In an effort to further the goals of the Pitt Sustainability Plan, the University of Pittsburgh founded a diverse and interdisciplinary Campus Tree Advisory Committee in 2019 to help maintain the beauty of the campus landscape, while protecting the environment and fostering conservation efforts within the community.
A subcommittee of the Chancellor’s Advisory Council on Sustainability, the University of Pittsburgh’s Campus Tree Advisory Committee’s goals are to:
- Coordinate efforts across the university to reach the institutional goal of maintaining and growing tree count and canopy on campus by 203 (compared to 2037 baseline), while improving tree health & ecosystems in Pittsburgh.
- Maintain Campus Tree Care Plan that establishes planting & maintenance practices that are conducive to healthy tree populations
- Lead the University’s application for Tree Campus Higher Education certification through the Arbor Day Foundation
- Support Creation of healthy urban tree canopies to help address environmental injustices and racial disparities by improving local air quality and reducing urban heat island effects that disproportionately impact BIPOC communities (1, 2, 3, 4).
Committee Members
- CHAIR: Samantha Chan, Assistant Director of Sustainability, Pitt Office of Sustainability
- Dr. Dan Bain, Associate Professor, Pitt Geology & Environmental Science
- Zachary Brannon, Assistant Grounds Manager, Pitt Facilities Management
- Rachel Bowers, Planner; Pitt Planning, Design, & Construction
- Justin Dandoy, Director of Community Affairs, Pitt Office of Engagement & Community Affairs
- Sam Gallagher, Community Engagement Specialist, Oakland Planning and Development Corporation (OPDC)
- Mare McGrory, Undergraduate, Environmental Science, Class of 2026
- Jake Milofsky, Director of Tree Care and Reforestation, Tree Pittsburgh
- Andy Moran, Senior Manager of Grounds, Pitt Facilities Management
- Georgia Petropoulos, Executive Director, Oakland Business Improvement District
- James Williams III, Director for Local Government Relations, Pitt Community & Governmental Relations
- Coco Reed, Government Relations & Advocacy Office Intern & Undergraduate, Public Health, Class of 2026
- Abby Yancy, PhD Candidate, Department of Geology and Environmental Science, Class 2027
Want to help support campus-wide tree awareness efforts on a daily basis? Considering using the free iNaturalist app in your own backyard to document and identify the unique biodiversity there! Then, share your findings on social media with #PittSustainability to show your support for the University and the Tree Advisory Committee’s commitment to sustainability!