New SES Dean Outlines First Year

Malini Suchak, Ph.D. was appointed as the new Dean of the School of Environmental Sustainability (SES) in July, replacing founding dean Nancy Tuchman. Suchak’s appointment came nearly nine months after the SES announced a search committee to select the next dean.

Suchak said she aims to build connections with students, improve academics and support Loyola’s sustainability efforts. 

Suchak most recently worked at Canisius University — a fellow Jesuit university in Buffalo, N.Y.. She served as a professor and chair of the Animal Behavior, Ecology and Conservation department, according to the Loyola Leadership website. 

“I’m really excited to be here,” Suchak said. “I’ve been following the work for a while from afar because I was in this kind of space, but at another Jesuit institution. It’s a privilege for me to be in this role and to be working with everything here.”

In her first year, Suchak said she plans to look at how the school can improve academically and how experiences should be revised for students, including those already in place. 

“SES students should keep an eye out for some requests for feedback,” Suchak said. “That will help chart our course for the next three to five years.”

While Suchak does help oversee many of the SES projects at Loyola, she said she wants her center of attention to be on students and staff in her department this year. 

“I’m trying to get invited into spaces, so I can really start to get to know the students here and the faculty,” Suchak said. 

Earlier this year, Suchak said she had the opportunity to volunteer at the Loyola University Retreat and Ecology Campus. She worked alongside a number of students, including Nat Kath, co-president of the Restoration Club. Kath, a third-year environmental science major, said they hope to see more work being put into the campus, especially from an academic standpoint.

“I would love to see more SES classes and internships out there,” Kath said. “Myself and the Restoration Club really look forward to helping the new dean in any way we can, and we are very excited to see what she brings to SES.”

Second-year environmental science major Kailey Nicholson said the strong environmental presences around campus were one of the main reasons she chose to attend Loyola. Nicholson said that she hasn’t met the dean, but she admires Suchak’s previous work in Animal Sciences. 

“I like that we share a common love and passion for animals and the environment, and I’m excited to get to know her and see what she does for the school of SES,” Nicholson said.

Director of Sustainability Aaron Durnbaugh said many sustainability programs are already underway and operational. These programs include the composting efforts around campus and the Double Black Diamond Project, a large-scale solar commitment announced in 2023, The Phoenix previously reported. 

Durnbaugh said the current next year is a time for reflection and observation of Loyola’s current projects.

“It’s kind of an interesting moment to step back and say, ‘What do we want to do next and what does sustainability look like?’” Durnbaugh said.

Valentina Nicastri, a second-year visual communication major, said she hasn’t heard anything about a new dean for the SES. Despite only recently finding out about the dean, Nicastri said she still benefits from many SES programs that are available throughout campus.

Nicastri took an Environmental 101 class her freshmen year in order to complete a science core requirement. This ENVS 101 class is a requirement for most Loyola students entering as freshmen, according to the Loyola 2025-2026 Course Catalog.

She said she enjoys walking past the Chapel Rain Garden. The rain garden is one of the many methods Loyola uses to capture and filter rainwater – the garden also helps to promote biodiversity while providing an outdoor space for students.

SES efforts sometimes stretch across campus and departments. Durnbaugh said he often travels to other departments, like psychology or chemistry, to talk about sustainability and encourage joining SES’s efforts. 

“We’re trying to serve faculty, students, staff, no matter what department, school — whatever they’re associated with,” Durnbaugh said. “SES is almost like the leading edge of our approach to sustainability in academics.”