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 sustainabl society. We offer programming throughout the year and an annual conference. 

At this time, anyone can participate in UMACS programming. In 2024, we became a membership organization and encourage campuses to become campuses to learn more about membership benefits.

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 Voorhees has served as UMACS  part-time Executive Director since September 2022.  She also works as a life coach, organizational consultant and has fun teaching “Cultivating Purpose: for the Midlife Academy at the University of Minnesota. 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. 
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When not working, Megan enjoys time with her husband, two children, two dogs and friends. She also loves, reading, gardening, music, traveling, and doing what she can to contribute to a more just and sustainable world.​

Lexi Armendariz (she/her) - Events and Communications Coordinator

Lexi Armendariz recently graduated from Central Community College, where she served as an Environmental Sustainability Intern, supporting a variety of campus sustainability efforts. During her time at CCC, she contributed to AASHE STARS reporting, coordinated Earth Month programming, tracked green energy and sustainability data, and conducted research focused on monarch butterfly conservation and pollinator habitat restoration.

After nearly a decade building a career in restaurant management and leadership, Lexi decided to return to school to pursue her long-standing passion for sustainability and environmental stewardship. She is currently enrolled at Oregon State University, studying Organizational Leadership and Sustainability. 
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When she’s not working or studying, Lexi enjoys traveling with her husband and spending time outdoors with their two huskies. She loves reading, being in nature, and finding creative ways to integrate sustainability into both her professional path and everyday life.

Caspiian Jex (he/him) - Spring Project Assistant Intern

Caspiian Jex is a first‑year student at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, where he is studying Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics with a minor in Sustainability Studies. Originally from a small town outside Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he is interested in the ways technical problem‑solving and sustainability interact. In his role at UMACS, he supports event planning, cross‑campus collaboration, and the development of resources that help students and staff engage in meaningful climate action.
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Caspiian is particularly drawn to making sustainability approachable through clear communication and thoughtful design. He enjoys hands‑on projects (engineering and otherwise), learning about sustainable aviation, and finding ways to connect his academic interests with practical environmental work.

Caspiian stays busy, but when he has the time, he spends his time outdoors, playing and writing music, hanging out with his partner and friends, calling his eight younger siblings, and trying to make the world a better place.