Eric Green obtained both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with his B.S. in Electrical Engineering and his M.S. in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences. He wrote his thesis on energy economics and how CO2 policy could influence demand for electricity.
Since his time as a student, Green has worked for a fuel cell research start-up company, as an automated software test engineer at Motorola, and most recently, a construction manager for Illinois’ own Red Oak Rain Garden.
“I first came to C-U in 1999 for my undergrad, and basically never left,” he said.
In Fall 2019, he began as the Student Sustainability Committee (SSC) Coordinator, but in November ’19 iSEE hired him to teach courses in the campuswide honors minor SEE Fellows Program, and to advise students in both the minor and the undergraduate Certificate in Environmental Writing (CEW). With more than 60 students — and counting! — currently enrolled in the minor and dozens in the certificate, he’ll help them schedule the courses they need to complete their requirements in time for graduation.
As SSC Coordinator, Green helped identify and support sustainability projects around campus. Once the student committee members make decisions about funding projects from the nearly $1.2 million annual budget collected through student fees, Green was responsible for administering those funds, marketing the projects and engage students in these new initiatives.
His passion for sustainability through the years at Illinois has led to his close ties to the Institute.
“Before iSEE was even founded, I had a friend who was the chair of the SSC,” Green said. “I loved that students had a say in how their campus was shaped with regards to sustainable changes. Through my experience as a project manager and as an educator, I knew that I wanted to continue to support the students in their efforts.
“The opportunity to work with students and support sustainable efforts is a blessing.”
When not at work, you can catch Green being a gardener, home brewer, cyclist and gamer — specifically playing Dungeons and Dragons.