Board of Directors

Dale Murray

Dale L. Murray obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Design from the University of Cincinnati in 1975. He practiced as a product and exhibit designer at various firms and in his own business in the Chicago and the San Francisco Bay areas for 21 years. Notable exhibit work included the Nobel Hall of Science and The Curiosity Place at the Museum of Science and Industry, and The Children’s Zoo at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago.

He is now serving as the Coordinator of the Industrial Design Program of the School of Design, in the college of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning at the University of Cincinnati.  Dale holds a Master’s Degree in Design from UC and is currently pursuing a PhD in Cleaner Products, Cleaner Production, Industrial Ecology and Sustainability from Erasmus University in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. His area of concentration in his teaching and research and is Sustainable Product Design and Development, and he has published many articles on the topic of Sustainable Design Pedagogy.

He recently served as the faculty advisor for The University of Cincinnati’s entry in the Solar Decathlon, in which his student team competed with 19 other colleges to design and build a fully off-grid solar powered house, which was displayed on the National Mall in Washington DC in October of 2007. This experienced fueled his desire to promote and develop new green building techniques and technologies, and to help the people of this region learn how to build and live in more regenerative ways. He recently joined with a former student, Braden Trauth, a global authority in Permaculture, to bring that knowledge to this region as well, by forming this non-profit learning network, This-Land Inc.

 

Braden Trauth

After obtaining his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design from the University of Cincinnati, Braden has continued to study sustainability by traveling the world to research topics such as housing, energy, green business, and permaculture.  Braden has since applied his expertise to everything from designing exhibits for the New England Aquarium to developing FDA Compliance for an Organic Products Company.  Braden became interested in permaculture while living in a self-constructed Earthship off-gride home under the creator of Earthships, Mike Reynolds, and his crew.  After selling his Earthship he embarked on an adventure to study permaculture with the likes of Bill Mollison, David Holmgren, Geoff Lawton, Scott Pittman, Peter Bane, Dave Jacke, and others.  He now focuses on sharing and demonstrating the knowledge of designing a harmonious life with the planet in the Cincinnati bio-region.  Some of his recent endeavors include Ohio-Mill Valley Permaculture and This-Land.

 

Mary Frommling

Mary is a certified LEED Green Associate.  A business woman by day, Mary’s expertise has helped guide This-Land’s mission to obtain a physical destination for a Cincinnati permaculture hub.  One of her professional goals is to leverage her experience and training in environmental remediation, waste minimization and LEED to be used for sustainable solutions.

 

 

 

Interns

SEPTEMBER 2011 – PRESENT

Wade Johnston

Wade is currently a fifth year Urban Planning major at the University of Cincinnati’s College of DAAP.  Inspired by his passion for sustainability, Wade’s professional goals were transformed after participating a Permaculture Design Certificate course through the Cincinnati Permaculture Guild in winter of 2011.  Wade is also pursuing Certificates in Geographic Information Systems, Landscape Design, and Public Relations.  Some of his personal interests include gardening, vermiculture, local food culture, and bicycle transportation.

JUNE 2011 – SEPTEMBER 2011

Margaret Mussman

Margaret is a fashion design student at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Art, Architecture, and Planning.  Having been raised on the industry of textiles and fibers, she shows particular interests in sustainable and super slow apparel design.  As a designer, visual communication is always a major part in Margaret’s work, but her skills spill into community organizing, brand cohesion, and web marketing.

MARCH 2011 – JUNE 2011

Matt Gillespie

Matt is an industrial design student at University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Art, Architecture, and Planning.  Having taken the Permaculture Design Certification with the Cincinnati Permaculture Guild in the winter of 2011, he quickly transitioned to intern for This-Land.Org. His skills include visual communication, design research and systems thinking.  Matt is also a board member of the MoBo Bicycle Co-Operative in Northside Cincinnati, a back yard gardener, and an avid foodie.