Institute for Sustainable Practice receives Tennessee Urban Forestry Council’s President’s Award
Kim Chaudoin |
Dodd Galbreath, far right, along with Lipscomb alumni Josiah Lockard, Katherine Killibrew and Will Caplenor, accept the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council’s President’s Award at a ceremony Nov. 9.
Lipscomb University's Institute for Sustainable Practice (ISP) has been recognized for its excellence in its commitment to environment and programming as a recipient of the President's Award through Tennessee Urban Forestry Council's (TUFC's) Awards of Excellence Program. The award was announced during the TUFC’s awards banquet on Nov. 9.
These Awards of Excellence are selected for outstanding leadership, education efforts or activities that have made a significant contribution to establishing and maintaining viable community forests in Tennessee.
“Being good stewards of the earth’s resources and for living a life that focuses on care of the planet, its people and resources has a tremendous impact on future generations,” said Dodd Galbreath, director of Lipscomb’s Institute for Sustainable Practice graduate program and associate professor of sustainability. “This recognition is the reflection of the efforts of a number of faculty, staff and students over time to care for the environment, and it is affirmation that we are preparing our students to make a difference in the world around them.”
The President’s Award recognizes a person or organization who has done outstanding urban forestry achievements at the local community level. “These are the daily heroes, who through their urban forestry efforts, work and inspire the rest of us to make our communities a better place for people to live,” according to the award description. The award program is sponsored by the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Division of Forestry.
Along with Dodd, the award was received by three Lipscomb ISP alumni: Josiah Lockard, a prominent native landscape designer, horticulturist, botanist, and business owner; Kathrine Killibrew, city forester in Clarksville, Tennessee; and Will Caplenor, project manager for Resource Environmental Solutions.
Killebrew (MS 2012) has been the city forester for the City of Clarksville, Tennessee, for nine years and a certified arborist with the International Society of Arborists for eight. In her current role as an urban forester, Katy supervises a team of over 30 employees, is an adjunct professor at her alma mater, Austin Peay State University, is a past president of the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council, and has visited the governor's mansion to kick off an effort by the first lady of Tennessee to promote urban forests. Killebrew worked as an E-911 operator for 11 years before deciding to go back to college and then graduate school, exemplifying the aspiration and value of lifelong learning.
Lockard (ESS 2017) is a highly sought-after landscape designer, restoration ecologist, and consulting arborist at Josiah Lockard & Associates. Lockard and his team are known for designing some of Nashville's most innovative and sophisticated native plant landscapes in Nashville's most notable and exclusive communities. After the institute completed a native tiny forest in the Lipscomb Academy elementary playground, Lockard was enlisted to take the site and its campus to the next level, recently achieving the Level I Certified Arboretum status. Josiah is a certified arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture, a LEED Green Associate, past president of the Perennial Plant Society of Middle Tennessee, and current president of the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council.
Caplenor (MS 2018) came to Lipscomb already talented in urban forestry projects. Caplenor led urban and rural forestry planting and restoration initiatives at two different non-profit organizations, the Tennessee Environmental Council and the Cumberland River Compact. After graduate school, Caplenor moved into the for-profit sector and joined Resource Environmental Solutions, "the nation’s largest ecological restoration company" who is widely tapped to restore and rehab land and waters due to its attention to ecological detail, integrity, and innovation success where nature needs it most. Caplenor is an RES project manager.
In addition to this recognition, Lipscomb was recently named to the Princeton Review’s 2023 Guide to Green Colleges. More than 25 data points were analyzed in the selection of schools for the guide and recognizes those with strong commitments to the environment in their campus policies, programs and practices. Earlier this fall, Lipscomb Academy was designated a Level 1 Certified Arboretum by the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council. This is the result of the Green Team Program founded at the academy more than two decades ago by retired faculty Ginger Reasonover and Becky Collins.
The Institute for Sustainable Practice in the College of Leadership & Public Service at Lipscomb University offers undergraduate and graduate programs to teach students the science of sustainability. Graduates are equipped to help both businesses and people transform careless behaviors into mindful habits that focus on the triple bottom line: people, profit and planet. Taught by pioneering entrepreneurs, innovative scientists, creative engineers, visionary policy makers and other sustainable leaders, current and future professionals learn how to make a difference in their communities and the world. Learn more at www.lipscomb.edu/sustainability.