“You’d be amazed at how many green roofs you’d see when you look down on Toronto”

Coming to Guelph this winter is a new course on sustainability— courtesy of new assistant professor Avis Devine. With research interests in sustainability and energy efficient real estate Devine will prove an ideal fit for the University. In fact, her research has already got policy makers in the States talking.
Devine’s knowledge of real estate is not only academic its hands on. Having previously worked in commercial real estate where she was involved in hiring and training Devine has gained invaluable real-world experience—experience she is more than willing to pass on to students, along with a few “war stories” of what the business can be like. In response to what the future of sustainability could hold for students Devine excitedly said “Any advancements we make are the first, this is still a new field”. 

When asked about the importance of studying and understanding the scope of real estate Devine says, “Realtors are only a small portion of real estate. Everyone lives their lives in a building—well someone designed that building, someone owns that building and someone negotiated the legalities of owning it, all those people work in real estate”.

Outside of class Devine’s interests include piano (having been one of her majors during her undergraduate) and football, saying, “I’m a massive Steelers fan, anyone who takes a class with me will quickly find that out”.

--article written by Cassandra Mitchell 3rd year English Major at the University of Guelph