SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Environmental Resource Consortium (PERC) has named Mary Ann Smith, lecturer of biology at Penn State Schuylkill, as a 2025 Campus Sustainability Champion. This prestigious award honors individuals in Pennsylvania’s higher education community who have made significant contributions to environmental, social and economic sustainability.
Smith has been a dedicated advocate for sustainability, leading initiatives that engage students and foster environmental stewardship. She is a founding partner and current Faculty Lead in the Campus Arboreta Network, an effort to enhance biodiversity and increase collaboration across Penn State campuses. Additionally, she serves as the Penn State Schuylkill site coordinator for EnvironMentors, a mentorship program that pairs K-12 students underrepresented in STEM fields with Penn State students and faculty to conduct sustainability research projects.
Beyond these initiatives, Smith has empowered students to explore sustainability in innovative ways. Under her guidance, students revamped a Beekeeping Club that not only educates about pollinators but also develops practical skills in honey harvesting and beeswax product creation.
The 2025 Campus Sustainability Champions will be honored during a virtual celebration hosted by PERC. The event will feature keynote speaker Nyla Holland, a former Campus Sustainability Champion and Penn State alumna. The ceremony, open to the public, will provide an opportunity to recognize sustainability leaders and foster connections across institutions. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP.
The Campus Sustainability Champion award reinforces Smith’s credentials as a leader in sustainability and highlights Penn State Schuylkill’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship. Her work continues to inspire students and colleagues, ensuring a lasting impact on the campus and beyond.
About the Pennsylvania Environmental Resource Consortium
The Pennsylvania Environmental Resource Consortium (PERC) is a 501(c)3 based in Pennsylvania that works to support and promote sustainability actions at universities and colleges across the commonwealth. For the past 15 years, PERC has provided resources, programming and networking opportunities to Pennsylvania faculty, staff and students. To serve member schools from across the commonwealth, PERC is currently running public-facing webinar programming, the EJ in PA financial award, and preparing for its May 18th Sustainability Leaders Conference in addition to the Campus Sustainability Champions Program.