Ryan A. McPherson

As UB’s inaugural chief sustainability officer since 2011, Ryan McPherson has worked to create a culture of innovative and collaborative sustainability at UB and implemented strategies to help position the university as a sustainability leader in the community, state and nation, as well as across higher education.

Among his chief priorities has been setting 10 key strategies to implement within the next decade as part of the university’s climate action plan. He also has worked to integrate the Sustainable Development Goals across campus and New York as part of the broader work to create the next generation of change agents who are building the future we seek. Under McPherson’s oversight, UB has already achieved one of its sustainability goals: 100% of the electricity the university uses comes from clean, renewable sources, an achievement that has helped UB reduce its carbon footprint by 35% and put the university on the path to climate neutrality by 2030.

During McPherson’s tenure, UB has been recognized as a national model for climate action by Vice President Harris, received the Green Power Leadership Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, won the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Excellence Award, and rated No. 1 in the world—among 566 colleges and universities—by the Times Higher Education Impact Assessment among universities in taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

Prior to taking on this new role, Ryan was the Associate Vice President for Government & Community Relations where he successfully led a multi-year New York State effort that resulted in the enactment of the most comprehensive higher education legislation in a generation. Before leading the university’s advocacy efforts, Mr. McPherson was the Chief of Staff for the External Affairs Division and was responsible for day-to-day operational leadership.

Ryan is also very active in the community and has played key leadership roles with Western New York Sustainable Business Roundtable and the Western New York Environmental Alliance. He is also the current chair of GObike Buffalo and a trustee of the Nature Conservancy of New York. In addition, he is also the past Chair of the New York Coalition for Sustainability in Higher Education and the SUNY Sustainability Coalition. Previous to joining UB, Ryan worked in Washington, DC and New Hampshire advocating for greater environmental protection and democratic participation.

Mr. McPherson received his B.A. in political science from the University of New Hampshire and graduated magna cum laude from the University at Buffalo Law School with a concentration in environmental law. Ryan enjoys trail running through nature (and specifically mountains) and spending time with his wife and two near adult children as they work to instill a love of nature and advance all things biophilia.

Ellen Pieroni is a seasoned sax player, multi-instrumentalist, music educator + promoter. She has been playing the saxophone since she was 8 years old, and has been a sidewoman in a multitude of bands for about a decade. Pieroni has contributed to many projects over the years.

Her current project – Ellen Pieroni & the Encyclopedia of Soul (EoS) – presents a refreshing brand of smooth-infused soul jazz. Although the group is inspired by artists such as Grover Washington Jr., Freddie Hubbard, King Curtis, and the Crusaders, EoS puts an emphasis on new original music.

At this gathering, Ellen will be accompanied by guitarist Adam Bronstein.