Suzanne Savanick Hansen

Dr. Suzanne Savanick Hansen is a dynamic, accomplished leader with 20+ years of successful management of sustainability programs.  She served as the first sustainability staff in the region when she started the Sustainable Campus Initiative at the University of Minnesota where she initiated the Sarita Wetland restoration and developed a program to improve the environment on campus and increase teaching opportunities. She also led Macalester College’s award-winning sustainability efforts for 12 years. While at Macalester College, under her leadership, the college saved nearly $2 million, greenhouse gas emissions reduced over 35% and waste diversion increased from 17 to 75%. She was instrumental in getting observer status for the college at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Currently she works as the Sustainability Specialist with Allina Health.

She earned a Ph.D. in conservation biology from the University of Minnesota, a master’s degree in environmental management from Duke University, and a bachelor’s degree in geology from Carleton College.  She often publishes academic articles on using the campus as a living laboratory and started the Upper Midwest Association for Campus Sustainability. 

Accomplishments

Planning

• Dr. Hansen launched Macalester College’s first institution-wide sustainability strategic planning effort to integrate sustainability principles into campus projects and programs.
• She worked collaboratively to develop ambitious goals of climate neutrality by 2025, zero waste by 2020, and 30% local, organic or fair-trade food in the dining hall.
• She led the effort to proactively integrate health and social justice into the work of the sustainability office.

Public Speaker

• As a regular spokesperson for the college on sustainability issues, she regularly gave keynote lectures on sustainability issues, including sustainability, local links to global environmental issues, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. 
• Taught sustainability, conservation biology, natural history classes for Macalester College, Carleton College, Normandale Community College, University of Pittsburgh, and Minnesota Master Naturalists.
• Conference and workshop speaker at the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), Upper Midwest Association for Campus Sustainability (UMACS) , World Symposium on Sustainable Development at Universities, Society for Conservation Biology, Ecological Society of America, International Partnership for Service Learning, Recycling Association of Minnesota/SWANA, Air and Waste Management Association,  Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership Conference, The Campus Safety, Health, and Environmental Management Association (CSHEMA)
• Community speaker for student environmental clubs, church groups, and community groups
• Webinar and remote keynote speaker

Awards

• Under Suzanne’s leadership, Macalester College earned over 30 awards for sustainability efforts (ADD accomplishments link) .
• Outside review of sustainability efforts at Macaelster noted the Sustainability Office under Dr. Hansen as “excellent”.

Cost Savings

• Sustainability efforts saved nearly $2 million from 2008-2019 at Macalester College. [link to awards accomplishments]

Waste Reduction

• Waste diversion increased from 17 % to 75% from 2008-2019 at Macalester College under Suzanne’s leadership.
• Macalester earned top 10 in the country for the Recyclemania competition
• Suzanne was instrumental in starting composting and adopting a “zero waste” goal. [add link to zero waste accomplishments]

Water

• Identified, wrote and managed grant for an innovative parking lot design that reduced stormwater.
• Successfully worked with facilities and a student intern to implement water saving aerators on sinks.

Education  

• Campus Living Laboratory [add link https://serc.carleton.edu/introgeo/campusbased/index.html] webmodule is the first “how to” publication for higher education faculty in the field. 
• She was instrumental in getting observer status for the college at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
• Suzanne taught over 18 classes and developed curricula and teaching materials

Grants

• Identified, wrote, and managed grants that resulted in two electric vehicle charging stations, a major stormwater parking lot renovation, and increased composting at Macalester College
• Identified, wrote and managed grants for University of Minnesota Sustainable Campus Initiative .