Foundation News

PLATTEVILLE - University of Wisconsin-Platteville alumnus Ron Meissen recently established the Ron Meissen Sustainability Fund to advance the understanding and teaching of sustainability throughout the university. Meissen graduated in 1971 from UW-Platteville with a degree in civil engineering. He went on to earn a Master of Science degree in civil engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana, an M.B.A. from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, and a Ph.D. at UW-Madison in environmental science with a focus on sustainable development/industrial eco-efficiency and a Ph.D. minor in energy analysis and policy.

Meissen decided to create the fund because of the interest in sustainability and its possible evolution at UW-Platteville. He said the world is becoming more challenged because society is using limited resources at a rate which will be difficult to sustain and generating certain wastes, such as greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to global climate change. Meissen desires the current generation to learn more about sustainability so future generations will be able to meet their needs and live healthy lives.

The fund states that UW-Platteville is to use the funds as deemed most appropriate for teaching and expanding sustainability throughout the university. His goal is to advance sustainability and renewable energy both at the university and within the curriculum, as appropriate his to alma mater, by providing resources, both intellectually and financially.

"This fund will give the Renewable Energy Council financial support for field trips and travel to conferences that they otherwise would not have due to recent budget restrictions. Ron's desire to enhance sustainability at UW-Platteville by sharing his knowledge and giving financial support is commendable," said Holly Kaiser, director of development at the UW-Platteville Foundation, who worked with Meissen to set up the fund.

"On behalf of the Renewable Energy Council members, I thank Mr. Meissen for his vision and support of our efforts on sustainability and renewable energy" said Mesut Muslu, chair of the Renewable Energy Council. Muslu stated that such support is critical for faculty to integrate sustainability issues in their courses and also be able to take students to conferences.

Meissen is employed at Baxter International Inc. and has held various positions over 30 years. For the last 10 years, he has worked on sustainability issues for the company. Meissen came to UW-Platteville several times in 2008 to meet with administrators, professors and students to discuss renewable energy, sustainability and emerging trends in sustainable development.

UWP developed a minor in renewable energy that was first offered in the fall 2008 semester. According to the renewable energy minor website, the renewable energy minor is a university-wide interdisciplinary program designed to enhance the knowledge of students with regard to renewable as well as traditional energy sources and their impacts on the environment and society.

For more information about the Ron Meissen Sustainability Fund contact Kaiser at (608) 342-1879 or kaiserh@uwplatt.edu.

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