New eco-chief in place

Respected professor, researcher and environmental champion Jim Pushnik has been named the new executive director of Chico State’s Institute for Sustainable Development.

Pushnik (pictured), who has been at the university since 1988, has taken over the role vacated by Scott McNall, a former provost who was the first person to lead the institute.

Pushnik is the Rawlins Professor of Environmental Literacy, an endowed professorship that focuses on spreading sustainability concepts throughout the campus curriculum. He also sits on the city of Chico’s Sustainability Task Force.

Pushnik started his new position in January. He told the CN&R he has many goals, including outreach and partnerships outside of the campus: “I’m interested in making the ISD a place for the community to connect with efforts of sustainability.”