The assistant director of catering events turned food rescuer fully integrates the UMB FREE app into the operations of the SMC Campus Center.
The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) Office of Sustainability would like to recognize Tara Gillis as a Sustainability Champion! Gillis is the assistant director of catering events at UMB. Gillis was first at UMB from 2016 to 2020 and returned in February 2024 after exploring a new opportunity, and we are glad she is back!
As assistant director of catering events, Gillis manages catering logistics, client relations, vendor selection, and data collection for all catered events at the Campus Center. In her role, Gillis emphasizes inclusivity, collaboration, and high standards in food safety and sustainability while overseeing budgets, coordinating with UMB partners, and maintaining client and vendor relationships. The assistant director supports the director in achieving Event Services’ strategic goals and helps ensure high-quality, patron-centered event experiences for the University community.
Gillis has directly implemented sustainability into her role and into Campus Center operations. By using the application UMB FREE, she has been able to prevent throwing away leftover food from events held at the Campus Center and feed students at the same time. In 2023 alone, the SMC Campus Center hosted 768 events, representing an enormous opportunity for food waste diversion.
UMB FREE is a food rescue initiative started by the Office of Sustainability in 2022 that aims to minimize food waste and feed students at UMB. When events have leftover food, event planners can submit an alert that goes out to students who have signed up to receive notifications. Gillis has transformed this initiative into a strategic, large-scale sustainability solution for the Campus Center and for the University as a whole. In addition, Gillis has removed barriers for clients, allowing everyone who hosts an event at the Campus Center to support sustainable practices without any additional effort while educating them on the importance of food recovery.
“This integration models a sustainable approach that aligns with our campus values and highlights the importance of cross-departmental collaboration to streamline and operationalize food recovery efforts,” Gillis said.
Outside of work, Gillis prioritizes sustainability in her daily life by reusing bags, containers, and bottles to cut down on single-use items (her Stanley cup is a constant companion!) She also minimizes food waste by planning meals carefully and storing leftovers in reusable containers. In her home, Gillis focuses on energy efficiency by using LED lightbulbs, an advanced thermostat, and energy-efficient windows and appliances. And, of course, she always brings along her stylish reusable bags when enjoying her favorite pastime — shopping!
Something Gillis thinks that students, staff, and faculty at UMB can do to contribute to the University’s sustainability efforts is to recycle.
“One simple thing everyone can do is consistently use recycling bins,” she said. “We supply paper/cardboard and mixed recycling bins in all our meeting rooms in the SMC Campus Center and even house specialty collection bins on the first floor in April and October for items like plastic bags, ink cartridges, and electronics.”
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