the discussion, and it ranged from the little things each person can do to all the way to national and international policies to promote sustainable practices.”

Sellars noted that Drury’s renewed focus on and movement toward becoming an environmentally friendly campus has come from students as much as any other party.

“What Drury can do to promote the protection of the environment, both on and off campus, is a passion for many of the students I talk with,” he said.