President's Blog: From the Heart

By Eric F. Spina

As a first-year student from Chicago, Meg Maloney vividly remembers gathering with faculty, staff, and students beneath a big, white tent on the Central Mall for an announcement that would change her life.

On that crisp fall day, University of Dayton trustee George Hanley ’77 and his then wife, Amanda, made a $12.5 million transformative gift to establish the Hanley Sustainability Institute (HSI).

“My journey in sustainability really started at UD,” Meg shared with George and fellow trustees at their spring meeting. “I was one of the very first students involved in the Hanley Sustainability Institute’s student leader program. Back then, we were building something new, something bold — and I had the opportunity to help shape it from the ground up. UD and HSI were thought leaders in sustainability at a time when most local governments, including Dayton, weren’t yet engaged in this work.”

Fast forward a decade, and Meg, a two-time UD graduate, is now the city of Dayton’s sustainability manager — and a changemaker. She has played a key role in bringing more than $36 million in sustainability grants to the city to support a range of programs, including electric vehicle infrastructure, tree canopy expansion, Superfund site reuse, and energy equity initiatives.  Her efforts have helped residents and small businesses save over $10.5 million in energy costs, while audits have uncovered more than $6 million in potential utility savings for city facilities. Upon learning that North Dayton residents were driving through a contaminated landfill to reach their homes, she pushed the responsible parties to fund the construction of a new road.

Meg returned to her alma mater a few weeks ago at the invitation of Don Pair, executive director of the Hanley Sustainability Institute, who put together a panel of staff, student and alumni voices to share their perspectives on a decade of HSI achievements in education, research, and practices.

In truth, Meg has never truly left UD.  As a student, she co-created the Sustainability Activation Program of volunteer peer-to-peer educators. Today’s students give “Flyers Go Green” presentations and host “Conscious Living Chats” where roommates discuss sustainable living and environmental justice. She mentors UD interns, hosts student projects, and “ensures that the impact of HSI radiates out into the Dayton region and beyond,” she said.

“All of this ties directly back to my education at UD and the opportunities created by the Hanley gift, she told trustees. “That gift wasn’t just about funding a program. It was about building a pipeline of changemakers — students who go into the world committed to sustainability, equity, and community transformation.”

The Hanley Sustainability Institute, now a national leader in higher education, focuses on reducing the carbon footprint and creating a sustainable future that protects and preserves the planet — for all. HSI’s philosophy reflects the call of Pope Francis who extolled us to take care of “our common home.”

Meg heard that call clearly.

“What are we here to do?” she asked trustees. “We’re here to take care of each other.”

Meg's journey, which started under a tent, has come full circle. She powerfully illustrates how a single investment in education can spark positive change — for her alma mater, her community and, yes, even the world.

(Read the 2014-2024 Hanley Sustainability Institute Impact Report: A Decade of Progress in Sustainability Education and Research. Subscribe to HSI's Sustainability Spotlight Newsletter).