Rawlins Advisory Committee
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Dan Bosch is a Realtor with RE/MAX of Chico and has lived in Chico since coming to CSU, Chico in 1996. He is a member of the Chico Noon Exchange Club and the Sustainability Committee of the Chico Association of Realtors
Mr. Bosch has always had a great love and appreciation for the environment. He is local proponent of organic agriculture and local foods initiatives as well as educating children on necessity of preserving our natural surroundings. In his free time he enjoys spending time outdoors with his family, photographing nature, hunting and fishing as well as gardening and keeping up to date on environmental matters.
Jim spends his time at CSU, Chico as the Jack Rawlins Endowed Professor of Environmental Literacy, the Director of The Institute for Sustainable Development, and as a professor in the College of Natural Sciences. Since receiving the Jack Rawlins Professorship in 2006 Jim has worked to promote the advancement of environmental literacy in educational settings from elementary school curriculum to Doctoral theses. Dr. Pushnik has overseen the creation of sustainability minor at CSU, Chico, the implementation of a sustainability theme in bachelors degree curriculum, and the creation of a masters degree in sustainability through the College of Natural Sciences.
As the recently appointed Director of the Institute for Sustainable Development, Dr. Pushnik ensures that the growth of CSU, Chico incorporates the University’s Sixth Strategic Priority by integrating and giving focus to broad University sustainability efforts, serving as a point of contact for regional sustainability issues, and seeking resources to support the University’s sustainability work. Personally selected by Jack Rawlins as the first Jack Rawlins Endowed Professor, Dr. Pushnik has played a critical role in recognizing CSU, Chico as one of the leading sustainable universities in America.
Mr. Rawlins attended CSU, Chico for three years of undergraduate studies before transferring to UC Berkeley to complete his formal education, where he earned his Business degree. Following his collegiate years he became a very successful local business leader, initiating numerous entrepreneurial activities throughout Northern California. Jack recently received an honorary doctorate degree from California State University, Chico.
For the past several years, Mr. Rawlins has turned his attention to the education of future generations. His commitment to developing leaders among today's students who can be advocates for sustainability in the future is manifested in Mr. Rawlins' philanthropic initiatives. His philanthropic contributions to CSU, Chico include the establishment of the Rawlins Endowed Professorship of Environmental Literacy, the establishment of the Jack Rawlins Ecology and Conservation Awards, and the establishment of the Rawlins Environmental Awards.
Margaret has more than 25 years of experience as a Chico State faculty member and has taught over 25 different courses, ranging from beginning algebra to graduate-level mathematics. She has a long record of service and leadership on campus committees at the department, college and university levels and was the recipient of the campus-wide Outstanding Teaching Award in 1995. After serving three years as Chair of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, she became the first Associate Dean of the College of Natural Sciences in 2004 and was appointed Interim Dean in 2010. Margaret holds a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Oregon and a MS and BA in Mathematics from San Jose State University.
Tom has over 35 years of architecture experience in both private and university settings. He is a Professor Emeritus in Architecture at Washington University’s Sam Fox School of Art & Design as well as the Proprietor and Principal architect of Thomas L. Thomson, Architect in St. Louis, Missouri and Chico, California.
Tom taught courses concerned with sustainability issues in architecture and urban design and employed sustainable building design in his personal work as an architect. Tom continues to be an active community advocate for environmental education, sustainable urban design, and natural energy. Raised in Chico, he earned his BS degree from CSU, Chico in Applied Sciences in 1965 and his Masters of Architecture from University of California, Berkeley in 1968.
As the Mayor of the City of Chico, Ann Schwab is currently serving her second term on the Chico City Council. She is the Chair of the City of Chico’s Sustainability Task Force, and has been influential in distinguishing Chico as an environmental leader, overseeing the completion of the City’s first Green House Gas emissions audit while serving as Mayor.
In addition to her work on the Council, Mrs. Schwab is the program manager at CSU, Chico for Community Action Volunteers in Education (CAVE), encouraging university students to serve our community while gaining valuable hands-on experience. Along with her husband, Budd, she owns Campus Bicycles, a downtown business. Ann is a President of Chico Velo Cycling Club, and volunteers as a Bidwell Park Watch member and for KCHO radio. A graduate of Chico State, Ann has made Chico her home for over thirty years.
Katie Gonser and her husband Ken Grossman actively promote the importance of environmental stewardship in the North State community and beyond through their involvement with many environmental organizations and philanthropic contributions to various programs and scholarships. Katie and her family have contributed to or created scholarships for groups such as the Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship (SAGE), including the Grossman Family Award for Environmental Stewardship presented at the international SAGE competition; the Big Chico Creek Watershed Alliance; The Western Rivers Conservancy, and other organizations dedicated toward preserving our environment. Katie is an avid weaver and enjoys spending time outdoors and being active in the North State community.
Ken Grossman founded Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. in 1980, and made it one of the first and most successful craft breweries in existence. Sierra Nevada's pragmatic, creative approach to problem solving focuses on finding environmentally and socially responsible answers to challenges, while earning a position among the leaders in the brewing industry in terms of both quality and profitability. The company has won numerous environmental and sustainability awards as well, including the prestigious Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award for Sustainable Practices in 2005.
Jessica Lundberg chairs the Board of Directors of Lundberg Family Farms, the United State’s leading producer of organic rice and rice products. A member of the Lundberg family’s third generation, she also manages the seed nursery, overseeing the maintenance, purity and development of proprietary rice varieties such as Wehani®, Black Japonica and California Arborio.
The Lundbergs have practiced sustainable farming techniques since 1937 and today the company leads the eco-positive agricultural movement with a commitment to organic production and renewable energy. Under Jessica’s leadership, the company installed solar collectors to provide 20% of its electrical needs, and purchases the remaining 80% as certified green energy supplied by wind power to the California grid.
A pre-med student in college, Jessica’s interest in business, ecology and agriculture inevitably drew her back to the farm, where, in addition to organic and eco-farmed rice, she cultivates the bedrock values of respecting the land, honoring tradition, and producing the highest quality products. Jessica holds a degree in Biological Sciences from California State University at Chico and a certificate in Plant Breeding from University of California at Davis. She makes her home in Chico, California near the family farm.
Bob Odland is an attorney, city planner, and the president of Robert Odland Consulting. Bob brings more than 35 years of experience in sustainable land use and urban development to the Rawlins Advisory Board. Among many career positions, Bob served as a Senior Urban Development Attorney in Washington, DC, where he managed USAID city planning projects for countries overseas. He has also drafted land-use legislation for the California State Legislature, and managed development projects for the United States Agency for International Development , the Association of Bay Area Governments, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado.
Bob has served as a member and Chairmen of many national boards pertaining to sustainability, land-use and urban planning. He earned his bachelors degree in engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and a Masters in city Planning as well as his Juris Doctor from the University of California, Berkeley.
Bob currently resides and works in Chico, providing plan and plan implementation consultation services in the US, Canada and Europe.
Liz Metzger is a grant developer and former teacher for the Chico Unified School District. Born and raised in Chico, she received her BA and MA in English, as well as her elementary and secondary teaching credentials from CSU, Chico. She has taught in a variety of settings, from K-3 English as a Second Language in Willows to film and literature at Chico High School to private students in Barcelona, Spain. As a teacher, she received the Classroom Excellence Award from the California Association of Teachers of English, the Teacher of the Year Award from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and was a Wells Fargo Teacher of the Year nominee. As a grant writer, she has brought more than $12 million into the Chico Unified School District in the past ten years. She has also served as an evaluator for grant-funded programs, a grant peer reviewer, and a consultant for the US Department of Education on a grant review facilitators' training manual.
Leslie is the Director of Advancement for the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico. As the Director of Advancement, she secures philanthropic support for scholarships, special projects and endowments to benefit the many departments and programs of the College of Natural Sciences. Leslie works to create partnerships with individuals, groups and organizations outside of the university to create a wide array of educational opportunities, including The Jack Rawlins Professorship for Environmental Literacy. Leslie holds a Bachelors degree in Business Administration from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley and a Masters degree in Education from California State University, Chico.