Our Staff

Cindy Klein-Banai, Associate Chancellor for Sustainability

Cynthia (better known as Cindy) has been serving as the Associate Chancellor for Sustainability at University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) since January 2008. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to found the Office of Sustainability at UIC. Prior to her current position, Cynthia was Assistant Director for Chemical Safety in the Environmental Health and Safety Office at UIC for over seven years. There she oversaw environmental compliance, hazardous waste management, the laboratory safety program, and chemical safety training. She has also worked as an environmental consultant. Her university career started at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Division of Environmental Health and Safety where she spent two of her six years there working on a study on pollution prevention in laboratories.

Cynthia has a B.A. in Biology from Washington University in St. Louis and a M.S. in Environmental Science from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. In 2010 Cynthia completed her Ph.D. in Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences at UIC. She conducted her research on sustainability metrics for higher education (see "A Greenhouse Gas Inventory as a Measure of Sustainability for an Urban Public Research University" and "An urban university’s ecological footprint and the effect of climate change").

Cynthia enjoys outdoor activities such as gardening, hiking, and camping, especially with her husband and three daughters.

Kate Yoshida, Program Coordinator (Grants & Development)

Kate's role in the Office of Sustainability focuses on identifying funding opportunities, proposal preparation, grant administration and program development. She completed her Master's in Urban Planning and Policy at UIC  with concentrations in environmental planning and economic development. She has BSGS in economics from Northwestern University. Kate worked as a commercial real estate underwriter and documentation analyst at a large commercial bank before staying at home with her two sons. Her volunteer work includes community gardening and playing double bass in the Lake Shore Symphony Orchestra. Kate also teaches Kundalini yoga and meditation.

Dan Fredman, Program Coordinator (Outreach)

Dan manages outreach activities and marketing materials related to UIC's sustainability initiatives, frequently presenting to groups around campus about UIC's sustainability programs. He currently serves as the Office of Sustainability's webmaster and oversees all social media efforts.

Dan completed his Masters in Urban Planning & Policy at UIC's College of Urban Planning & Public Administration (CUPPA) in 2009, with self-designed concentrations in Sustainable Development & Data Visualization. He came to Chicago after 8 years in Burlington, Vermont, where after graduating from the University of Vermont (UVM) with a BA in Psychology and Geography he worked as Assistant Director of UVM Admissions.

Joe Iosbaker, Assistant to the Associate Chancellor

Joe has worked for UIC for over 20 years.   He believes that recycling is the responsibility of every person, and works to give more recognition to the unheralded support staff and building service workers for their contributions.  While serving as assistant to the Associate Chancellor, Joe helps coordinate and bring new buildings into the UIC Recycling Program (If your department doesn’t have recycling yet, just ask). 

He is married and has two sons.

Brianna Ceglia, Graduate Assistant (Outreach & Engagement)

Brianna is pursuing her Masters in Urban Planning and Policy at UIC, with a concentration in Environmental Planning. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture from Philadelphia University, with a custom concentration in Sustainability and Historic Preservation. Before joining the Office of Sustainability, Brianna worked as an assistant manager at Karyn’s on Green, a local Chicago restaurant that specializes in sustainable food and practices. At the Office of Sustainability, Brianna is assisting with the Chancellor’s Committee on Sustainability and Energy.

Brianna also enjoys urban exploration, food science and gastronomy and ecotravel.

Sarah Koning, Graduate Assistant (Green Office Challenge)

Colin Pannier, Undergraduate Recycling Assistant

Colin Pannier is a Recycling Assistant with the UIC Recycling Program and the Office of Sustainability. He is a third-year Earth and Environmental Science major/Chemistry minor. He plans to continue with grad school and find a career in which he can help better the environment.

Colin enjoys playing/writing music, watching movies and being with his friends or family.

Katie Popielarz, Undergraduate Recycling Assistant

Along with other staff members at the Office of Sustainability, Katie works to ensure the recycling program at UIC runs smoothly. Katie is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Psychology and English. She has a commitment to civic responsibility and hopes to continue working with organizations that allow her to effect change.

Katie enjoys reading, writing, and watching films in her spare time. She is an avid sleeper and Bruce Campbell Aficionado.