Northern Arizona University had a chance to show off its sustainability efforts Thursday when officials from the Obama administration visited Flagstaff and campus to learn about the region\u2019s renewable energy endeavors and economic developments.<\/p>\n
“Good ideas don\u2019t necessarily have a (political) party,\u201d said Adolfo Carrion, director of the White House Office of Urban Affairs. \u201cThere is good stuff happening all over.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carrion was speaking Thursday morning before a crowd of about 200 people at NAU\u2019s Applied Research and Development building. The contingency included Megan McCluer, the Department of Energy\u2019s manager of the Wind and Hydropower Technologies Program; Elizabeth Willmott, senior program manager for economic recovery funding at the Department of Housing and Urban Development; Derek Douglas, special assistant to the president for Urban Affairs; and other federal officials.<\/p>\n
NAU President\u00a0John Haeger<\/strong>\u00a0was host to the group\u2019s campus visit, which also included Flagstaff Mayor Sara Presler, Andy Kruse, co-founder and vice president of Southwest Windpower, and Russ Yelton,<\/strong>\u00a0president and CEO of the Northern Arizona Center for Emerging Technologies.<\/p>\n The officials met with local leaders to discuss \u201cgreen\u201d jobs and sustainability efforts throughout the region. They were in town to listen to community members about what steps the federal government can take to help the local efforts.<\/p>\n Haeger called the discussion an \u201camazing strategy by the White House to want to hear from communities all over the country.\u201d \u00a0Carrion agreed. \u201cAt the end of the day, we believe that any federal investments will be smarter because they will be directed by regional plans,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Haeger took the opportunity to explain some of Northern Arizona University\u2019s research activities and environmental resources, underscoring the university\u2019s unique position in the state.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are proud of the distinctions that set us apart,\u201d Haeger said. \u201cOne of those distinguishing features is our commitment to education and innovation in the areas of sustainability and the environment. We look forward to continued collaborations with the city of Flagstaff and the federal government to advance these all-important agendas.\u201d<\/p>\n NAU has learned how to be the driver of economic change through partnerships, Haeger explained. He then pointed out the offices that fill the first floor of the ARD building, including an office of the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service.<\/p>\n Haeger has long been a supporter of collaboration with local businesses, political leaders and the community in general as a pathway for NAU students to get \u201chigh quality\u201d baccalaureate degrees. As recently as Tuesday, he challenged to campus to rethink the curriculum to accommodate society\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need new programs explicitly tied to the 21st century needs\u2014green jobs, health informatics, service management, health professions and sustainability,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need to invest in growing programs.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"