Meghan rejoined the OEP as UConn's Climate Action Plan Project Manager in August 2008. Through her position, Meghan is responsible for overseeing the development of the UConn Climate Action Plan (CAP) and the university’s greenhouse gas inventory. The plan, once finalized, will outline the university’s strategies for achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Meghan's job responsibilities include providing updates and progress report to the President's 8-member Climate Action Task Force; working with the workgroup co-chairs to coordinate the efforts of three volunteer workgroups focused on transportation, energy and sustainable development issues; helping to oversee the development of the university's greenhouse gas emissions inventory; and organizing campus outreach and awareness events relating to the CAP development.
Meghan graduated from UConn with a B.S. in Environmental Science, concentrating in Natural Resource Management, in December 2004. Prior to graduation, Meghan served as an intern in the Office of Environmental Policy from 2003-2005. During her time as an intern Meghan was involved in various
initiatives, but perhaps most notably, founded the EcoHusky Student Group, now one of the largest student environmental group on campus. For her efforts to improve campus environmental sustinability and awareness, Meghan was awarded a UConn Environmental Leadership Award in 2005. In May 2009, Meghan received her Masters’ degree in Natural Resources and the Environment. Her graduate research focused on using GIS analysis to examine associations between land cover, specifically impervious cover, in small Connecticut watersheds and the condition of the associated aquatic biological communities.
During the spring 2009 semester Meghan co-taught a first-year course titled "Environmental Sustainability" with the UConn Director of Environmental Policy, Rich Miller. Meghan also serves on the board of directors of the Willimantic Whitewater Partnership, a local nonprofit dedicated to restoring fish passage and boat passage along the river, while creating a public urban whitewater kayaking park, and is a member of the Coventry Conservation Corp in Coventry, Connecticut. Meghan is an avid outdoorswoman and loves to hike with her dogs, kayak, trail run and mountain bike in her spare time. Her passion lies in educating others about environmental sustainability and stewardship.
You can reach Meghan at meghan.ruta[at]uconn.edu.
To learn more about the university's climate action planning process visit www.ecohusky.uconn.edu/pcc/climatechange.html.
Last updated 02/04/2009.
