When you think of UWM, the university wants you to think green.

Leading the green revolution at UWM is Kate M. Nelson, the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee’s chief sustainability officer. Kate will discuss how the university’s sustainability efforts influence stormwater management, bicycling, and urban agriculture in the community at HWTN’s next monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday Oct. 7, 2015.

The meeting takes place in the Marcia Coles Community Room of Lake Park Pavilion, beneath Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro. Come a few minutes early for coffee and cookies courtesy of Lake Park Bistro. After Kate’s presentation, the HWTN trustees and members will discuss other community issues. The meeting is free and open to the public.

The Office of Sustainability at UW-Milwaukee, headed by Kate, was founded in 2008. The office “assesses, supports, and drives sustainability initiatives across campus operations, student life, and throughout academic affairs,” according to the university’s website.

According to the website:

By building cross campus and community collaborations, integrating sustainability into campus planning initiatives, assessing impacts over the long term, and working from our own sense of place and purpose, UW-Milwaukee manages its resources wisely and makes sustainability relevant to its teaching and research mission.

Past initiatives include Energy Matters, a campus wide energy efficiency program with Facility Services, supporting stormwater green infrastructure with the School of Architecture, initiating and growing campus gardens with many across the UWM community, bike planning with the assistance of Campus Planning and Community Design Solutions, and multiple outreach programs with the Share the Earth series.

Kate has headed the Office of Sustainability since its founding. She is responsible for planning & managing a variety of sustainability initiatives, including, but not limited to; energy conservation strategies, stormwater management, expansive recycling programs, sustainable purchasing, alternative transportation options, urban gardening as well as engaging the campus students, faculty, and staff through multiple sustainability outreach and educational programs. Previously, Kate was a GIS specialist and project assistant for The Conservation Fund, and worked to preserve and restore critical land areas for MMSD’s Greenseams program that addressed flood management. Her previous research in the sustainable development of Costa Rica, Romania, and Cuba has influenced and aligned her strategies for environmental policy and planning here at home in Wisconsin. Kate holds an MS in Conservation Biology and Sustainable Development from the Nelson Institute of Environmental Studies of UW Madison, as well as a BA in Conservation and Environmental Science from UW-Milwaukee and a previous BA in Theatre and Writing from Cardinal Stritch University.