The Upper Midwest Association for Campus Sustainability (UMACS) was established in 2005 to support higher education staff, faculty and students in the region who are working to advance sustainability on their campuses and in the community. We believe that by building collaborative relationships and sharing ideas and resources, we can advance our work for a more sustainable and just society. We offer programming throughout the year and an annual conference. 

Anyone from a higher education campus in the region can participate in UMACS programs and membership is free. 

UMACS is led by Megan Voorhees, our part-time Executive Director, and a volunteer Steering Committee. If you would like to learn more about UMACS and share ideas for how we can best support your work, please contact Megan Voorhees. 

UMACS Staff

Megan Voorhees  -   UMACS Executive Director

Megan's career has primarily focused on leading higher education and community programs designed to help participants effectively address complex social and environmental issues. Most recently, she was the Director of Experiential Education and Graduate Programs at the Institute on the Environment at the University of Minnesota, where she also was Affiliate Faculty at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. From 2000-2013, she was the Assistant Dean of Students and Director of the Public Service Center at the University of California, Berkeley.  She has also led youth development and youth employment programs in the non-profit sector. Megan has a BA In Sociology and Anthropology from Lewis & Clark College and Masters in Theological Studies from the Graduate Theological Union.  ​

Carrie Thompson  -  Website & Media Consultant

Carrie has worked in the non-profit sector for the past eight years.  Currently, she wears many hats including the part time Executive Director for the Sustainability Institute and part time independent consultant to UMACS with website design and media creation.

UMACS 2022-2023 STEERING COMMITTEE

Troy Goodnough, Sustainability Director
University of Minnesota, Morris

Meghann Jarchow, Chair of Sustainability & Environment - University of South Dakota

Jon Jensen, Director, Center for Sustainable
​Communities - Luther College

Samantha Kaplan, Professor of Geography
University of Wisconsin Stevens Point

Jordan Lutz, Sustainability Project Manager
Bemidji State University

Monica McDaniel, Sustainability Officer
Augsburg College
Jennifer McLaughlin, Sustainability Specialist
South Dakota State University

Casey Meehan, Director of Sustainability & Resiliency
​Western Technical College

Eric O'Brien, Director of Sustainability
University of Northern Iowa

Alan Turnquist, Director of Sustainability & Resilience Michigan Technological University

Maggie Torness, Sustainability Coordinator
Black Hills State University and
South Dakota School of Mines & Technology

Megan Voorhees, Executive Director
Upper Midwest Association for Campus Sustainability