From left: Ximing Cai, Ben McCall, and Gillen D’Arcy Wood.
MARCH 27, 2017 — The Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE) is pleased to announce Ximing Cai, Lovell Endowed Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Illinois, as its new Associate Director for Campus Sustainability.
In this position, Cai will lead the Institute’s efforts related to the Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP), campus’ roadmap to becoming carbon neutral as soon as possible — and no later than 2050.
“We’re confident that Ximing’s vision for campus sustainability will bring iSEE’s mission arms closer together, completing the circle between research, campus sustainability, and education and outreach,” iSEE Director Evan H. DeLucia said. “The efforts he leads will provide excellent research projects and learning experiences for students — and also much-needed data to drive sustainable decision-making on campus and beyond.”
Outgoing Associate Director Ben McCall, a Professor of Chemistry at Illinois, is transitioning to a role as Assistant Director for iSEE Special Projects, where he will continue to help lead the Urbana-Champaign campus toward certain iCAP objectives.
In addition, iSEE welcomes Gillen D’Arcy Wood, environmental author and Professor of English at Illinois, as an Institute Faculty Affiliate. Wood will provide leadership for the new campuswide Certificate in Environmental Writing program co-created by iSEE, the School of Earth, Society and Environment (SESE), and the Department of English. He will also serve as editor of Q, a new environmental magazine featuring student works.