Margaret Lo, director of Mason's Office of Sustainability, receives her certificate of recognition from Mason President Ángel Cabrera. Photo by Evan Cantwell.
What she does: As director of George Mason University’s Office of Sustainability, Margaret Lo works to improve sustainable practices on campus. “I work with students, faculty and staff to reduce Mason’s environmental footprint and to encourage Mason Nation to consider the triple bottom line of people, planet and profits when making decisions,” she said.
How she got here: Lo began her career in the private sector, but her passion for the environment led her to nonprofits and higher education. “Since that shift, I have used my degree to help corporate partners reduce their environmental footprint at The Nature Conservancy,” Lo said. She then moved into higher education at the University of Central Florida before coming to Mason’s Office of Sustainability in 2011.
Best day on the job: Lo said there have been many great days, but most of her favorites stem from Mason’s recognition as a global leader in sustainability. For example, Mason was ranked 18th nationally in 2015 by BestColleges.com in its Greenest University evaluation. Other memorable experiences, Lo said, include growing fresh produce for Mason’s dining halls in the Presidents Park Greenhouse, hosting a zero-waste Green Game and piloting a program this spring to compost food waste from the Southside Dining Hall. “And of course, the Employee of the Month award is a personal highlight for me,” Lo said.
What she likes best about working at Mason: “No matter the project or the program, my favorite part is working alongside Mason students, faculty and staff who are passionate and dedicated to making the world a better and more sustainable place,” Lo said.
What she likes to do when she’s not working: “When not working on sustainability issues, you can find me being a life coach, hiking in nature, or enjoying a meal with friends and family,” Lo said.