Known to his students as "Dr. Mark," he is well known on the campus for his inspiring and tireless work with students and with the community on issues of sustainability. He has worked with students to complete greenhouse gas inventories for CSU, Chico, Butte Community College, and the City of Chico. He is an advisor to eight student groups at CSU, Chico and faculty mentor to the new "Sustainability House" in the residence halls. In 2008 Stemen was named Sustainability Champion the Seventh Annual California Higher Education Sustainability Conference.