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Jepson School Of Leadership Studies Dean's Report 2021 - 2022, Sandra J. Peart

Jepson School of Leadership Studies Dean's Reports

University of Richmond's Jepson School of Leadership Studies Dean's Report for 2021 - 2022.

Stormwater Management For A Healthier Campus Watershed: The Value-Add Of Green Stormwater And Watershed Management To The University Of Richmond’S Campus Landscape, Nia Cambridge

Geography and the Environment Capstone Projects

Increasing competitiveness, educational opportunities and available funding, investment in sustainable infrastructure can be an immense value-add to the modern-day college campus. This paper explores the use of green low impact development to mitigate the effects of stormwater runoff on the University of Richmond (UR) campus. Rich in sediment, nutrients, heavy metals, bacteria and other organic matter, stormwater runoff is one of the main non-point sources of pollution in urban water bodies and a key area of opportunity for UR to improve stewardship to the nearby James River. A review of academic and industry literature was conducted to determine whether or …

The University Of Richmond: Leadership During Crisis, Gabby Beneducci, Josie Bossidy, Ben Castellano, Lexi Cobbs, Phoebe Cook, Westen Doran, Caroline Dzenitis, Taylor Fine, Evie Hanson, Sophia Hartman, Maha Hassan, Katelyn Inkman, Grace Jamin, Matt Kalady, Mimi Laws, Regan Mccrossan, David Nadwodny, Kathryn Reda, Savon Smith, Brian Taylor, Arden Tierney, Lauranett L. Lee

Student Publications

Throughout history, we have experienced numerous points of difficulty, tension, and conflict. Although they vary widely in their cause, context, and intensity, these points in history are considered times of crisis. How humans have reacted to these events and moments having created influential turning points in human history. This presentation explores various crises in American history, and the role of leaders and leadership during these times. This presentation looks at these crises, past and present, from the perspective of the collegiate institution, specifically, the University of Richmond.

Hydropower As A Feasible Option Of The University Of Richmond, Gershom Ejoni

Environmental Studies Senior Seminar Projects

As the University of Richmond moves forward in achieving its sustainability goals, it made a decision to invest into a solar array in Spotsylvania, VA in order to offset their energy consumption with renewable energy. However, this solar array has been controversial for many of the residents in Spotsylvania. My senior seminar class has tasked itself with investigating all aspects of the University’s decision to partner with sPower. This paper will analyze the potential alternative energy sources that the University can possible consider, in particular, hydropower; thereby, determining if hydropower is a potential viable option the University of Richmond can …

The Most Environmentally Beneficial Option: An Analysis On Spower’S Solar Project In Relation To The Endangered Species Act, Victoria Williams

Environmental Studies Senior Seminar Projects

Today, the current impacts of high greenhouse gas emissions due to energy production have been widely discussed in scholarly literature. In 2018, the University of Richmond (UR) announced a goal to match 100% of the campus' electricity demand with solar energy to decrease its carbon footprint. UR partnered with sPower to construct a 500-megawatt solar array in which UR will receive the 20-megawatts worth of energy from the site in Spotsylvania, Virginia. sPower’s solar project engendered various environmental concerns surrounding Fawn Lake and the endangered species found in the proximity of the project. Acknowledging the environmental concerns, the objective of …

Incorporating Community Solar At The University Of Richmond To Reach Sustainability Goals, Maribel Sabino

Geography and the Environment Capstone Projects

An analysis of the scale pertaining to sustainability efforts by the University of Richmond concerning the solar farm in Spotsylvania and alternative solar options is imperative to understanding and encouraging sustainability at the University of Richmond. Solar energy as a renewable energy has high potential to help institutions of higher education reach sustainability goals. Considering solar power at various scales will help understand if solar is a viable option to reach these goals. This project examines community solar under a lens of sustainability as a potential contender to meeting the sustainability and carbon neutrality goals of the University of Richmond. …

Is Wind Energy A Better Option For The University Of Richmond?, Steven Yu

Environmental Studies Senior Seminar Projects

The purpose of this assignment is to answer the question of: Is Wind Energy the Better Option for the University of Richmond? This question is more than simply if wind power will supply the campus the greatest amount of energy, but also looks at the educational, social, environmental and political benefits that would also be associated with it. In order to understand the feasibility of wind power on the University of Richmond campus, I looked at factors such as: energy production from wind turbines, past wind patterns in Richmond, VA, impacts to the environment. This is only one part of …

Maintaining Productive Efficiency Of Solar Arrays, Grant Woods

Environmental Studies Senior Seminar Projects

With the onset of climate change people are demanding better business behavior. As a result, many companies seek to diversify their public presence by acquiring technologies and behaviors that ultimately strive toward a goal of reducing environmental impacts. One particular focus of this transition has been the acquisition of clean energy technology. Solar photovoltaic arrays are one such technology that companies and homeowners continue to adopt to meet their environmental goals whether those goals are specific, measureable, impactful or whether they are more for self satisfaction and peace of mind. Administration and the Office for Sustainability at University of Richmond …

Natural Gas: Analyzing The Relationship Between The University Of Richmond's Corporate Social Responsibility And Natural Gas As An Alternative Energy Source, Sophia M. Tailor

Environmental Studies Senior Seminar Projects

On April 9, 2019, the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors approved a permit to begin construction on a 500 megawatt solar array managed by Sustainable Power Group (sPower) in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. A roughly $615 million project, sPower’s solar array will cover almost 6,300 acres of Spotsylvania County and is set to be the largest such project east of the Rocky Mountains (Shenk, 2019). Alongside big players such as Microsoft and Etsy, the University of Richmond also has a stake in the project. 20 MW of the Spotsylvania solar array will be designated for the University of Richmond and is …

Spotsylvania Solar: A Stakeholder Analysis Of Corporate Involvement, Merissa Shebell

Environmental Studies Senior Seminar Projects

This report investigates the major corporations that hold a stake in sPower’s 500-Megawatt Spotsylvania Solar Project through the framework of corporate social responsibility. The major corporations include the investors in the project, Microsoft, Apple in collaboration with Akamai, Etsy, and Swiss Re, and the University of Richmond, as well as the energy provides and distributors, Dominion Energy and PJM Interconnection. Through an evaluation of the investors’ sustainability and environmental reports, the motivations behind their agreements with sPower can be attributed to a desire to meet their renewable energy goals. By purchasing a portion of the electricity generated by the solar …

Exhibit Description For The Invisible Truth: An Exposition Of Gender Violence And Our Demands For Change, Mariela Méndez

Project Description, Exposition Posters and Interview Questions

The photography exhibit, The Invisible Truth: An Exposition of Gender Violence and Our Demands for Change, was the final project for the upper-level LALIS/WGSS seminar “Embodied Politics in Latin America: Race, Gender, Sex, and Performance,” taught by Dr. Mariela Méndez in the Spring of 2018.

Flyer For The Invisible Truth: An Exposition Of Gender Violence And Our Demands For Change, Mariela Méndez

Exposition Flyer

The photography exhibit, The Invisible Truth: An Exposition of Gender Violence and Our Demands for Change, was the final project for the upper-level LALIS/WGSS seminar “Embodied Politics in Latin America: Race, Gender, Sex, and Performance,” taught by Dr. Mariela Méndez in the Spring of 2018.

Manifesto: Our Demands For Change, Mariela Méndez

Manifesto: Our Demands for Change

The photography exhibit, The Invisible Truth: An Exposition of Gender Violence and Our Demands for Change, was the final project for the upper-level LALIS/WGSS seminar “Embodied Politics in Latin America: Race, Gender, Sex, and Performance,” taught by Dr. Mariela Méndez in the Spring of 2018.

One part of the project was the creation of Manifesto: Our Demands for Change. Please read the attached download for details.

The System: Reimagining Richmond: Diversity At The University Of Richmond, Maxim Ermoshkin, Sariah Gonzalez, Taylor Hoogsteden, Brooke Sommers

SSIR Presentations 2018

Research and Capstone projects for The System

Building on the 2017 fall semester and insights from the trip to Los Angeles, student working groups will predict the future of a system or related issue for an audience of their peers, offering reflections on navigating that future. These projects might take the form of posters, video installations, original speculative fiction, or mixed media that will be incorporated into the atmosphere of a campus party, both to maximize the student audience, and to celebrate our determination for an exciting future.

Posters For The Invisible Truth: An Exposition Of Gender Violence And Our Demands For Change, Mariela Méndez

Project Description, Exposition Posters and Interview Questions

The photography exhibit, The Invisible Truth: An Exposition of Gender Violence and Our Demands for Change, was the final project for the upper-level LALIS/WGSS seminar “Embodied Politics in Latin America: Race, Gender, Sex, and Performance,” taught by Dr. Mariela Méndez in the Spring of 2018.

Interview Questions For The Invisible Truth: An Exposition Of Gender Violence And Our Demands For Change, Mariela Méndez

Project Description, Exposition Posters and Interview Questions

The photography exhibit, The Invisible Truth: An Exposition of Gender Violence and Our Demands for Change, was the final project for the upper-level LALIS/WGSS seminar “Embodied Politics in Latin America: Race, Gender, Sex, and Performance,” taught by Dr. Mariela Méndez in the Spring of 2018.

Food Security At The University Of Richmond, Kayla Sherman, Donald Edmonds, Yuncheng Liu

Geography and the Environment Capstone Projects

The University of Richmond’s Strategic Plan states the University’s goal to be “a leader in innovative practices that sustain our environmental, human, and financial resources” (Crutcher 2017). The University has also signed multiple national and global sustainability commitments such as the Talloires Declaration (2003), the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment, (2007) and the American Campuses Acton Climate Pledge (2015). These commitments set ambitious climate action goals and address the responsibility of colleges and universities not only to cultivate an environmental consciousness on campus but also to transform the conventional operation systems on which college and universities depend. While …

The Trayless Dining Movement And The University's Future Transition, Jacquelyn Pearlmutter, J. R. Mastro

Geography and the Environment Capstone Projects

Across the globe, and in the United States, food waste causes negative financial, environmental, and social impacts (Plano, 2016). At the United States retail and consumer level, 90 billion pounds of food are wasted each year, which is equivalent to $161.6 billion annually (Plano, 2016). More than 50% of waste is diverted to landfills where the organic matter contaminates soil and groundwater, decomposes, and produces methane (Lopez et al., 2016). Methane, a greenhouse gas, is more potent than CO2 as it traps 25 times more radiation than CO2 (Lopez et al., 2017).

Poster prepared for the Environmental Studies Senior Seminar/Geography …

Achieving Waste & Emissions Reduction Goals On University Of Richmond Campus: The Biodigester Approach, Joe Walderman, Alexa Williams

Geography and the Environment Capstone Projects

This project proposes the installation of a small-scale anaerobic digester (biodigester). This is a reactor that breaks down biodegradable organic waste producing biogas. Food waste is considered one of the most efficient for producing biogas of typical biodigester feedstocks (Poschl, 2010). The UR Dining Hall produces 614 lbs of food waste per day to be used as feedstock, with landscaping scraps available for additional feed. The University boiler plant is capable of using biogas for heat production, making the plant a suitable destination for the digester's waste output. The digester may allow for waste diversion and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions …

A Proposal For Geothermal Heating & Cooling At The University Of Richmond, Zachary Snelling, Coleman Harris, Chelsea Wilson

Geography and the Environment Capstone Projects

This poster explores the viability of installing a geothermal heat pump at the University of Richmond. By analyzing geothermal reports, interviews with key informants, and installation requirements, we conclude whether the instillation of a geothermal heat pump is feasible at the University of Richmond. In addition, we explain the environmental and economic benefits of installing a geothermal heat pump.

Poster session for the Environmental Studies Senior Seminar/Geography Capstone.

Environmental Education At The University Of Richmond And Proposal For A Stewardship/ Sustainability Themed First Year Experience, Janet Goldbach Ehmer, Minyao Li

Geography and the Environment Capstone Projects

In the University Strategic Plan 2017: in the fifth value, Stewardship in A Changing World, The University of Richmond has set the goal to be a leader in innovative practices that sustain our environmental, human and financial resources in response to emerging environmental and financial challenges globally. The University Strategic Plan 2017 proposes three key initiatives aiming to help the community to achieve the goal of sustainability. First, the University and the Office of Sustainability will complete a Sustainability Strategic Plan that guides the University to build a more sustainable and environmentally friendly campus through the development and implementation of …

A Proposal For Geothermal Heating & Cooling At The University Of Richmond, Zachary Snelling, Coleman Harris, Chelsea Wilson

Geography and the Environment Capstone Projects

Ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) offer a more efficient and environmentally responsible alternative to traditional heating and cooling systems. Using the earth’s constant subsurface ground temperatures to generate heating and cooling, GSHPs allow for a decrease in fossil fuel dependence and greenhouse gas emissions. Higher education institutions, such as the University of Richmond, have a responsibility to model sustainability for their students when expanding and developing their campuses. Environmental, educational, and economic factors must be evaluated when considering new and replacement heat and energy installations. The viability of a GSHP installation on the University of Richmond’s campus should weigh current …

Waste Reduction At The University Of Richmond: Recommendations For A Greener, Cleaner Campus, J. R. Mastro, Jaquelyn Pearlmutter, Joe Walderman, Alexa Williams

Geography and the Environment Capstone Projects

Connecting with the University of Richmond goals of stewardship and academic achievement both in and outside the classroom, we have constructed a plan for making the University campus more sustainable. By applying knowledge acquired throughout our Environmental Studies education, and understanding its connection to global issues, we hope to make a positive, lasting impact on our campus community. In the 2017 Strategic Plan, the University describes a vision of "modelling the way that colleges and universities can effectively meet the challenges of our time" (UR Strategic Plan, 2017). Although there is a broad range of environmental issues that can be …

Food Systems And Security At The University Of Richmond, Kayla Sherman, Donald Edmonds, Yuncheng Liu

Geography and the Environment Capstone Projects

In the past fifteen years, the University has signed multiple national and global sustainability commitments, such as the 2003 Talloires Declaration, the 2007 American College and University President’s Climate Commitment, and the 2015 American Campuses Act on Climate Pledge (OFSb 2017). These commitments set ambitious climate action goals and address the responsibility of colleges and universities not only to cultivate a culture of environmental stewardship on campus but also to transform their conventional operational systems into sustainable systems. The University of Richmond’s 2017 Sustainability Report highlights the steps the University has taken to achieve these goals and identifies areas in …

Ur Scholarship Repository: 2016-2017 Year In Review, Lucretia Mcculley

UR Scholarship Reports and Statistics

Annual Report for the University of Richmond's institutional repository, UR Scholarship.

Ur Scholarship Repository: 2015-2016 Year In Review, Lucretia Mcculley

UR Scholarship Reports and Statistics

Annual Report for the University of Richmond's institutional repository, UR Scholarship.

Ur Scholarship Repository: 2014-2015 Year In Review, Lucretia Mcculley

UR Scholarship Reports and Statistics

Annual Report for the University of Richmond's institutional repository, UR Scholarship.

Assessing Scope 3 Emissions Within A University Department: Using A Life Cycle Assessment And Supply Chain Case Studies, Celia J. Landesberg, Erin E. Brady

Geography and the Environment Capstone Projects

For this report, we conducted a small-scale life cycle assessment for the Department of Geography and the Environment. To supplement the scope of our results, we integrated case studies into our project that analyzed two commonly utilized products frequently purchased by our University: Coca-Cola PlantBottles and Hammermill Paper. The purpose of this project is to identify opportunities to reduce Scope 3 emissions associated with University purchasing habits.

While the scope of this report is limited, analysis of the department and the two case studies suggest the University should conduct a larger, more comprehensive supply chain assessment in the future to …

Climate Change And The Westhampton Lake, Kendel Ahnell, Yaz Nuñez, Natasha Rathlev

Geography and the Environment Capstone Projects

The Westhampton Lake is a cultural monument on campus and one of the University of Richmond's most prominent features. Prospective students have made college decisions based on the lake's beauty and alumni look forward to returning to the waterfront to reminisce about their college experience. The significance of place attachment that members of the Richmond community hold toward the lake imbues great value on the lake as a key geographic element of campus (Devine-Wright, 2013). However, our community suffers from a lack of knowledge around the health and sustainability of this dearly beloved body of water. Over the course of …

Rainwater Harvesting System, Diana Alderbashi, Joel Collins, Jack Wilkes

Geography and the Environment Capstone Projects

Water is a crucial resource for the survival of life on earth. Unfortunately, with the increasing threat of climate change fresh water is expected to become a pressing issue in the future for many countries, including the southeastern region of the United States (EPA 2013), refer to figure 1. According to the EPA, water management is likely to become a challenging issue, due to rising temperatures, and demand due to economic and population growth (EPA 2013). Increased temperatures are likely to lead to longer, more intense, and more frequent droughts in the Southeast, putting more stress on water resources (EPA …