The Sustainability Awards program at UNH seeks to celebrate and incentivize research and scholarship, curriculum development and teaching, campus initiatives and culture, and external engagement activities and achievements that best embody the principles and practices of sustainability. UNH is a national leader in sustainability and recognizes and raises the visibility of individuals and teams who are addressing sustainability issues across and beyond the university. From small and emergent, to large and complex, the Sustainability Awards shines a light on the full spectrum of actions that contribute to sustainability at and beyond UNH.
Award Levels
- Lifetime Achievement: Recognizes significant multi-year body of work
- Graduates of the Last Decade: Recognizes significant multi-year body of work in the professional or civic lives of graduates of the last decade
Alumni Awards
Lifetime Achievement
Bob Leavitt '88
Deputy Assistant Secretary, serving as Chief Human Capital Officer, at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Bob Leavitt joined USAID in 2001, as Senior Conflict Advisor, Bureau for Africa, was Director of Africa Affairs, National Security Council (White House) and later returned to USAID, rising to be Chief Human Capital Officer. The key arc of his career has ranged from leading field operations to shaping national security policy at the NSC. The further Leavitt went in his career, he became increasingly passionate to support others to serve, which led to his transition to talent management – a leader developing the next generation of leaders. Bob’s impact will continue; in February 2022, he took his oath of service as a Deputy Assistant Secretary, serving as Chief Human Capital Officer at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Graduates of the Last Decade
Zack Angelini ‘14, ‘16G
Senior Environmental Stewardship Manager, Timberland
During his time at UNH, Zack Angelini earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering ‘14 and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering ‘16, for which he completed graduate work furthering critical research on oil spill response and marine plastic pollution, as well as co-founded UNH’s Solar Power for Schools. After gaining an impressive reputation globally for his leadership in sustainability in the footwear industry, he was elevated to Senior Manager of Environmental Stewardship at Timberland and in 2021, was named to the highly coveted GreenBiz 30 Under 30 for emerging leaders in business sustainability around the world, and Drapers 30 Under 30, which recognizes rising stars in fashion retail.
Deqa Dhalac ‘13G
Mayor of South Portland, Maine, Family Engagement and Cultural Responsiveness Specialist, Maine Department of Education
Deqa Dhalac is the first Somali American mayor in the U.S. and in this role, has committed to advancing the city’s sustainable council goals. Mayor Dhalac’s work with Maine’s immigrant and refugee communities led to her founding, or leading, multiple nonprofits in the state including the Somali Community Center of Maine, Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition, and Immigrant Women’s Health.
