Campus Catalyst Awards

Indiana University has made significant strides in campus sustainability because of the innovation and hard work of students, faculty, staff, administrators, and community members. The Office of Sustainability wishes to recognize these outstanding efforts to ensure a lasting positive impact by promoting sustainable solutions that reduce environmental impacts while supporting an equitable and prosperous IU with the annual Campus Catalyst Awards.

Since 2012 the annual Campus Catalyst Awards have recognized students, faculty, and staff that have made significant contributions to campus sustainability efforts and exemplify IU’s spirit of sustainability progress.

Do you know someone that strives to create a more sustainable IU?

Now is your chance to recognize their contributions by nominating them for a Campus Catalyst Award. These awards celebrate remarkable accomplishments of IU sustainability catalysts and thank them for their leadership, innovation, and positive impact as the campus community works together to sustain IU.

The Office of Sustainability is seeking nominations for the following categories:

Candidates for this award have developed pedagogy and curriculum which reinforce and advance principles of sustainability through course design and instruction. This award celebrates persons who have exhibited excellence in one or all of the following areas: 

  • Innovation: Creative integration of principles of environmental, social, and economic sustainability through innovative curriculum design and instruction.
  • Impact: Teaching and mentorship which inspires student engagement in sustainability projects on campus or beyond. Pedagogy which advances IU's vision to become an international leader in the development of sustainability-focused academic degrees and programs.

Candidates for this award are Staff (Service, Support and Professional Staff) who have made outstanding contributions and achievements in advancing campus initiatives addressing sustainability challenges with overlapping and complex ecological, social, and economic dimensions. This award celebrates persons who have exhibited excellence in one or more of the following areas:

  • Innovation: Development of creative and ground-breaking approaches to addressing complex social, environmental and economic sustainability issues on the Bloomington campus and beyond.
  • Impact: Lead by example in reducing the environmental impact and promoting responsible and ethical practices in sustainability.

Candidates for this award are IU students (undergraduate and graduate) who display leadership characteristics that have guided campus initiatives with overlapping and complex ecological, social, and economic dimensions. This award celebrates persons who have exhibited excellence in one or more of the following areas: 

  • Innovation: Development of creative and ground-breaking approaches to addressing complex social, environmental, and economic sustainability issues at IU.
  • Impact: Leadership which inspires campus community members to develop or engage in sustainability initiatives which will have significant environmental, social, and economic impacts on campus. Leadership which engages critical campus stakeholders in integrating sustainability into campus academics and operations. Leadership of a project or initiative that has resulted in tangible positive outcome(s), which are critical to enhancing sustainability at IU.

Candidates for this award are Faculty or Staff who have made an impact mentoring and guiding a student in addressing sustainability challenges with overlapping and complex ecological, social, and economic dimensions. This award celebrates persons who have exhibited excellence in one or more of the following areas: 

  • Mentorship: Guidance which confers relevant expertise and knowledge with enthusiasm. Aiding student in navigating career journey. Inspiring the student to excel in sustainability work and beyond. 

Campus Catalysts may be affiliated with any IU campus.

Award recipients are honored at the annual Sustainability Symposium.

Past Campus Catalyst Award recipients

  • Excellence in Teaching: Max Fertik
  • Staff Innovation: Justin
  • Student Leadership: McKenzie Jones
  • Outstanding Mentorship: Anagha Gore

  • Excellence in Teaching: Jessica O’Reilly
  • Staff Innovation: Amanda Wilson
  • Student Leadership: Zolboo Dashmyagmar
  • Outstanding Mentorship: Jon Racek

  • Excellence in Teaching: Nick Braxton
  • Staff Innovation: Stephanie Leslie
  • Student Leadership: Kara Lehner
  • Outstanding Mentor: Angela Babb

  • Excellence in Teaching: Shahzeen Attari
  • Staff Innovation: Document Services
  • Student Leadership: Siddharth Das
  • Outstanding Mentor: Chip Glaholt

  • Excellence in Teaching: Kelly Eskew
  • Staff Innovation: Erica Steinfeldt
  • Student Leadership: Annie King

  • Excellence in Teaching: Jon Eldon
  • Staff Innovation: Andrew Webster
  • Student Leadership: Amany Khoury

  • Cornerstone Award: Robert H. McKinney
  • Staff Innovation Award: Michael Chitwood
  • Student Leadership: Alexandra Johnson

  • Excellence in Teaching: Sanya Carly
  • Excellence in Leadership: Rahul Shrivastav
  • Staff Leader Award: Lea Woodard
  • Student Leader Award: Olivia Ranseen
  • Team Award: Biddle Hotel, Mike Campbell

  • Excellence in Teaching: James Farmer
  • Excellence in Research: Darren Ficklin
  • Excellence in Leadership: Steve Akers
  • Student Leader Award: Linus Platzer
  • Team Award: Mehmet Dalkilic, Soumik Dey, Kurt Zimmer, and Logan Keating

  • Excellence in Research: Heather Reynolds
  • Excellence in Teaching: Rebecca Lave
  • Excellence in Leadership: Jeff Kaden
  • Excellence in Student Leadership: Jack Buskirk
  • Team Award: Hoosier to Hoosier Sale Team

  • Excellence in Leadership: Peter Todd
  • Excellence in Leadership: Richard Wilk
  • Excellence in Student Leadership: Angela Babb
  • Team Award: Auxiliary Information Technology Team, IU Facilities
  • Excellence in Teaching: Shahzeen Attari

  • Excellence in Leadership: Noma Maier
  • Excellence in Teaching: Bennet Brabson
  • Excellence in Research: Rinku Roy Chowdhury
  • Team Award: CIB Living Green Team
  • Excellence in Student Leadership: Maggie Messerschmidt

  • Excellence in Teaching: Scott Shackelford
  • Excellence in Research: Bloomington Urban Forestry Research Group
  • Excellence in Leadership: Paul Sullivan
  • Team Award: IU Surplus Stores