After a national search was conducted, Joel Baetens has been selected as the director of utilities for OU's Facilities Management department.
Ohio University officials expect OU’s new director of utilities for the Facilities Management department to be an advocate for campus energy topics.
The university selected Joel Baetens, a certified energy manager and professional engineer, for the position after conducting a national search. Baetens will start working at OU on Sept. 8.
Steve Wood, executive director for Facilities Management, said in a July 29 news release that he expects Baetens to be a “true advocate” for energy issues on OU’s campus.
“The university is looking to transition to cleaner energy sources and implement further energy conservation measures, and we need associated infrastructure upgrades to get us there,” Wood said. “I am confident in Baetens’ ability to support these needs.”
Previously, Baetens served as the manager of Energy and Utilities at Eastern Michigan University. He received a master’s degree in renewable clean energy from the University of Dayton and a bachelor’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from Oakland University.
Wood added that Baetens’ background includes “high-profile, relevant” positions such as a project manager with the Clean Energy Coalition, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting clean energy technologies.
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Baetens stood out to the selection committee due to his interest in energy reduction initiatives and renewable energy technologies, Annie Laurie Cadmus, director of sustainability, said in the news release.
“We are especially excited by Joel’s interest in not just meeting but exceeding institutional commitments to sustainable energy investments and working within the campus community to implement relevant programs,” Cadmus said.
The new director of utilities also said he was “honored” by the offer.
“I look forward to helping to shape and implement the strategy to provide the energy needs of the university in a way that meets or exceeds the university’s sustainability goals and climate commitments,” Baetens said in the news release.
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