Lissa Leege, originally from Indiana, made Statesboro her home over 25 years ago. Growing up “with a deep love for nature,” she spent her summers in the woods and on the beaches of Lake Michigan.
After graduating with a degree in Biology from Saint Olaf College in Minnesota, she went on to complete her PhD in Botany/Ecology at Michigan State University in 1997.
In 1998, Leege joined Georgia Southern University as a Professor of Environmental Biology. Leege expressed, “During that time, I have seen significant changes on our planet, and it has become my goal to both educate students about the causes for these changes but also to inspire them to be the solution.”
In 2008, Leege became the Founding Director of the Center of Sustainability, leading Georgia Southern University to become nationally recognized with numerous accolades. For over 12 years she worked “to elevate the university as a model of sustainability both in education and in practice, and to integrate sustainability into Georgia Southern’s identity.”
Leeges’ accomplishments within the Center of Sustainability include: the Afterschool Garden Program, Green Fest, Southern Sustainability Week, and the Sustainability Fee Grant.
Community Sustainability and Beyond
Locally, Leege chairs the Greener Boro Commission, working with the city of Statesboro to help provide information and recommendations for sustainability practices and implementation.
“One of our initiatives has been to partner with Georgia Southern BIG to offer Fix It Fridays – a monthly pop-up repair shop that offers free repairs for small appliances and wood glue-type fixes, as well as a feature-fix (bicycles, jewelry, sewing, etc.)," she shared. "This helps to keep broken items out of the landfill and encourages sustainability and innovation.”
At Leege's church, Trinity Episcopal Church of Statesboro, a "green team" was developed. Among their accomplishments include a demonstration community garden, newly installed solar panels, and a Certified Wildlife Habitat campus.
The solar panels recently installed will provide 78% of the energy for the church. The congregation's 64 solar panels were installed by Sunpath Solar through the Georgia BRIGHT program. The 31 kW system in the shape of a cross is expected to save an estimated $62,000 over the next 25 years.
Several years ago, Leege and her husband, Frank D’Arcangelo, had the opportunity to purchase the 12 acres of wetland that surround their home. She says for the first time, she had an opportunity to restore her ecosystem.
“It has been a labor of love and I have learned much in the process," she said. "Restoration is a continual process that doesn’t stop when you remove the invasive species. I'm happy to share that the Leege Wetland Reserve has recently been designated by the National Wildlife Federation as a Certified Wildlife Habitat.”
Leege credits her 2 sons and her husband as her biggest supporters. She says her husband, “has always facilitated my wildest dreams including: clearing five acres of invasive Chinese privet shrubs in our wetland and facilitating the building of a bike-powered smoothie blender for the Center for Sustainability.”
Partnering to Save Our Planet
Leege reiterates that sustainability is not something that can be done alone. "Every step of the way, my sustainability efforts have been a partnership and a building of community. That has been one of the most rewarding parts of the process.”
Throughout Leege's career, she has co-authored a college level Environmental Science Textbook, empowered others to contribute to environmental solutions, led many lecture series, facilitated dune restoration research on Tybee Island, received numerous awards for her achievements, and so much more.
She has truly “walked the talk” in her sustainability efforts in her own backyard, within our community, and beyond.
Leege shares, “I feel that we have a responsibility to our children to preserve this precious planet and its incredible bounty for them and for their children. Every decision we make impacts that. If I can live my life in such a way that I give back to the planet that supports us, I will be happy.”
