Alumni

Mayor of Columbia, Missouri, and Architectural Studies Alumna

Barbara Buffaloe, the current Mayor of Columbia, Missouri, has devoted her career to sustainability and environmental design. Her journey—from a childhood grounded in environmental awareness to her role as a leader in her community—was profoundly shaped by her education at the University of Missouri, where she completed both her undergraduate and graduate studies in the Department of Architectural Studies. It was during her time at Mizzou that her passion for sustainable design truly took root, thanks to the mentorship of the late Michael Goldschmidt, her first studio instructor. “The seeds of sustainable design were planted during my time at MU,” Barbara recalls, citing how principles of energy-efficient site planning and earth-contact housing sparked a commitment that would define her career.

Barbara’s dedication to adaptive reuse and the repurposing of existing structures steered her back to Columbia after working in architecture in St. Louis. In 2010, she took on the role of Columbia’s first Sustainability Manager, focusing on fiscally responsible environmental initiatives. She reframed sustainability as a way to cut costs and improve efficiency, winning support by showing how energy savings could also benefit taxpayers. Her most notable achievement in this role was the development of Columbia’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, a community-driven project that aligned the city with the goals of the Paris Climate Accord despite national withdrawal. “In June of 2017, when the United States announced it was pulling out of the Paris Climate Accord, I knew we had to take local action,” she explains. By 2019, Columbia had a comprehensive plan in place, thanks to her leadership and collaboration across departments and the community.

Philosophy

Barbara believes that building professional networks is key to success in sustainability and public service. Active involvement in organizations like the Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN) has been instrumental in her career, providing her with valuable insights and best practices. She encourages others to “become involved in organizations and networks” as a way to foster connections and share ideas. Barbara is also passionate about mentoring, finding immense joy in engaging with young people and sharing her experiences. “I love their energy and enthusiasm—it reminds me of why I started on this path in the first place,” she shares.