Paul D. Camp Community College has hired Frank Fogarty to lead its new sustainability program. This initiative is part of the college’s collaborative efforts with Smithfield Foods and Smithfield Packing after the companies announced a commitment of $330,000 to the college in February.

“Frank brings extensive research and field experience to Paul D. Camp Community College,” said Vice President of Academic and Student Development Tara Atkins-Brady. “We are looking forward to becoming better stewards of our environment.”

Fogarty has earned a master’s degree in sustainable development and conservation biology, and a master’s degree in public policy with an environmental specialization, from the University of Maryland. In addition, he graduated from the University of Florida in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science degree in zoology and a minor in sustainability studies.

“I’m very excited to get to work on greening our campuses,” said Fogarty. “We have great opportunities for sustainability initiatives that I think we can get up and running in the near future.”

Fogarty will be organizing a college-wide sustainability program that implements green initiatives on both PDCCC campuses and the site in Smithfield.

“As our campuses are key parts of the community, I plan to reach out to and work with local businesses and other community groups to encourage and develop efforts beyond our grounds,” he said.

In addition, he will be teaching at least one elective course related to sustainability. The course offered the second eight weeks of fall semester will be ECO 215-Understanding our Environment: An Economic Introduction.

In 2011, Fogarty was the primary author on a project at the Smithsonian Institute that focused on how businesses can improve sustainability by emulating ecosystems functions. He developed a sustainable ecotourism business plan for a Peruvian non-profit, and his report drafted for the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies is being used to recruit other state agencies to a program that aids in the protection of migratory birds.

He has served in numerous capacities on various sustainability projects through volunteer efforts and work-related experience.

More recently, he served as an avian field research assistant at Toiyable National Forest in Nevada.

Fogarty lives in Smithfield with his partner, Nicole, who is a National Science Foundation Fellow and doctoral candidate at University of Maryland.