Julie has been an integral part of IGEN, formerly the Illinois Community College Sustainability Network, since its inception in 2008 when Heartland Community College was one of four colleges to receive a start-up grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to create and pilot college sustainability centers. Under this grant, and with Julie’s assistance, HCC created the Green Institute (www.heartland.edu/greenInstitute). The Green Institute, along with three additional centers across Illinois, was created in part to provide sustainability resources to administration, faculty, staff, students and their communities.  After a successful first year, an additional two centers were created and the vision for centers on all 48 campuses began.

 In April 2010, Julie was appointed Director of College Partnerships with the newly named IGEN. Since April, Julie has worked directly with sustainability professionals, their supervisors, administrative staff, local communities and businesses, and national associations to help all 48 Illinois community colleges develop sustainability centers similar to the Green Institute at Heartland, build capacity for green workforce training, and make Illinois community college campuses more environmentally-sustainable.

With in-depth knowledge of the Network and a personal commitment to sustainability and the environment, we are confident Julie will bring IGEN to the next level of success. Please help us in congratulating and welcoming Julie as IGEN's new executive director.

Congratulations, Julie!