UC Santa Barbara Announced as a Leader in Sustainable Electronics Procurement with a 2024 EPEAT Purchaser Award
July 25, 2024 - UC Santa Barbara was recognized with its fourth EPEAT Purchaser Award, which celebrates leaders in sustainable electronics procurement. The award comes from the Global Electronics Council (GEC), the non-profit organization that manages the EPEAT ecolabel. EPEAT allows UC Santa Barbara to efficiently address the lifecycle impacts of the electronics we purchase, including computers, displays, printers, copiers, network equipment, mobile phones, servers, photovoltaic modules, inverters, and televisions. Review UC Santa Barbara’s sustainability impact report for electronics purchased in FY2023 and view the recording of the 2024 EPEAT Purchaser Awards Ceremony.
UC Santa Barbara Earns STARS Gold Rating from AASHE
June 5, 2024 - UC Santa Barbara has earned a STARS Gold rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education. UCSB’s STARS report is publicly available on the STARS website.
UC Santa Barbara Welcomes Jen Bowser as Sustainable Procurement Program Manager & Supplier Diversity Officer
February 1, 2023 - Procurement is excited to announce the addition of Jen Bowser as the Sustainable Procurement Program Manager & Supplier Diversity Officer. Jen transitioned from UC San Diego where she managed sustainability engagement efforts, coordinating various conservation outreach and educational programs for students, researchers and staff on the UC San Diego campus for seven years. Before her career in sustainability, Jen was a Senior Accountant in UC San Diego’s General Accounting Department. In her role as Sustainable Procurement Program Manager, Jen leads efforts for implementing sustainable procurement practices, increasing awareness of sustainability programs, and helping to ensure UCSB is on track to meet our sustainable procurement goals. Jen also serves as UCSB’s Supplier Diversity Officer. Jen was born and raised in Western Massachusetts. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Western New England University. In 2014, she moved to San Diego from Boston, where she had worked in Financial Services at the Harvard School of Public Health.
Jen is a strong advocate for staff, serving at both the campus and UC-wide level. She served as Chair of the UC San Diego Staff Association from July 2021 – June 2022 before being elected to serve as Operations Officer for the Council of UC Staff Assemblies (CUCSA) in July 2022. As an officer of CUCSA, Jen communicates the issues that are impacting staff to UC leadership. Jen values community, and sees her role on CUCSA as fostering a workplace that is supportive, safe and rewarding for all staff.