Getting the green light for green roofs
Hear from three Ohio University students who received prestigious fellowships to complete the Green Roof Professional Accreditation program.
Jack Rohrer | April 9, 2025
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Three students majoring in environmental science and sustainability have been selected as 2025 Preprofessional Recognition of Excellence and Potential (PREP) fellows by Green Roofs for Healthy Cities and the Regional Academic Centers of Excellence. The PREP Fellowship recognizes students’ potential leadership in the field of living architecture. The students, Cynthia Bauer, Elizabeth Leonard and Annabelle Sanderson, were nominated by Dr. Kim Thompson, associate professor for environmental and plant biology, and Dr. Nancy Manring, associate professor and director of the environmental science and sustainability program
“They expressed interest and had done well in the Plants and the Global Environment Lab,” Thompson said. “So I nominated them forward for this fellowship.”
Thompson learned of the PREP Fellowship through the Greater Ohio Living Architecture Center (GOLA), where she is a board member. GOLA conducts research on living architecture to foster innovation and creative thought for Ohio faculty, students and industry professionals. The group aims to develop environmentally responsible cities. The PREP fellowship includes free online training, materials and the examination for the Green Roof Professional (GRP) accreditation.
“When I learned about this, I thought it was a great opportunity for our students who might want to be in this industry,” Thompson said. “This will give them a great background.”
Purpose and function
Green roofs are gardens planted on top of buildings; they can be installed on rooftops, areas over utility tunnels and parking garages. Their main purpose is to slow down stormwater runoff and help maintain thermal heat consistency. They also help protect roof membranes and provide habitats for insects, birds and other animals.
In addition to Schoonover’s green roof, Ohio University has three others on Patton Hall, Jefferson Hall and the Edwards Center Accelerator Lab.
Cynthia Bauer
Cynthia Bauer is a third-year environmental science and sustainability major with a certificate in wealth and poverty. Bauer said she has always cared deeply for environmental protection and credits the ESS program for allowing a multidisciplinary approach to understanding relevant issues and providing integrative solutions.
“I saw the GRP program as an innovative solution that works well with the changing world,” Bauer said. “The training is going well. I hope it will help me fine-tune my interests and provide valuable experience toward my future career goals.”
Bauer anticipates graduating in December 2025 and has expressed interest in going to graduate school for landscape architecture or sustainable agriculture in relation to green roofs.
Elizabeth Leonard
Elizabeth Leonard is a second-year environmental science and sustainability major with a minor in political science. Leonard loves how the environmental science field centers on finding alternative, more sustainable ways of living that benefit all living organisms. She said she has enjoyed the training thus far and plans to continue studying over the summer to take the final exam this fall.
“I didn't know much about green roofs before starting this course” Leonard said. “I wanted to use this opportunity to explore an aspect of environmental science and see if it was something that interested me professionally.”
Anticipating graduating in 2027, Leonard plans to take full advantage of these opportunities offered by the fellowship, gaining necessary experience to work toward a fulfilling job where she can help promote sustainability and environmental protection.
Annabelle Sanderson
Annabelle Sanderson is a third-year environmental science and sustainability major with a certificate in environmental studies and minor in philosophy. She said she was interested in the Schoonover Center’s green roof and asked Thompson about it. She toured the green roof and was eager to learn more.
“It’s gone wonderful, I’ve completed roughly two-thirds of the training courses and I am working through the last one now,” Sanderson said. “I hope to find a relevant opportunity before I graduate.”
Sanderson anticipates graduating in 2027; she is interested in graduate school but said she wants to focus on her current program before deciding what and where to study.