The president of the University leads by example and sets up UMB to prioritize sustainability for years to come.
Photo: UMB President Bruce Jarrell participates in a campus cleanup day.
The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) Office of Sustainability would like to recognize Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, as a Sustainability Champion! Jarrell is the president of UMB, as well as an accomplished surgeon and metalsmith.
Jarrell has always been a strong advocate for sustainability. His motivation for conserving resources and practicing sustainable behaviors stems from his desire to leave the world in better shape for his grandchildren. His actions match his words, and in 2021, Jarrell created the Office of Sustainability to help formalize and expand upon UMB’s existing sustainability work. As you may know, the Office of Sustainability works with campus and community partners and brings stakeholders together to collaborate on initiatives such as energy reduction, waste minimization, resilience planning, community building, and education and outreach. To follow the progress toward implementing UMB’s Sustainability Strategic Plan, you can visit the UMB Sustainability Dashboard.
“UMB can make a big difference by committing to sustainability both as an organization and each of us as individuals,” Jarrell says. He emphasizes that UMB’s definition of sustainability is comprehensive and encompasses three central pillars: equity, economy, and environment. Jarrell is excited about many current and future sustainability projects on campus, including ongoing energy reduction projects, multiple green roofs, and the upcoming installation of solar canopies that will generate the first on-site renewable energy on UMB’s campus. "The new School of Social Work building is aiming for net-zero emissions and will feature green spaces for both University and public use.”
In addition to his leadership and support for campus sustainability, Jarrell also practices sustainability in his personal life. You may have seen him driving in his electric car on campus. He made the switch to an electric car in 2012 because he thought it was an important thing to do. “We can each take actions to reduce our environmental footprint. I care about sustainability and well-being — two of UMB’s core values,” he says.
Jarrell spoke further on sustainability being part of UMB’s core values and what tangible actions each member of the UMB community can take to contribute to sustainability:
“First and foremost, it’s important to know that it’s one of our core values, and that there are everyday actions we take as individuals and as a University that impact our shared environment. When we think about our impact, we can make choices to make it positive — from walking instead of driving, to making waste-conscious decisions in planning meetings in support of reduction, reuse, recycling, and proper waste management. There are many ways to contribute to sustainability.”
Jarrell’s vision for a sustainable UMB extends beyond the individual level and pushes for UMB to be an environmentally conscious institution.
“UMB’s mission is to improve the human condition and serve the public good. Being good stewards of our environment and making UMB a more sustainable place help us meet that mission,” he concludes.
Do you have a UMB Sustainability Champion you would like to nominate to be featured? Please fill out this form. Self-nominations are welcome.
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