Graduate student Wesley Holmes is currently pursuing a Master’s of Environmental Policy and Management  at American Public University  (APU). The 27-year-old already has a background in this field, having received his B.S. in Natural and Cultural Resource Management from Georgia Southern University in 2006.

Through his studies and independent observations, Mr. Holmes came to the realization that public lands and wild wetlands were gradually shrinking as more and more land is opened for mineral extraction, timber harvesting, and land development. As a result, he has made a personal commitment to the environment and dedicated his career to the protection of our natural resources.

Nearing the end of his master’s program at APU, Mr. Holmes has been offered an opportunity to work on a research project with Dr. Carol Pollio, the Environmental Studies Program Director and faculty member at APUS. The project will involve documenting the construction of the new academic center that will mainly support the academic and advising functions of the university.

In keeping with the APUS tradition of responsible, community oriented growth and sustainable development, the new academic center is pursuing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification. The LEED green building certification system is the US Green Building Council’s (USGBC) program for rating the design, construction and operation of green buildings.

Over the course of the building’s construction, Mr. Holmes will serve as a guide to the LEED rating system, providing weekly updates on the technologies and design elements utilized by the building’s architects and engineers. He will also foster discussions regarding the impact of these technologies and designs, and the environmental issues they are intended to address, as well as the associated costs savings and other benefits.

Dr. Carol A. Pollio is the Program Director for the Environmental Policy and Management Program at American Public University (APU). For more than three years, she taught a variety of courses and now leads the new Environmental Sustainability Masters’ Concentration at the university.  Prior to joining APU, Dr. Pollio was an adjunct faculty member at University of Mary Washington, Germanna Community College, and Mountain State University.

Outside of the classroom, Dr. Pollio served in leadership and research positions in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. National Park Service.  While at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, she supervised several field offices whereby gaining extensive experience in fisheries and aquatic resources management, education and outreach, and habitat restoration at the national policy level. During her career with the U.S. National Park Service, she held assignments that included abandoned mine reclamation, environmental contaminants remediation, and biological assessment of disturbed and contaminated sites.

Dr. Pollio has conducted scientific research and published her findings in several peer-reviewed journals.  She is dedicated to researching global environmental change, energy production and sustainability, and natural resource consumption.  Dr. Pollio believes that the key to human survival depends on mankind’s ability to embrace and implement sustainable practices. 

As part of its commitment to sustainable development, American Public University System (APUS) plans to build a new, energy-efficient building to support the academic and advising functions of the university.  Dr. Pollio plans conduct an open discussion about the construction of the new building with guests, students, and the broader APUS community by contributing to the “APUS Green Building Blog”. Dr. Pollio will be joined in this discussion by one of her graduate students, Wesley Holmes.

Throughout the duration of this project, Dr. Pollio will provide case studies to highlight sustainable practices and technology.  Her expertise and shared knowledge will help guests and students transition from textbook learning to a better understanding of “on-the-ground” sustainability principles.  By connecting what guests read on the blog with what APUS students are studying in the classroom, Dr. Pollio hopes to provide guests with a deeper appreciation of environmental careers and new ways to spread the word about the importance of sustainable practices and environmental protection.