Thirteen years of professional sustainability experience, a broad network in business and academics, and a motivation to expand on Iowa State’s initiatives on sustainability are a few of the reasons Tom Eggert believes he will be a good fit for the position of sustainability director.

Eggert, senior lecturer of business at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and candidate for the new sustainability director position at Iowa State, said he is interested in the position because he wants to build on what the university is already doing, in terms of sustainability.

“There is an appeal of what’s happening at Iowa State. You have president and council support for the idea of sustainability, we simply don’t have that yet in Madison,” he said.

Eggert said he likes that Iowa State is planning sustainability initiatives from a higher level, rather than building them from the bottom, like the University of Wisconsin.

“Our effort is a grassroots effort — built from the ground up,” he said. “What Iowa State is saying, in addition to all the wonderful things that are already happening, ‘we are trying to coordinate this from the top.’ That is, frankly, very appealing.”

Eggert said he was impressed during his visit to Iowa State when he saw the Live Green! banners outside Beardshear Hall.

“I’m very pleased with how much thought had been given to the concept of sustainability already at Iowa State,” Eggert said. “I saw Live Green! banners outside of the building, indicating that this is something already a part of the student experience. Being able to build on that is a great opportunity for anyone in this position.”

The person who fills the position will be responsible for expanding those initiatives, as well as guiding and planning a strategic vision to help make Iowa State a state, national and international leader in sustainability. The director would also serve on a committee to promote sustainability at Iowa State and create a communication outreach plan, said Tahira Hira, executive assistant to the president. She said that, as a response to the multiple sustainability initiatives at Iowa State, a full-time position was needed to effectively fulfill the university’s plans.

“If we want to be serious about it, we need to bring in a real person to fulfill those responsibilities,” she said.

Eggert has 13 years of professional experience with environmental problems and policies, including a position in environmental law with the Attorney General’s Office in Montana and with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Currently, Eggert teaches a variety of “classes focused distinctly on sustainability” at the University of Wisconsin. He is also the co-director of the Center for Business, Environment and Social Responsibility, a graduate certification program that he helped coordinate in 1995. He said the program is a joint effort with the environmental studies program and the school of business.

“It was in response to students who were very interested in the topics — even in the mid and late ‘90s,” he said. “It’s a way for graduate students to record their interests in sustainability on their transcripts.”

Eggert believes his experience coordinating and co-directing the Center will help him the most in the position of sustainability director at Iowa State.

“I bring a tremendous amount of experience in the sustainability area — everything from Clorox to small organic farms. I have a broad network of folks to draw on,” he said.

Eggert said, because of his experience in the sustainabilty area, he would be able to provide an extensive network of professionals to help expand the university’s ideas on sustainability.

“The best way for Iowa State to move forward is to find out what others are doing and incorporate them. Instead of reinventing the wheel, we can coordinate,” he said. “Some amazing things are already happening here. The real challenge for the position is to organize what’s already happening.”