Justin Ellis Email & Phone Number

Athens, Ga, Us

Athens, Ga, Us

I identify, plan, create, manage and implement the strategic plans, projects, programs, and reports in support of UGA's Office of Sustainability as well as other related sustainability programs within UGA's Finance and Administration and the Facilities Management Division. I provide direct data-driven support to operational programs in Facilities Management Division (FMD), Finance and Administration F&A, Student Affairs and other units by analyzing and measuring progress towards goals identified in our strategic plans. My operational program areas focus on energy and water conservation, waste reduction, sustainable transportation, local food systems, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction. I serve the academic mission of UGA as a liaison connecting faculty, students, and operational staff to experiential learning opportunities using campus as a living laboratory.

Developed new core curriculum and honors courses advancing sustainability competencies designed to train and instill citizen leadership. This element of the Civitae core curriculum explored the intersection between sustainability and citizenship (CTZN 110), how to accelerate human behavior change towards sustainability (HONS/ENSC 321), and developing skills in the metrics of sustainable change (CTZN 410). Other courses taught in the Cormier Honors school included: Explorations in Environmental Science (ENSC 162), Introduction to Ecology (BIOL 251), and Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) (EASC/GEOG 275).

Dahlonega, Ga

Advanced the North Georgia region’s capacity toward environmental sustainability through five programs: water quality lab and database (a 30-year history), the biocontrol of the hemlock wooly adelgid (an invasive species) to restore Tsuga canadensis (the Canadian hemlock), initiated the restoration of degraded landscapes and impaired water quality in the Chestatee Watershed utilizing organic amendments, initiated campus sustainability initiatives (waste reduction/management, student behavior change) , and development of a biological field research station demonstrating sustainable forest management. During my tenure the program expanded from two to five programs, grew from six to twenty student volunteers and paid interns, grew by $60,000 in annual grant funds and expanded the overall impact of the program throughout the region.

Dahlonega, Ga

Taught courses to science and non-science majors including Introductory Biology, Introductory Ecology, Environmental Science and an upper level Soils in the Environment course. Developed new curriculum for Environmental Science labs that included waste audits, soil ecology, and a semester long campus applied sustainability project, engaged campus collaborators and employed "persistence of knowledge" techniques that advanced institutional capacity.

Founded the Georgia Mountains Farmers Network a collaborative of local and sustainable farmers throughout Northeast Georgia working to increase the impact of local foods in the region. Network initiation was in collaboration with national NGO, Certified Naturally Grown through a USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) grant. Projects included: bimonthly farmer network meetings, initiation of an annual Farm Tour featuring 16 farms with 500 attendees in 2014, coordination of bulk orders, and organization of 11+ on-farm workshops.

Gainesville, Ga, Tiger, Ga And Clarkesville, Ga

Founded and Co-managed the only year-round market for local, sustainable foods in an 8 county region of Northeast Georgia. The market consists of over 40 food producers and is made possible through a virtual marketplace on the web. Annual sales are $140k annually. Projects include: expanded the market to a nearby urban center in 2014, co-promoted farm products, and developed sustainability market standards.http://northeastgeorgia.locallygrown.net