Campuses are consistently searching for ways to improve student outcomes and overall campus well-being by how they address a culture of wellness that includes food insecurity and other health equity issues. A culture of wellness can center on everything from eating enough fruits and vegetables to getting enough rest and relaxation or physical activity, and at the University of Massachusetts–Lowell, they are trying to tackle all those challenges with a small piece of ground.
Located on UMass–Lowell’s South Campus, the roughly one-third acre was vacant at the time engineering student Alana Smith noticed failing supply chain systems during the pandemic, which got her thinking about sustainable food systems, including something called food forests. Intrigued by the concept, a project was submitted and then received a $7,500 grant from a campus sustainability fund. By the time spring rolled around, a team of collaborators were planting fruit trees, strawberries and blueberries, vegetables, and perennials to attract pollinator species.
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Kevin Block is ground operations manager at the University of Massachusetts–Lowell. He is a certified educational facilities professional through APPA and a certified arborist through the state of Massachusetts and the International Society of Arboriculture. He has a master’s degree in environmental management and sustainability from Harvard University.
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University of Massachusetts–Lowell
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Jasmina Burek is an assistant professor of mechanical and industrial engineering, where she focuses on applying engineering and decision-making models to find solutions to climate change and environmental problems, energy and process modeling, multi-objective optimization, sustainability, system modeling and optimization for energy resilience, life cycle assessment, techno-economic analysis, climate smart housing, food insecurity in the cold supply chain, and handprint assessment.
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Nicole Kelly joined the University of
Massachusetts–Lowell Office of Sustainability in 2019 and has been involved with various projects spanning university sustainability reporting, the university's Urban Agriculture Program, and energy initiatives. Her role as assistant director of sustainability has provided support to university property and asset management, the UMass Lowell Sustainability Engagement & Enrichment Development Fund, community outreach and engagement, as well as continuing and developing local partnerships.
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Alana Smith is a Ph.D. student in mechanical engineering who spent her undergraduate years doing research for professors who share her commitment to building a more sustainable future. She became involved in campus sustainability efforts as a participant in the Research, Academics, and Mentoring Pathways program. Under Jasmina Burek’s direction, Smith got involved with a lifecycle assessment project, which analyzes the life span of materials from their creation until they are no longer used.
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Hannah Monbleau is associate director of student life and well-being at the University of Massachusetts–Lowell. In this role, Monbleau uses her knowledge as an RYT-200 Certified Yoga Instructor and Barre Above instructor, as well as her experience in student affairs to support students in improving their holistic well-being. She has a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Endicott College and a Master of Education in higher education administration from the University of Massachusetts–Lowell.
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Joy Winbourne is an assistant professor in the Department of Environmental, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences. As a terrestrial biogeochemist and global change ecologist, her research centers on understanding how plants regulate the movement of carbon, nutrients, and water in terrestrial ecosystems under a variety of human perturbations.
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Richard Yeager has over 35 years of professional experience working as an architect and administrator for university campuses. He has contributed to and managed an extensive number of academic projects, providing a wide array of support. He has a strong background in preservation and extensive experience in the renovation of numerous historic buildings throughout his career.
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