Larry Lee ~ Chief Sustainability Officer

Hello, my name is Larry Lee.  I’m the Chief Sustainability Officer for the University of Southern Mississippi overseeing the Office of Sustainability.  Originally from Pascagoula, MS I finished my high school career in Great Britain before moving to Starkville, MS to receive a degree in marketing.  After graduating from State I moved to China working in the golf industry (a big, big boom of business), returned to the states and spent the next 7 years working for equity-based golf companies.  That is how I ended up at Southern Miss as the university’s golf professional. 

When I closed the golf course in 2004 I transitioned to Student Affairs to managed third-party contracts that I helped negotiate.  My interest in ecological responsibility began due to what I consider unnecessary development of my beloved hunting and fishing lands.  While attending a conference during the summer of 2007 I had an epiphany that higher education has a responsibility to engage the tenets of sustainability which include economic, environmental and social considerations.  This began a personal crusade to see Southern Miss become the leader in our state and region.  Luckily Dr. Saunders felt the same way and, {poof}, here we are today with the fastest growing initiative around.  We’ve been at this sustainability business for a year now and I’m pleased with the progress we’ve made.  A greenhouse gas emission inventory has been completed, many cultural change catalyst programming efforts have been launched, and the climate action plan process is now in high gear.  As we continue the challenges actually increase.  One would think that the job would gain simplicity; but alas no, it does not.  We will continue to strive for change but that effort will consist of more “behind the scenes” operations. 

Personally I am a husband to Beverly, daddy to Josh and Gabby, son to Larry Sr. and Donna, brother to Denise, a student of many fine professors here at USM (yes, I’ve been in college since 1992 – you’d think I’d be done by now!) and a friend to anyone who will have me or need me.  My “green thing” is energy consumption mitigation as I am a strong proponent of peak oil (if you want to know about the scariest issue facing the world just ask me).  That means you can easily find me on my bike, drying clothes on a line, using fans, changing light bulbs, recycling and conserving the liquid gold that is gasoline.  I enjoy many hobbies – golf, hiking, canoeing, hunting, fishing, running, basketball, trivia, and reading.  I’ve even been skydiving lately.  My intention is to be completely spent when I breathe my last breath. 

Haley McMinn ~Sustainability Coordinator/Recycling Operations Manager

Hola! My name is Haley McMinn and I am the Sustainability Coordinator/Recycling Manager for the Office of Sustainability. Although I am a native, by birth, of Mississippi, I did the majority of my growing up in the great city of Orlando, FL. So, yes, I consider myself a Floridian. My educational background consists of an Associate's Degree (Valencia Community College, a Bachelor's degree in Psychology (University of West Florida), and a Master's degree in College Student Personnel (Southern Miss). Currently, I am getting ready to begin my 2nd year in the Ph.D. Higher Education Administration program here at Southern Miss.

I got my start in higher education in residence life, supervising a 300 bed, Freshman residence hall at the University of West Florida and have worked full speed ahead ever since. I moved to Mississippi in the Fall of 2007 to continue my education and continue working as a Graduate Hall Director. Last year, after finishing my Master's program I decided to step out of my comfort zone (Residence Life) and enter the world of Sustainability and the payoff has been great. Beginning late July of 2008 till now, we as an office of three people have accomplished a great deal through hard work, passion, and our willingness to stretch ourselves to new depths as individuals and as practitioners.

So who am I?  What do I like to do?  My interests in the world are never ending and my goal is to keep it that way. In my spare time I spend time with friends, suffer at the gym, and read! Other hobbies I enjoy include video games, writing, photography, basketball, and so much more! I'm looking forward to this third year of working with the Southern Miss Green Initiative and cannot wait to see the continued progress we will undoubtedly make! Cheers!