Gonzaga’s Director of Sustainability Honored by McKinstry
SPOKANE, Wash – The director of sustainability at Gonzaga University has been honored for his work by McKinstry, a national leader in the design, construction, operation and maintenance of high-performing buildings.
Jim Simon was one of three people named Champions of Sustainability during the 2022 Washington & Oregon Higher Education Sustainability Conference. The “Champions” award program recognizes organizations and individuals exhibiting a forward-looking approach to innovative energy and waste reduction in the built environment, which contributes nearly 40% of total global energy-related carbon emissions.
Also honored were Monica Stenzel of Spokane Falls Community College and Zeen Vincent of Cal Poly Humboldt.
“We congratulate Monica, Zeen and Jim for their inspiring leadership in championing sustainability in higher education and their communities,” said Ashley Ruiz, McKinstry’s director of corporate social impact. “We are proud to work alongside leaders like these to make a difference on campuses across the country.”
Simon, who serves as the director of sustainability at Gonzaga, works to create a culture of sustainability to advance the university’s goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050.
Balancing GU’s best intentions with its best practices, Simon points to campus achievements that include securing free bus passes for all students and employees, stewarding the submission of an Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) gold rating, and supporting sustainability leadership programming that has impacted hundreds of students, employees and community members.
From new construction and ongoing operations to adaptive reuse and energy retrofits, McKinstry provides a single point of accountability across the entire building lifecycle. Focusing on people and outcomes, the company works to ensure the built environment serves owners, operators and occupants alike.