Our Team

Kate Bartter, executive director of the Sustainability Institute, manages university sustainability initiatives, such as the academic collaboration component of the Comprehensive Energy Management Project, and builds effective external sustainability partnerships. In addition, she represents the Office of Academic Affairs on key sustainability commitments such as the Energy Academic Collaboration Council and President and Provost’s Council on Sustainability. Kate coordinates efforts on university sustainability initiatives and partnerships with senior leaders in university departments including Corporate Engagement, Industry Liaison Office, Administration and Planning, Business and Finance and Student Life. She also serves on Ohio State’s Government Affairs team. 
Prior to joining Ohio State in March 2007, Kate served as the Chief Policy Advisor and Director of Cabinet Affairs for Ohio Gov. Bob Taft. In that capacity, she managed the governor’s policy staff, directed cabinet relations, coordinated inter-agency issues including strategic planning, and oversaw the operation of the governor’s Washington, D.C., office. Kate also served as the Governor’s Executive Assistant for Environment and Natural Resources throughout the Taft administration.
She holds a bachelor of science in journalism from Ohio University.

Elena Irwin is faculty director and co-founder of the Sustainability Institute and a Distinguished Professor of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. A compelling advocate for sustainability, Irwin develops and nurtures interdisciplinary research and curriculum development across natural, physical and social sciences; engineering; public health; planning and policy; and the humanities. Elena is a professor of environmental economics whose research focuses on the economics of land use and development in urban, urbanizing and agricultural regions, including spatial models of land, water and ecosystem services. She has led research totaling over $19 million, with funding from the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture and other private and public agencies. She is a member of the U.S. EPA’s Board of Scientific Councilors Committee for Sustainable and Healthy Communities and the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association Executive Board. Elena holds an undergraduate degree in history and German from Washington University and a Ph.D. in agricultural and resource economics from the University of Maryland.

Mike Shelton is associate director for the Sustainability Institute, leading the development of a tracking and reporting system for the university's sustainability goals; managing the Ohio State Sustainability Fund; helping to manage the work of the President and Provost’s Council on Sustainability; and serving as a project manager for a number of sustainability related projects on campus.
Prior to joining Ohio State, Mike was at ScottsMiracle-Gro where he was the manager for Corporate Social Responsibility. He has worked in state government, at the Ohio Legislature, Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Ohio Governor’s Office, as well as at The Nature Conservancy’s Ohio Chapter, as Assistant Director of Government Relations.

Josh Knights forges strategic partnerships with companies, nonprofits, government agencies and other stakeholders that drive sustainability outcomes for Ohio State and its partners. He works with colleagues from across the colleges to pursue opportunities that advance Ohio State’s contributions to sustainability and resilience, especially in the fields of sustainable energy, healthy land and water, and smart and resilient communities.  Josh firmly believes in the power of collaboration to solve leading sustainability challenges.  Prior to joining Ohio State in 2018, Josh held leadership positions at The Nature Conservancy, including executive director of its Ohio program and director of its Corporate Partnerships team.  Previously, Josh worked on international trade policy in Washington, D.C., at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the law firm of White & Case.

Gina Jaquet’s work as Director of Education and Learning Programs for the Sustainability Institute centers around curriculum development, experiential learning and student engagement opportunities in sustainability and resilience. Founder and co-leader of the SUSTAINS Learning Community, Gina previously led undergraduate and graduate student services and managed academic programs for the Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics (AEDE). She also was program director for the Environment, Economy, Development and Sustainability major in collaboration with AEDE and the School of Environment and Natural Resources. Gina has received multiple awards for her work supporting students and academic programs and for her efforts with SUSTAINS.  She believes in the transformative power of education as a tool to create new opportunities for our students to learn, grow and prepare to solve our global sustainability challenges. She holds three Ohio State degrees: a bachelor’s degree in business administration and two master’s degrees, in environment and natural resources and higher education and student affairs.

Matthew Griffin is the Sustainability Institute's program coordinator of sustainability education and learning. In this role, he facilitates experiential learning opportunities for students by collaborating with faculty and staff across campus. He also works to use campus as living lab for sustainability learning by leveraging Ohio State’s resources and expertise. Matthew serves as the academic co-lead for the SUSTAINS Learning Community, developing curriculum around sustainability education and facilitating events throughout the academic year. He received a bachelor’s degree in sustainability and business from Ohio State in Spring 2019 and is excited to start his professional career with the Sustainability Institute.

Kathy Jackson is the Sustainability Institute’s program assistant, providing organizational support for the growing SI team. Her passion is helping individuals and families thrive in our complex society. She values opportunities to make positive differences with children in educational settings and families in support organizations. She also works to enhance our community through social justice advocacy efforts and to improve our infrastructures and environment. She enthusiastically embraces the power of interdisciplinary efforts and conversations to address the systemic issues facing our society.

Kim McIlwaine is the Sustainability Institute’s executive assistant, providing administrative support to the executive director, faculty director and entire SI team. Prior to joining Ohio State, she was an executive assistant for the Franklin County Auditor’s Office after working for several years as a legal assistant and paralegal in the Columbus area. Kim has a passion for nature and helping others learn the benefit of the natural world in our lives. She is very excited to continue her career as part of the Sustainability Institute at Ohio State.

Joan Slattery Wall joined the Office of Energy and Environment, now the Sustainability Institute, in 2012 where, as editor, she develops print, electronic and social media materials and edits Sustainability Institute documents and publications. Since 2001 she has worked in higher education communications, with responsibilities in writing, editing, marketing and media relations for The Ohio State University’s College of Engineering beginning in 2004 and previously for Ohio University. She started her career in journalism as a reporter and editor for daily, weekly and monthly publications covering crime and courts, community news and business, respectively. She graduated summa cum laude from The Ohio State University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.