Time Stamps of Questions:
02:42 - What motivates you to take action in the movement for sustainability, both in your life and at Cypress College?
04:32 - What are some of the sustainability projects that are going on at Cypress College?
09:26 - What kind of collaboration took place in order to bring about the thermal energy tank?
11:54 - What are some of the green characteristics of the SEM building?
18:18 - What are some of the ways that students can be involved in campus sustainability?
23:45 - What is your long-term vision or hope regarding sustainability on the district or state level?
26:21 - Do you have any advice for professors or campus representatives that want to start their own sustainability projects?
Dr. JoAnna Schilling
President of Cypress College (2017-2023)
JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D., began her career in community colleges as Dean of Arts and Cultural Programs at Rio Hondo College and went on to serve as Vice President of Academic Affairs at both Cerritos and Rio Hondo Colleges. An alumni of Oregon State University and Smith College, she currently represents the Orange County community colleges on the statewide Community Colleges CEO Board and served on the statewide Affordability, Food & Housing Access Taskforce, and the Racial Equity Taskforce from 2018-2021. Dr.Schilling joined Cypress College in 2017, as the 12th president in campus history. Under her leadership, she has led Cypress College into the Aspen Prize Top 150 U.S. Community Colleges of America and became the #1 ranked community college in California in 2018 and 2020. In March of this year, Dr.Schilling received the award for Woman of the Year in the 67th Assembly district and was also recognized as a Woman of Distinction in the 45th congressional district.
Dr. Schilling is an exemplary leader and educator, as well as a great advocate for greater sustainability and environmentalism. In 2019, the Excellence in Energy and Sustainability award was presented for Cypress College’s chilled-water, thermal-energy storage tank, which reduces cost and increases energy efficiency.