Stout oversees a broad range of issues and services. His office handles everything from campus emergencies and crime to student safety and well-being. Parking is also among the office's responsibilities, which includes trying to reduce the number of drivers and encourage more people to use alternative forms of transportation.

"The environment is an issue for Salem, the country, and the world," says Stout. "We need to get back on track to where we were in the 60s when there was more of an emphasis on sustainability."  
Stout points out many of Willamette's overall efforts toward sustainability, such as paying extra for recycled paper, the University's new Kaneko Commons for which they expect to receive the LEED Gold certification, and buying bus passes for all students and faculty.  

"We want to take a leadership role in making our operation and community more sustainable," Stout says. "It feels good to be training people to be leaders and to take knowledge about sustainability with them into their work and futures."

While discussing Willamette's sustainability efforts, Stout's own environmental consciousness becomes evident.  

The Willamette Valley Flood of 1996 caused the City of Salem to curtail resident's water usage to prevent a shortage. Stout still collects water in his shower before it gets hot and uses it to flush the toilet (something he did during the flood of 1996).

"Water is a precious commodity," says Stout, "and even though the problem may not exist in my hometown, it exists in other parts of the world."