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This workshop will provide an overview of the STARS process from initial steps to completion, breaking down work into phases and providing tools and tips for institutions to complete STARS for the first time. We will use University of Southern California’s STARS submission as a case study, and have attendees build their own project plan, identify opportunities, and brainstorm strategies to overcome common challenges. 

This workshop is for institutions that have yet to complete a full STARS report and/or are looking for a refresher on how to assess data needs, set up a collection process, and then analyze data to submit information to each of the categories of STARS. We will also touch upon how to connect STARS reporting to institutional strategic initiatives for effective change management and overall sustainability planning and tracking.

Facilitators

Elias Platte-Bermeo, Sustainability Program Specialist, University of Southern California
Elias Platte-Bermeo is a Project Specialist within USC’s Office of Sustainability. He served as STARS Liaison and Responsible Party for USC’s first STARS report submitted in July, 2021. With the support of GreenerU, he managed STARS data collection, data analysis, and stakeholder engagement while connecting STARS reporting to USC’s various strategic priorities. Beyond STARS, Elias has worked to develop USC’s first sustainability internship program, an online sustainability training module, and a zero-waste events protocol. Before coming to USC, he was a student at UCLA where he worked to advance sustainability as a student employee and active participant in student sustainability organizations.

Lisa Bjerke, Director of Change Management, GreenerU
Lisa Bjerke, Director of Change Management for GreenerU, has been involved in strategic planning, built campus sustainability programs from the ground up, and created and implemented sustainability efforts on- and off-campus. She was a 2013 T.J. Watson fellow, researching concepts of human relationships to waste and resources in Germany, India, China, and Japan. At GreenerU, Lisa leads the change management team and collaborates across disciplines to help institutions mitigate climate change through the built environment and operations. Lisa is skilled in adaptive facilitation, group dynamics, and strategic planning, and her team provides mission-driven project management, capacity building, and sustainability knowledge to institutions. Before joining GreenerU, Lisa managed College of the Atlantic’s discarded resource program on Mount Desert Island in Maine, where she completed her master’s degree in human ecology. There she implemented the campus-wide composting program, negotiated zero-waste policies, and created dining hall resource conservation practices. Lisa earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in human ecology from the College of the Atlantic.

Any questions about the workshop?
Please contact Daita Serghi, education@aashe.org

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