Sustainable Communities

Established in Fall 2023, the Sustainable Communities Research Community seeks to position 成人直播 as a leader in the development and implementation of innovative technologies, while guiding land managers and shaping policy directives to forge a path to sustainability.

Our members include faculty and staff, alongside local stakeholders and private partners, bringing expertise that spans disciplines from the arts to zoogeography. 

Become a member of our community to engage in social events, professional workshops, and to keep informed about collaboration and funding opportunities at 成人直播 and beyond. 

Sustainable Communities Pillars

 

 

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Champions

Dr. Erin Adams

Dr. Erin Adams

Associate Professor of Social Science Education

  • Dr. Erin Adams is Associate Professor of Elementary Social Studies Education. She earned her PhD from the University of Georgia in 2016. 

    Dr. Erin Adams teaches courses in Elementary Social Studies Methods and Classroom Community Building. She works with Ed.D. students in Teacher Leadership and Secondary and Middle Grades Education (history and social studies education). 

    Her research is primarily concerned with economic education in general, but specifically in elementary and early childhood.

    More broadly, she is interested in resource use and extraction, posthumanisms, and social studies and civic education. Her inquiries use post-qualitative, theory-driven research methodologies and analyses. She is currently investigating how economic theory developed alongside theories of energy and thermodynamics.

Dr. Mario Bretfeld

Associate Professor of Biology

  • Dr. Mario Bretfeld studied Landscape Ecology at the Carl-von-Ossietzky University of Oldenburg and received a Ph.D. in Biological Education in 2014 at the University of Northern Colorado. 

    After graduation, Dr. Bretfeld moved to Panama as part of a post-doctoral fellowship with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) and the University of Wyoming to quantify the impacts of different types of land use on the water cycle. In August 2019, he joined the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology at 成人直播. 

    His research utilized a first-principles approach to understand the ecology and physiology of plants based on physical laws and principles. At 成人直播, his research is focused on native plant conservation (SEPAL) and controlled environment agriculture. 

Dr. Mario Bretfeld
mine hashas-degertekin

Dr. Mine Hashas-Degertekin

Associate Professor of Architecture

  • Dr. Mine Hashas-Degertekin has been teaching and conducting research on urban environments with a focus on human experience, place character and equity for humane, sustainable and healthy places for diverse groups of age, race and income.  She conducted research individually and at various research centers at NC State, GA Tech and 成人直播 linking physical and emotional health, culture and behavior to built-environments, economic development and equity. 

    She has been active in various action groups and task force groups of United Nation鈥檚 Regional Centers of Expertise (RCE) Greater Atlanta and co-led its 鈥淎dvancing Justice for All鈥� Action Group between August 2021-May 2023. She also serves on NAACP鈥檚 鈥淐entering Equity in the Sustainable Building Program Initiative Committee鈥�. She is the founder and chair of Equitable, Ecological and Creative place Making Initiative as well as Creative Place Making Biannual Symposium. She conducted research and taught urban design studios in collaboration with Transformation Alliance (TFA) Atlanta -one of the regions funded by The Strong, Prosperous, And Resilient Communities (SPARCC) Challenge- focusing on sustainability with all three pillars as well as closed loop and generative economies utilizing local history and cultural elements of low-income communities. 

    Dr. Hashas-Degertekin earned her PhD degree at North Carolina State University in Community and Environmental Design Program. She coordinated Urban Studio and First Year Design Studio for several years at 成人直播鈥檚 Architecture Department. She was a Sustainability Faculty Fellow at 成人直播 in 2018-2019 and is a member of the Advisory Board for the Marietta Arts Council as well as of the Atlanta Clean Energy Advisory Board. 

Advisory Board

Jay Bassett

Jay Bassett has over 35 years of public service as a Naval Officer and with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), focusing on sustainable materials management and environmental justice. As an expert in lifecycle-based materials management and recycling systems, he played a pivotal role in shaping EPA鈥檚 programs, advising on national policies, and fostering collaborations to improve waste management and sustainability practices. Notably, his efforts contributed to the 2010 national packaging dialogue and the subsequent 2014 launch of "The Recycling Partnership," a nonprofit aimed at enhancing recycling systems across the United States.

 

Mar铆a del Mar Ceballos

Mar铆a del Mar Ceballos, AIA/MBA, is the Director of 成人直播鈥檚 Office of Campus Sustainability, where she leads engagement and advocacy efforts to advance the university鈥檚 sustainability goals. She has been instrumental in developing and implementing key policies, including 成人直播鈥檚 first Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Plan and updates to the Sustainability Master Plan. With over 13 years of experience as a practicing architect specializing in sustainable design, Mar铆a also advises 成人直播鈥檚 Design and Construction and Campus Operations

Sara Davis

Sara E. Davis, Ph.D., is the Director of Community Engagement for the Family Enterprise Center at 成人直播, where she combines her passion for education with a commitment to supporting local businesses. Drawing on her entrepreneurial success in real estate, her work focuses on family businesses, emphasizing decision-making, goal-setting, and bridging theory with practical applications through experiential learning. Beyond academia, Davis actively mentors business owners and participates in community initiatives, fostering growth and empowerment within the local community.

Crystal Jackson

Crystal Jackson is a sustainability professional with over 25 years of experience in environmental management and sustainable development. Crystal holds a Master's degree in City and Regional Planning - Environmental & Land Use Planning from Georgia Institute of Technology and is a certified LEED Accredited Professional. In her role at the Atlanta Regional Commission, she has developed and led sustainability initiatives, including managing internship and certification programs, providing policy guidance, fostering partnerships, promoting regional sustainability through social media, coordinating leadership programs for students, and advancing workplace and cross-departmental climate action.

Stephen Luoni

Stephen Luoni is the Director of the Community Design Center at the University of Arkansas, where he holds the Steven L. Anderson Chair in Architecture and Urban Studies. Specializing in interdisciplinary projects across architecture, landscape architecture, and urban design, his work spans municipal infrastructure, residential development, parks, and scenario planning. With numerous planning and urban design awards and publications in prestigious journals, and backed by a Master of Architecture from Yale University, Stephen brings extensive expertise to his role.

Chris Pike

J. Chris Pike graduated from Kennesaw College in 1984 and served as the president of the Kennesaw State College Alumni Association from 1992 to 1994. He serves as a trustee of the 成人直播 Foundation with his wife, Debbie.

Kimberly White

Kimberly White, MPA, is the Executive Director of Keep Cobb Beautiful. She is a passionate environmental advocate and sustainability leader with years of experience promoting clean, green communities. Inspired by her studies in Spain and her commitment to equity, Kimberly has dedicated her career to fostering innovative recycling programs, engaging community volunteers, and driving meaningful cultural shifts toward environmental stewardship.

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