The College of Pharmacy is getting a new 142,000-square-foot home at Glen Avenue and East Huron Street. Designed to overcome the limitations of the 1960 structure, this modern facility will feature active learning-style classrooms, cutting-edge laboratories, faculty offices, and student-focused areas. The College of Pharmacy is aiming for completion in the fall of 2025.
Campus Grounds & Services has embraced sustainability by investing in battery-powered lawn and landscape equipment, replacing traditional fossil fuel-based models. This $492,000 initiative, featuring Greenworks Commercial for handheld tools and Mean Green for zero-turn mowers, promises an estimated payback in maintenance and fuel savings within six to eight years. With more than 80% of routine landscaping activities going green, the transition minimizes downtime, reduces noise pollution, and marks a significant step towards a more environmentally-friendly approach.
As head of Environment, Health & Safety, Danielle is responsible for health, safety, and environmental issues facing both the academic and business operations of the university. Danielle directs programs involving hazardous materials, environmental management, biological and laboratory safety, industrial hygiene, radiation safety, ergonomics, food service sanitation, and fire safety.
Danielle was an associate director of research and operations safety programs from 2012 to 2018, responsible for efforts involving health and safety in research areas as well as non-research spaces such as the work that our maintenance, trades and custodial employees perform. Significant projects include the research safety initiative, construction safety first culture program and homeland security anti-terrorism standards compliance program. Danielle has been in the department since 1995 serving in the industrial hygiene program overseeing health and safety in various departments and overseeing various compliance programs such as hazardous materials in construction and the respirator program.
Danielle is a certified industrial hygienist and a certified safety professional. She holds a bachelor of science degree in Environmental Health from Oakland University and a master of science degree in Industrial Health from the University of Michigan.
Marina Roelofs has served as the University of Michigan’s executive director for Architecture, Engineering and Construction since 2000. The department is currently responsible for the design and construction of all capital projects at the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses in support of the university’s academic, research, healthcare, athletic and student life missions. The AEC team consists of construction professionals, construction skilled trades, architects, engineers, and support staff.
Roelofs’ wide-ranging experience in the construction industry spans from design and engineering, construction management, to facilities operations, including procurement, contractual and legal issues. Prior to coming to U-M, she was the assistant vice president for facilities at the University of Toledo, where she was responsible for directing and managing the university capital program, the facilities operations and maintenance activities.
Roelofs’ career in the construction industry began nearly forty years ago at General Motors, Argonaut-AEC and advanced with worldwide construction contracting. In her 15 years at GM, she managed numerous projects for the GM Proving Ground, Packard Electric, Argonaut Realty, and other GM divisions.
Roelofs holds a B.S. in construction engineering from Lawrence Technological University, an M.S. in civil engineering from Wayne State University, and a J.D from the Detroit College of Law (MSU).
Lukeland Gentles leads Custodial and Grounds Services. The department provides custodial services, pest management, grounds maintenance, and landscape services that support a safe, functional, and attractive campus environment.
He began his tenure with Facilities & Operations in the Custodial Services department, where he served as a custodial supervisor, business manager, and Interim Director. Prior to becoming the director of CGS, he served as Associate Director of F&O Finance, providing fiscal leadership for all F&O departments.
Lukeland holds a bachelor of arts in economics from the University of Michigan and a master of business administration from Wayne State University.
Kimberly Kiernan coordinates organizational and strategic planning for Facilities & Operations. She oversees administrative operations including budget and finance, information services, human resources, training, and communications.
Kim has been with the university since 1992 in roles focused on budgeting and facilities administration. Prior to coming to F&O in 2007, she was the budget administrator for the School of Kinesiology for six years. Kim also held positions in the University Library and Office of the Provost.
She holds a bachelor of arts degree in English and communications from the University of Michigan and a master of business administration degree from Eastern Michigan University.
As head of Utilities Brian oversees all aspects of the production and distribution of steam, electricity and potable water to all campus buildings as well as campus wide sanitary and storm sewer collection. This includes directing the activities of the Central Power Plant and the North Campus Research Complex Central Energy Facility. Utilities also directs the procurement of natural gas and electricity for the entire campus.
Brian was Senior Manager of Electrical Operations from 2016 to 2020, responsible for the day-to-day operation and maintenance of the university’s electrical distribution and outdoor lighting systems. His responsibilities also included managing the building substation replacement program, electrical distribution master planning, and maintaining the electrical metering and billing system.
Prior to joining U-M, Brian worked 19 years in the automotive industry, primarily at Ford and Visteon manufacturing plants. Prior to his experience in the automotive industry, Brian worked at Toledo Edison’s Bay Shore Generating Station where he supported the plant’s preventative maintenance program and substation operations.
Brian is a licensed Professional Engineer in Ohio and holds a bachelor of science and master of science in electrical engineering from the University of Toledo.
Steve began his career at the University of Michigan in July 2010 as the executive director of Logistics, Transportation and Parking (LTP), responsible for planning and operating a parking system to accommodate faculty, staff, students, patients, and visitors, as well as a transportation system that services approximately 6 million riders per year.
Prior to coming to the university, for nearly 20 years Steve has held positions of increasing responsibility in the transportation, supply chain management, and third-party logistics fields. As part of the leadership team for LTP, Steve’s focus will be on providing excellent service to the campus community and continually improving on an efficient transportation system which will help alleviate demand on a parking system that operates at an extremely high rate of utilization.
Steve graduated from Oakland University in 1992 and has lived in Ann Arbor since 1997.
Steve Brabbs is the director of Maintenance Services.
Steve has served in a wide variety of roles including several different positions since coming to Facilities and Operations in 2000. Before serving as region manager, Steve led several initiatives in Plant Operations. His areas of expertise include facilities maintenance, work management functions, and change management.
Steve has a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Michigan (LSA ’88) and a master of science degree (’94) from Eastern Michigan University.
As head of the Real Estate Office, Christopher (Chris) Allen is responsible for handling all real estate matters for the Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint campuses, as well as Michigan Medicine, with responsibility for all transactions involving real estate, including purchases, sales, acceptance of gifts, access to university property, property encumbrances and restrictions, surveys, and mineral rights. The Real Estate Office also handles commercial and office space leasing for university departments, including searches, leasehold improvements, and landlord relations. In addition, management of certain U-M properties, including leasing, maintenance and finances, is handled by the Real Estate Office until the properties are demolished, sold, or transferred to another university department.
Prior to joining the university in 2018, Chris managed McKinley Companies, LLC’s commercial real estate portfolio, including oversight of refinancing, financial reporting, tenant relationships, leasing, acquisitions and dispositions, and property management. He has managed complex real estate transactions and was often the lead negotiator in these transactions. Chris’ career began at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP where he provided assurance and advisory services to Fortune 100 firms.
Chris holds a bachelor of arts in economics and master of accounting from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business that included a summer program at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
As head of the Office of Campus Sustainability, Andy is responsible for leading operational sustainability efforts to support the institution’s long-term sustainability goals, as well as working closely with the Graham Sustainability Institute (GSI) on cross-functional sustainability programs with the academic and research community. Andy also works with Athletics, Michigan Medicine, and Student Life on pursuing institutional sustainability priorities established by leadership. In addition, OCS is responsible for quantitatively tracking and reporting progress on the goals to leadership.
Prior to leading OCS in 2009, Andy held the role of Sustainability Coordinator reporting up through Occupational Safety and Environmental Health (now Environment, Health and Safety), where he worked across operational units on projects to reduce the institution’s environmental footprint through waste reduction, energy conservation and the reduction of chemical waste generated in laboratories.
Andy holds a professional certification from the Institute of Hazardous Materials Management, a bachelor of science degree in environmental management from the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources, and completion of the U-M Business and Finance leadership academy.