Optimizing Our Facilities

Launched in June 2023, the Sustaining Teaching and Research Task Force, or START, will assess challenges, prioritize strategies and recommend specific actions to bring about substantive improvements to our education, research and service models, thereby enhancing our ability to fulfill our mission at the highest levels of achievement.

The Optimizing Our Facilities Committee will look at options for improving our use of space— including analyzing the actual use of our classrooms, laboratories, and offices—and make recommendations to optimize usage patterns given increased use of remote and hybrid work.

The committee's members are:

  • Co-Chairs
  • Jared Shaw, Professor, Chemistry
    Kim Turner, Executive Director, Integrated Planning and Design
  • Members
  • Ralph Aldredge, Executive Associate Dean, College of Engineering
    Jason Bond, Associate Dean, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
    Tammy Booker (Staff), Director, Space Management and Project Development
    Michael Brown (Ex-Officio), Past Provost and Executive Vice President, UC Office of the President
    Jim Carroll, Associate Vice Chancellor, Design and Construction Management
    William Garrity, Interim University Librarian
    Lucas Griffith, Executive Director, Campus Planning and Environmental Stewardship
    Brian Hodge, University Registrar
    Kristin Lagattuta, Professor and Chair, Psychology
    Meggan Levitt, Assistant Vice Provost and Associate Chief Information Officer for Academic Applications
    John Marx, Vice Provost, Aggie Square
    Bret McNabb, Director, Large Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine
    Joshua Morejohn, Executive Director, Engineering and Utilities
    Jen Sang, Executive Assistant Dean for Finance and Administration, College of Biological Sciences
    Laurie San Martin, Professor and Undergraduate Advisor, Music
    Kathleen Socolofsky, Assistant Vice Chancellor and Director, Arboretum and Public Garden
    Anne Todgham, Professor and Chair, Animal Science
    Matt Traxler, Associate Vice Provost for Academic Planning, Undergraduate Education
    Cory Vu, Associate Vice Chancellor for Health, Wellness, and Divisional Resources, Student Affairs

Working Groups

The Optimizing Our Facilities Committee has formed working groups that will focus on specific topics and address the full range of questions submitted to START. Thus far, the working groups and members are:

  • Class Lab
  • Members:
    Ralph Aldredge    , Executive Associate Dean, College of Engineering
    Lucas Griffith, Executive Director, Campus Planning and Environmental Stewardship
    Bret McNabb, Director, Large Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine
    Anne Todgham, Professor and Chair, Animal Science
    Matt Traxler, Associate Vice Provost for Academic Planning, Undergraduate Education
    Kim Turner, Executive Director, Integrated Planning and Design
  • General Assignment Classroom
  • Members:
    Ralph Aldredge, Executive Associate Dean, College of Engineering
    Michael Brown (Ex-Officio), Past Provost and Executive Vice President, UC Office of the President
    William Garrity, Interim University Librarian
    Brian Hodge, University Registrar
    Kristin Lagattuta, Professor and Chair, Psychology
    Matt Traxler, Associate Vice Provost for Academic Planning, Undergraduate Education
    Kim Turner, Executive Director, Integrated Planning and Design
  • Office
  • Members:
    Tammy Booker (Staff), Director, Space Management and Project Development
    Jim Carroll, Associate Vice Chancellor, Design and Construction Management
    Brian Hodge, University Registrar
    John Marx, Vice Provost, Aggie Square
    Joshua Morejohn, Executive Director, Engineering and Utilities
    Jen Sang, Executive Assistant Dean for Finance and Administration, College of Biological Sciences
  • Public Service and Engagement
  • Members:
    Jason Bond, Associate Dean, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
    William Garrity, Interim University Librarian
    Lucas Griffith, Executive Director, Campus Planning and Environmental Stewardship
    Bret McNabb, Director, Large Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine
    Jen Sang, Executive Assistant Dean for Finance and Administration, College of Biological Sciences
    Laurie San Martin, Professor and Undergraduate Advisor, Music
    Kathleen Socolofsky, Assistant Vice Chancellor and Director, Arboretum and Public Garden
    Cory Vu, Associate Vice Chancellor for Health, Wellness, and Divisional Resources, Student Affairs
  • Research Labs
  • Members:
    Jason Bond, Associate Dean, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
    Michael Brown (Ex-Officio), Past Provost and Executive Vice President, UC Office of the President
    John Marx, Vice Provost, Aggie Square
    Joshua Morejohn, Executive Director, Engineering and Utilities
    Laurie San Martin, Professor and Undergraduate Advisor, Music
    Jared Shaw, Professor, Chemistry
    Anne Todgham, Professor and Chair, Animal Science