Sustainability Fellows | Sustainable Campus

The Sustainability Fellows program provides an opportunity for students of any discipline to participate in furthering sustainability efforts on the FSU campus and in the Tallahassee community. Sustainability Fellows can be selected from any major or field of study. Fellows work in collaboration with campus and community partners to actively engage in research, propose strategies, and identify opportunities for sustainability issues.

benefits of being a fellow

$250 stipend per semester
Tackle real-world sustainability challenges
Join a network of campus and community change agents
Receive support and professional development from Sustainable Campus
Fulfill FSU’s experiential learning graduation requirement through the Experience Recognition Program (ERP)

fellowship process

Fellows will be selected based on their academic background, professional experience, and personal statements. Individually or in small working groups, Fellows address a challenge related to environmental, social, and/or economic sustainability at FSU or in Tallahassee with a campus/community partnering organization.

The duration of the Fellows program is one academic semester. There will be opportunities for Fellows whose projects are ongoing to continue with the program for multiple semesters. Fellows are expected to work on their projects over the course of the semester. At the end of the fellowship, Fellows must submit a deliverable demonstrating their learning, for example, a research paper, poster, audio/visual presentation, etc.

requirements

Be a current FSU student throughout the fellowship period
Commit 60 hours per semester (or 5 hours per week) to project research
Attend orientation, mid-term check-in, and final presentations
Complete the Experiential Recognition Program Sustainability Fellows Canvas 0-credit course
Submit a deliverable to the project partner
Provide and receive feedback at multiple stages

Apply today

Applications for the Summer 2024 semester will be open March 4-April 5. Apply here.

Summer 2024 Projects

Campus/ Community Partner	Project Background	Project Goal(s)
Coastal Plains Institute REMOTE	Very few people in the area know about ephemeral ponds and the species that depend on them. We have an Adopt a Pond participatory science program that engages the public to help us monitor these special type of ponds. While sampling the pond for amphibian larvae, participants encounter many other species about which they are curious. A field guide to these ponds is needed for our participants but also other members of the public interested in learning about local ecology.	Identify species to be illustrated Create illustration draft Incorporate feedback for final illustration
Florida Rising REMOTE	With the rise of climate disasters, the insurance industry in Florida has a spike in costs for homeowners and renters. The research needed is an understanding of the insurance industry, the big players involved, what's causing the increase, and what viable solutions for insurance that center on the climate crisis and climate justice.	Understand the current insurance industry in Florida and identify solutions with a climate justice and climate crisis lense.
FSU Food for Thought Pantry REMOTE	The FSU Food for Thought Pantry (FFTP), Student Government Association (SGA), the Library System, and Food Recovery Network (FRN) have collaborated to install a permanent non-perishable food donation bin in Strozier Library. Donations items will be transported by FRN to be stocked in the Pantry and distributed to food-insecure FSU students.	The dual goals of this project are to (1) communicate to bystanders basic, instrumental information about how they can find the permanent donation bin and how they can donate and (2) educate the FSU community about food safety, food waste, and hunger initiatives. The final product will be a semester-length social media campaign (1 post/content transmission a week for Fall 2024 term=approximately 16 media artifacts)
Leon County Office of Sustainability REMOTE	Despite recycling becoming commonplace for many residents, there are persistent questions and misconceptions about recycling in Leon County. Educating key groups of residents who can spread correct and current information about recycling will be a major help in dispelling common recycling myths and answering questions.	Research conducted by a Sustainability Fellow would include: an analysis of similar programs, identifying key groups to target for education, and determining the best format to deliver the class for Leon County
FSU Facilities REMOTE	FSU Facilities has previously had gaps in both Stormwater Management programming and Communications. Education and outreach about stormwater management are necessary in reporting to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).	Research existing stormwater education programs at relevant universities, municipalities, etc. Review existing FSU stormwater educational collateral and compare Develop 12-24 new social media posts/digital collateral to be used via Facilities and Sustainable Campus outreach channels
Tallahassee Sewage and Wakulla Basin Advocacy Group HYBRID	The advocacy group was formed over seven (7) years ago to monitor massive and numerous raw sewage spills in Tallahassee, their flow to class iii recreational water bodies, and how water quality is being affected. This has increased to monitoring of contaminated sites, water wells, and other areas of concern. From this, our GIS website was created with numerous layers of data.	Students would, first, review the extensive existing GIS website and how the data flows using various layers. Second, they will learn where new/updated data can be located and learn how to interact, if necessary, with the appropriate government agencies. Third, they will learn how to upload data to our GIS web site. Fourth, testing will be conducted to ensure quality assurance.
Tallahassee Sewage and Wakulla Basin Advocacy Group HYBRID	The advocacy group was formed over seven (7) years ago to monitor massive and numerous raw sewage spills in Tallahassee, their flow to class iii recreational water bodies, and how water quality is being affected. This has increased to monitoring of contaminated sites, water wells, and other areas of concern. From this, our GIS website was created with numerous layers of data.	This project is to, first, identify on our arc-gis map, those ponds with sewage lines around them. Secondly, to conduct water sampling for chloride and specific conductance and other analyses as determined by the advocacy group. Third, for those analyses of fecal concerns, a second sampling will be conducted to test for sucralose and sent to a Canadian analysis company.
Apalachee Regional Planning Council	Vulnerability Assessment Work for Franklin County and Gadsden County	This task entails conducting GIS analysis and preparing maps with various layers including FEMA flood zones, Flood extent vectors, critical assets, and county parcels. The work also involves report writing and an opportunity to learn how to fly the drone and process aerial images using Pix4D software. Software: ArcGIS Pro and Pix4d Equipment: ANAFI USA Gov Drone
Apalachee Regional Planning Council	Regional Vulnerability Work	The task includes generating flood projection and rainfall projection layers using the Inundation Tool.  The output will be used for Climate Resiliency and Adaptation Planning. The fellow will be taught how to use the Inundate tool. Software: ArcMap 10.8 Tool: Inundate Model
Apalachee Regional Planning Council	EV Charging Station Research and Mapping	This task requires researching EV charging station site requirements, mapping existing charging stations, and using map analysis tools to identify potential future sites for charging stations in the 9-county Apalachee Region. Project can be completed remotely. Software: ArcGIS Pro
Apalachee Regional Planning Council	Solar Industry Workforce Research	This research-based project involves creating a report on the types of occupations within the solar industry and identifying any required certifications or other education requirements for those occupations. This will be used to support future vocational training programs in Florida. Project can be completed remotely.
Florida Department of Environmental Protection	School Recycling Programs face many challenges including consistency and funding through solid waste practices on site. The next generation of students want to contribute to sustainability and often do not know how. School Recycling Programs are often discontinued due to lack of support.	Assist FDEP in creating a Recycling Program in a local Middle School (Partnering w/Leon Co. & Nims Middle School) Virtual Meeting with School Conduct Evaluation On Site Assist FDEP in acquiring and placing bins Design and development of educational signage
Florida Department of Environmental Protection	More info coming soon!	Using Social Media to bring awareness and provide solutions to Food Waste on College Campuses
Florida Department of Environmental Protection	FDEP seeks to create an online resource for citizens to learn what materials are accepted in their local recycling programs and what to do with hard to recycle items such as electronics and other materials which may require special handling.	The goal is to provide Floridians a singular online resource for local recycling options. Data Collection Public and Private Sector Outreach Follow up as needed
Florida Department of Environmental Protection	More info coming soon!	Developing Best Practices for Families and Individuals to Reduce Waste
Florida Department of Environmental Protection	More info coming soon!	Assist FDEP in the Implementation of a Pilot Recycling Program at Maclay Gardens (Partnering w/State Parks)
Florida Department of Environmental Protection	Organics makes up approximately 36% of Florida’s municipal solid waste stream. Proper management of organics is essential if Florida is to reach its full potential for increasing the state’s recycling rate and diverting food waste from the solid waste stream and landfills.	Develop guidance to promote composting on a small scale (backyard and community). Guidance will be shared on the DEP website as well as other websites and will be used as a reference guide for starting a small-scale composting project. There may also be an opportunity to participate in Food Waste Prevention Week in April 2023.

Upcoming events

Sustainability Fellows Information Sessions will be held on February 28th 4pm-5pm via Zoom and February 29th 12pm-1pm in Mendenhall A 101.

Resources for Campus & Community Partners

Sustainability Fellows facilitates collaboration between FSU faculty and students and campus/community partners. Through this program, students gain hands-on experience and connect with professionals in the field while campus and community partners benefit from university resources, research, and faculty.

All campus departments and community organizations interested in working with fellows are invited to participate in the program by submitting project proposals. Community organizations can include government departments, local businesses, non-profit organizations, and other groups in the Tallahassee area, the state of Florida, or the Southeast region. For more information, please check out this resource .

Sustainability Fellows Cohorts

*Click on the name of each Fellow to access a blog post about their project.

Spring 2024 Sustainability Fellows

Ashley Miller

Program: Second Year Undergraduate in Geography

Campus/Community Partner: Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Project: Food Waste Reduction Toolkit

Ashley is a second-year undergraduate, majoring in Geography. She is looking forward to working with FDEP to reduce food waste because it allows communities to improve their environmental impact and better distribute resources. She is currently the Sustainable Campus Food Recovery Network Coordinator and hopes to gain skills in professionalism and enhance her food waste education skills. Ashley strives to pursue a graduate degree in Urban Planning and believes her time as a Sustainability Fellow will help her achieve her goal.

Gabriella Mohammed

Program: First Year Undergraduate in Environmental Engineering

Campus/Community Partner: City of Tallahassee Utilities

Project: Energy Storage Innovation for Clean Energy Plan

Gabriella is a first-year undergraduate in Environmental Engineering hoping to learn more about the energy industry, particularly concentrating on renewable energy. She is excited because this project will allow her to work independently and collaborate on research regarding energy storage technology. Energy storage plays a key role in mitigating climate change by reducing carbon emissions which is a personal goal of Gabirella's as an Eco-Rep and climate advocate for FSU.

Geetanjali Srivastava

Program: First Year Undergraduate in Political Science

Campus/Community Partner: GenCLEO

Project: Accessible & Sustainable Public Transportation in Tallahassee: Bus Stops and Solar Panels

Geetanjali is ready to learn more about sustainability and to make a tangible change in the Tallahassee community. She is excited to research the feasibility and benefits of shading and solar panels on bus stops in Tallahassee. To Geetanjali, sustainability is mindful advancement. Many times, people have the misconception that sustainability means changing the ways of the world, however, sustainability is simply advancement while being mindful about the future of humanity.

Isabella Marmanidis

Program: First Year Graduate in Demography

Campus/Community Partner: Apalachee Regional Planning Council

Project: Economic Development in Rural Communities

Isabella will be working with the Apalachee Regional Council to research economic development in rural communities. This project connects to her professional goals because she is interested in aiding the community's development and improving the quality of life for all. Isabella hopes to learn about what goes into policy-making and what sustainability initiatives and economic planning look like at the government level.

Jonus Goldstein

Program: First Year Undergraduate in Management Information Systems

Campus/Community Partner: City of Tallahassee Utilities

Project: Solar PV, Solar Hot Water, and Electric Vehicle Charging Systems Checkup

Jonus will be working on the Solar PV, Solar Hot Water, and Electric Vehicle Charging Systems Checkup where he will evaluate City solar panel system health and EV usage rates, streamline monitoring processes, and provide relevant recommendations. This project connects with his goal of improving sustainable infrastructure within the Tallahassee community. Jonus hopes to further his knowledge of how local government works on sustainable infrastructure as well as enhance his project management skills.

Kiana Sweger

Program: Third Year Undergraduate in Environmental Science

Campus/Community Partner: Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Project: Rethink. Reset. Recycle. Website Phase 2

Kiana is excited to be a fellow and work on making real improvements in sustainability in Tallahassee. She is going to be working on the Rethink. Reset. Recycle. Website project with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. She believes it is important for the public to be informed about recycling practices in the area, and this website will help spread that information. Kiana hopes to have a positive impact on sustainable initiatives as she learns about sustainability in a professional setting with FDEP.

Kyle Rutter

Program: Fourth Year Undergraduate in International Affairs and Economics

Campus/Community Partner: Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Project: Public Sector Recycling Reporting Program

Kyle is a fourth-year undergraduate majoring in International Affairs and Economics. His professional focus is on international development and he hopes to pursue a career in public service. He believes recycling is a great sustainable practice in any community, regardless of income or location, so he is excited to contribute to this project and see its impact on public agencies in Florida. Kyle hopes to gain more experience working in public service and learn the best ways to connect with various public agencies to achieve project goals.

Madison Askins

Program: Fourth Year Undergraduate in Public Health

Campus/Community Partner: Leon County Office of Sustainability

Project: Update and Refine the GreenMap

Madison is a fourth-year undergraduate majoring in Public Health. She hopes to become an environmental specialist after she graduates and believes her experience as a Sustainability Fellow will help get her there. She will be working on the GreenMap for the Leon County Office of Sustainability and is excited to apply her Public Health knowledge to the project by improving community health through the environmental opportunities available. Madison hopes to gain project management skills and practical experience by working closely with professionals.

McKinnon Bell

Program: Second Year Graduate Student in Media Communication Studies

Campus/Community Partner: Sustainable Campus

Project: Sustainable Campus YouTube Revamp

McKinnon is in the final semester of her master's program in the School of Communication and works as the Graduate Communications Coordinator for FSU Sustainable Campus. For her project, she is working to revamp the Sustainable Campus YouTube channel. She is especially excited about this project as it combines her passions for social media content creation, podcasting, and producing videos. Finding new ways to communicate sustainability engagingly works to bring more people into the conversation, and therefore have more perspectives working together to tackle issues.

Miraa Shukla

Program: First Year Undergraduate in Interior Architecture and Design

Campus/Community Partner: GenCLEO

Project: Accessible & Sustainable Public Transportation in Tallahassee: Bus Stops and Solar Panels

Miraa is a first-year undergraduate in Interior Architecture and Design and she is excited about this project because she has a passion for sustainable buildings and products. This project presents her with a unique opportunity to implement sustainable design principles in practical scenarios and learn from professionals in the field. She hopes to complement her studies and enhance her understanding of the environmental and social impacts of design decisions while building meaningful connections to learn from in the sustainability and urban planning communities.

Nastya Sidorova

Program: First Year Graduate in Higher Education Administration

Campus/Community Partner: Apalachee Regional Planning Council

Project: Economic Development in Rural Communities

Nastya is a first-year graduate student in the Higher Education Administration program and works as the Sustainability Graduate Coordinator for Sustainable Campus. She believes sustainability plays a paramount role in her daily life, personally and professionally, and has had the opportunity to get hands-on experience in applying the principles of sustainable development. She hopes to learn more practical ways to make education more sustainable and tackle environmental and economic problems in the community.

Fall 2023 Sustainability Fellows

Sarah Gibson

Program: Fourth Year Undergraduate in Political Science/Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Campus/Community Partner: Sustainable Campus

Project: Greek Goes Green Coordinator

Sarah is a fourth-year undergraduate majoring in Political Science and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, with a concentration in Public Service. She is interested in exploring the overlap between sustainability and policymaking, specifically the effects of climate change on low-income public service recipients. Sustainability to Sarah is achieving economic, environmental, and social success in present times without compromising the well-being of future generations. She believes that there is a place for sustainability in every sphere of work and hopes to promote that idea to campus organizations through her role as a Sustainability Fellow.

Summer 2023 Sustainability Fellows

Fiari LeGrand

Program: Third Year Undergraduate Student in Environmental Engineering

Campus/Community Partner: Sustainable Campus

Project: Sustainability Guide

Fiari LeGrand is a third-year undergraduate student pursuing a degree in Environmental engineering. She is driven by her passion for people and issues of environmental injustice with hopes to pursue a career in innovation, working specifically with populations most affected by environmental racism. If Fiari had to define sustainability in one sentence it would be; To prepare for the future, while meeting the needs of the present and avoiding the mistakes of the past.

Nia Ogletree

Program: Third Year Undergraduate Student in Environment and Society

Campus/Community Partner: Sustainable Tallahassee

Project: Position Statements

Nia Ogletree is a junior studying Environment & Society with minors in Urban & Regional Planning and African American Studies. After completing their undergraduate studies, Nia hopes to pursue work in local sustainability or environmental protection. Nia looks forward to learning new perspectives of sustainability from their time as a Fellow and is excited to work with the community partners. To Nia, sustainability goes beyond the general idea of the conservation of resources and encompasses working towards improving social justice and community issues.

Lydia Shackelford

Program: Second Year Undergraduate Student in Dietetics

Campus/Community Partner: FSU Food for Thought Pantry

Project: Efficient Service Delivery: Uniting Principles of Dietetics, Sustainability, and Food Insecurity Intervention

Lydia Shackelford is a second year undergraduate in the Dietetics program. After graduating, she plans to attend graduate school and earn accreditation as a dietitian. Lydia hopes to work as a clinical dietitian and eventually open a private practice, where she will focus on helping those with digestive diseases and autoimmune illnesses. She is excited to learn how to combine her knowledge of nutrition with sustainability practices to benefit the Florida State community. From this experience, she hopes to implement the knowledge of food insecurity intervention and the minimization of food waste into her personal life and professional career.

Marion Knowles

Program: First Year Graduate Student in Urban and Regional Planning and Public Administration

Campus/Community Partner: Sustainable Campus

Project: FSU Environmental Metrics

Marion is an Urban and Regional Planning and Public Administration Joint Pathway Graduate Student. She previously graduated from Florida State University's Political Science Program and is interested in sustainability policy in Florida and continued environmental stewardship within the state. To Marion, sustainability is efficiently maximizing the current resources without compromising the quality and quantity of future resources.

Carly McGovern

Program: Fourth Year Undergraduate Student in Environment and Society and Political Science

Campus/Community Partner: Leon County Office of Sustainability

Project: Sustainable Surplus

Carly is a senior majoring in Environment and Society and Political Science with a minor in Geography. She is passionate about making sustainability a part of everyday life and accessible to all. Carly currently works at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection but hopes to one day work on environmental issues on a national level. During the sustainability fellows program, she will be helping to create a system to catalog and redistribute surplus office furniture and supplies among county office buildings in an effort to reduce waste. She hopes to use this as an opportunity to learn how to promote proper resource stewardship in other workplaces. Carly would describe sustainability as supporting the longevity of future generations by protecting our environmental resources.

Andelino Calderon

Program: Fourth Year Undergraduate Student in Dietetics

Campus/Community Partner: FSU Food for Thought Pantry

Project: Efficient Service Delivery: Uniting Principles of Dietetics, Sustainability, and Food Insecurity Intervention

Andelino is a fourth-year student in the College of Health and Human Sciences pursuing a dual degree in Dietetics and Exercise Physiology. He wishes to pursue the Dietician [RD] accreditation which requires an advanced degree in nutrition. Outside of the opportunities provided through the Sustainability Fellowship, Andelino has worked in the Institute of Sport Sciences & Medicine (ISSM) at FSU. In Andelino’s eyes sustainability & harmony with our planet is the goal for humanity; Andelino believes that we have the collective means and resources to feed every individual, yet many go hungry. Through this experience he wishes to better understand the challenges of food safety, food waste, and food insecurity in the context of Community Nutrition. With his learned understanding of the world, Andelino will advocate for the power of exercise and nutrition for human health and prosperity.

Spring 2023 Sustainability Fellows

Kolby Gawlik

Program: Third Year Undergraduate Student in Environment & Society and Public Health

Campus/Community Partner: Leon County Office of Sustainability

Project: Centralized Waste Station Research

Kolby Gawlik is a senior majoring in Environment & Society and Public Health. He plans on pursuing a Master’s of Science in Planning next year, where he would focus on planning for population health and the environment. Kolby wants to use his education to kickstart a career of working on sustainability initiatives in urban landscapes. Growing up in the Chicagoland area, his interest in sustainability stemmed from witnessing the effects air pollution, waste disposal, and heat waves had on the city. The Sustainability Fellows Program allows him to connect with the Tallahassee community while gaining practical experience in his field. Kolby would define sustainability as utilizing Earth's natural resources and ecosystem services in a way that protects them from degradation and enhances their connection to communities.

Sarah Gibson

Program: Third Year Undergraduate in Political Science/Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Campus/Community Partner: Sustainable Campus

Project: Greek Goes Green Coordinator

Sarah is a third-year undergraduate majoring in Political Science and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, with a concentration in Public Service. She is interested in exploring the overlap between sustainability and policy making, specifically the effects of climate change on low-income public service recipients. Sustainability to Sarah is achieving economic, environmental, and social success in present times without compromising the wellbeing of future generations. She believes that there is a place for sustainability in every sphere of work and hopes to promote that idea to campus organizations through her role as a Sustainability Fellow.

Shanaya Jaitly

Program: Third Year Undergraduate in Environment & Society and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Campus/Community Partner: Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)

Project: Rethink. Reset. Recycle. Website Phase 2 Development

Shanaya Jaitly is a third-year undergraduate student pursuing a dual degree in Environment and Society and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences. She is driven by her passion for sustainability and issues of environmental injustice and hopes to pursue a career in advocacy, working specifically with environmental policy geared towards combatting anthropogenic climate change. She is looking forward to participating in the Sustainability Fellows program and having the opportunity to engage the greater Tallahassee community in issues of sustainability and conservation. To Shanaya, sustainability refers to actions that promote longevity and self-sufficiency and meet the needs of all individuals.

Sina Jangjoo

Program: Public Administration and Policy Ph.D. Student

Campus/Community Partner: FSU Emergency Management

Project: Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment

Sina graduated from Shiraz University with a Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning and Design and two certificates in journalism and Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Technology Ecosystem, and a Master's degree in Urban and Reginal Planning. He is working on his Ph.D. degree here at FSU in Public Administration and Policy.

His research focuses on finding more sustainable and resilient ways of living through social innovation and community engagement. In his spare time, you can find Sina running, swimming, exploring trails, or playing soccer.

Samantha Kaddis

Program: Fourth Year Undergraduate in Environment & Society and Psychology

Campus/Community Partner: Sustainable Tallahassee

Project: Position Statements

Samantha Kaddis is a senior double majoring in Environment and Society and Psychology, as well as minoring in General Business. She is very passionate about sustainability and protecting our environment and is delighted to be working on the Position Statements Project with Sustainable Tallahassee. Samantha is excited to see what she can learn from this opportunity and where it can take her in the future.

Jason Klein

Program: Third Year Undergraduate in Environment & Society

Campus/Community Partner: Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)

Project: Food Waste Prevention, Reduction, and Recycling at K-12 Schools

Jason Klein is a third-year Environment and Society student, pursuing a career in the fields of Sustainability and Conservation. He plans to utilize his time as a Sustainability Fellow to gain leadership skills and to help him determine his interests regarding sustainability. To Jason, sustainability means improving the world while avoiding harmful practices that will negatively impact future generations.

Susan Morales

Program: Fourth Year Undergraduate in Sociology and Women's Studies

Campus/Community Partner: Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)

Project: Food Waste Prevention, Reduction, and Recycling at K-12 Schools

Susan is a 4th year Sociology and Women’s Studies major who values equity and sustainability as a form of social justice. When she is not in a classroom on FSU campus, she enjoys trying new recipes, making Spotify playlists, and spending time with friends.

Mary Noonan

Program: Second Year Graduate in Urban and Regional Planning

Campus/Community Partner: Leon County Office of Sustainability

Project: Leon County Landscaping

Mary Noonan is a second year Urban and Regional Planning graduate student with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and Policy. With a focus on environmental planning and urban design, Mary hopes to combine her understanding of sustainable systems with a passion for art and design to develop more functional greenspaces within municipalities. Mary is excited to work with local stakeholders to enrich environments within Leon County and provide planning consultation for future projects.

Kalijah Rahming

Program: Fourth Year Undergraduate in Sociology and Humanities

Campus/Community Partner: Healing Arts Alliance

Project: Membership Directory

Kalijah is a senior at FSU studying Sociology and Humanities. She is thankful to be a member of the Spring 2023 Sustainability Fellows cohort and is excited to learn how she can implement sustainable practices into her day-to-day life.

Natalie Stiles

Program: Fourth Year Undergraduate in Interior Architecture and Design

Campus/Community Partner: FSU Food for Thought Pantry

Project: Sustainable Design

Natalie Stiles is a fourth-year undergraduate in the Interior Architecture and Design program. She is most interested in sustainable design for commercial fields and became a LEED Green Associate in December of 2022. To Natalie, sustainability is integral to the built environment and necessary for promising a positive environmental, economic, and social future.

E Thomas

Program: First Year Undergraduate in Environmental Science

Campus/Community Partner: Leon County Office of Sustainability

Project: Leon County Landscaping

E is a first-year undergraduate studying environmental science. They hope to work in urban planning or environmental restoration in the future, and are excited to work on a project that relates to both of these interests. Sustainability, to E, is primarily about respect, restraint, and understanding in the way humans interact with the environment and gather the resources necessary for daily life.

Summer 2022 Sustainability Fellows

Gabriella Benacquisto

Program: First Year Graduate Student in Urban and Regional Affairs

Campus/Community Partner: Sustainable Campus

Project: Sustainability Research and Grant Funding

Gabriella Benacquisto is a first year Urban and Regional Planning graduate student with a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs. Focusing her studies on environmental planning, she hopes to make sustainable choices more accessible for all community members in her work after graduation. To Gabriella, sustainability is ethical and holistic practices that protect the delicate balance of our planet's ecosystems for current and future generations to thrive in harmony with.

Jaylin Green

Program: Third Year Undergraduate in Jazz Performance and Environmental Science & Policy

Campus/Community Partner: Citizens for a Sustainable Future

Project: Environmental Justice Citizen Response Training Camp

Jaylin Green is a fourth-year undergraduate majoring in Jazz Performance and Environmental Science & Policy. He has a focus on sustainable agriculture and energy systems. Raised in Jacksonville, Florida, Jaylin is extremely familiar with the food desert crisis in America and wishes to impact his own community by creating low input systems of growing food for those in need. As a first-generation college student Jaylin has met many setbacks and hardships in this chapter of his life but continues to show that resilience and his will to learn are his greatest strengths.

Gabrielle Holland

Program: Second Year Graduate Student in Social Work/Public Administration

Campus/Community Partner: Sustainable Campus

Project: Sustainability Research and Grant Funding

Gabrielle Holland is a second-year Master of Social Work/Public Administration student. She works in Development, assisting with fundraising and grants management. After graduation, she plans to work in contract management. In the past, Gabrielle has worked with organizations that provide services to those experiencing homelessness to agencies that focus on grant research and Development. As a Social Worker, she is passionate about making sure communities and programs are sustainable. Gabrielle defines sustainability as the ability to maintain a program or community long-term, resulting in a positive impact on the economy

Anna Lewis

Program: First Year Graduate Student in Urban and Regional Planning

Campus/Community Partner: Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)

Project: Organics Rule Change Educational Material Development

Anna is a current graduate student in the Urban and Regional Planning Master’s program, where she is specializing in International Sustainable Development Planning. After graduating from the program, Anna hopes to live in Europe working as an environmental planning consultant. Anna was interested in the Sustainability Fellows program because of the way it allows students to work with real-world partners on tangible projects and goals in the field of sustainable development. The projects for the summer semester were also particularly intriguing to Anna, as many of them related to concepts of achieving the circular economy, such as recycling and composting. To Anna, sustainability is about establishing a high level of economic, environmental, and social wellbeing that does not jeopardize the quality of life of future generations

Paul Lim

Program: First Year Graduate Student in Social Entrepreneurship

Campus/Community Partner: Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)

Project: Reducing Commercial Waste in Florida

Paul is a recent graduate of the Urban and Regional Planning Master program and is currently pursuing a second master's in the Social Entrepreneurship Program majoring in Social and Sustainable Enterprises. His professional goals are focused on just sustainable development through city planning, conservation, and business development through innovation and collaboration. Paul joined the Sustainability Fellows program to expose himself to sustainability metrics and implementation of policies/acts that drive sustainability in businesses and communities. To Paul, sustainability encompasses adaptability and resiliency in the face of a changing climate, political landscape, and social constructs that each play a role in efforts of collaboration and innovation as the means to achieve a sustainable end

Sabrina Matura

Program: Third Year Undergraduate in Environmental Science & Policy

Campus/Community Partner: Leon County Office of Sustainability

Project: Leon County EV Charger Mapping and EV Readiness Guide Development

Sabrina is majoring in Environmental Science and Policy and minoring in STEM Entrepreneurship and hope to work with businesses in becoming more sustainable in my future endeavors. She is very interested in Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) and wants to work for a big business including Amazon or Apple. Sabrina was interested in the Fellows Program because she really wants to make an impact in my community regarding sustainability and is super excited to continue to work with the Leon County Office of Sustainability this semester! Sustainability to Sabrina is living in harmony with the environment and using resources in a way that preserves them for future generations.

Victoria Rogers-Rivera

Program: Third Year Undergraduate in Political Science/International Affairs

Campus/Community Partner: Citizens for a Sustainable Future

Project: Environmental Justice Citizen Response Training Camp

Vi Rogers-Rivera is a junior majoring in Political Science and International Affairs with a minor in Spanish and Environment & Society. They're goal is to become an environmental lawyer focused on environmental justice. Vi joined the Sustainability Fellows program in order to educate and engage with their peers on environmental justice issues as well as learn about community organizing. Sustainability means creating systems that work with their communities to conserve and enrich the environment around us

Trinity White

Program: Third Year Undergraduate in Spanish

Campus/Community Partner: Healing Arts Alliance

Project: Healing Arts Storytelling and Journalism

Trinity White, a Spanish B.A. undergrad, would describe sustainability, as a means of combating overconsumption and wastefulness of natural resources. Within the Sustainable Fellows program, she will partner with the Healing Art Alliance in order to promote holistic health within the Tallahassee community. One day, Trinity hopes to improve the quality of life of disenfranchised individuals via outreach.

Spring 2022 Sustainability Fellows

Juan A. Arguelles Ortiz

Program: First Year Graduate Student in Public Health

Campus/Community Partner: Sustainable Campus

Project: Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Analysis of FSU Research and Teaching

Juan is an educational and professional background in biochemistry and biotechnology and is currently a first-year Master of Public Health Student. He has experience working as a quality control as well as an analytical chemist within several medical and pharmaceutical manufacturing companies and hopes to leverage his analysis background to further study the relationship between climate change, health, and bioethics. His attraction towards the Sustainability Fellowship program is due to its goal of providing students guidance carrying out real-world sustainability projects. Juan defines sustainability as an approach that considers future generations in developing practices to meet current needs.

Gabriella Benacquisto

Program: First Year Graduate Student in Urban and Regional Affairs

Campus/Community Partner: Sustainable Campus

Project: Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Analysis of FSU Research and Teaching

Trinity Iwicki

Program: Second Year Undergraduate in the Environment and Society Program

Campus/Community Partner: Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)

Project: Food Waste Prevention Educator

Trinity is a second year Environment and Society student, looking to become an Environmental and/or Science Communicator. Working as a Sustainability Fellow allows them the opportunity to gain real-world experience, and further grow their skills as a communicator in service to the Tallahassee community. They aim to make sustainable living a more feasible goal for lower-income communities and families. They look at sustainability as a way of living - on both an individual and societal level - with the goal of maintaining the environment and their way of life for not just the next generation, but for many to come.

Dorothy Lane

Program: First Year Graduate Student in Social Work and Public Administration

Campus/Community Partner: SportsAbility Alliance

Project: Florida Accessible Beach Access Research

Dorothy Lane is a first-year graduate student pursuing master's degrees in both Public Administration and Social Work. She strives to work at the intersection of accessibility and victim services. Dorothy defines sustainability as building programs that can continue without a single person or organization's support. She became interested in the Sustainability Fellowship as an opportunity to learn more about sustainable practices in project management.

Elisa Martinez Cancino

Program: First Year Graduate Student in Social Work and Criminology

Campus/Community Partner: SportsAbility Alliance

Project: Florida Accessible Beach Access Research

Ely is a master’s student doing a joint program in Social Work and Criminology. She’s looking to move forward in the academic route and get a PhD in Social Policy with a focus in Environmentalism and Sustainability. The outdoors has always been Ely’s way of finding inner peace and a better understanding of the world. Through the SportsAbility Beach Accessibility project, she is looking forward to making it accessible for everyone to be able to connect with nature. Ely grew up around the beach and that’s why she was so passionate about this program. She’s excited to be part of change towards a better and more inclusive community!

Shaifali Prajapati

Program: First Year Graduate Student in Geography

Campus/Community Partner: FSU Faculty Senate, Sustainability Standing Committee

Project: Defining the Student Role in the Sustainability Standing Committee of the FSU Faculty Senate

Shaifali is pursuing a master’s degree with the Department of Geography. She would like to incorporate sustainability through involving decision makers and increasing engagement with communities affected by climate impacts; an integral part of research for her is the ability to disseminate information to stakeholders. She believes the program fosters collaboration among institutions like FSU and wider organizations within Florida working on sustainability. For Shaifali, sustainability starts with decisive and ambitious actions for change involving multiple sectors of society, as steps taken now can prevent adverse effects in the long term.

Anne-Lunie Rodney

Program: Fourth Year Undergraduate in Business Management and Environmental Science and Policy

Campus/Community Partner: Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)

Project: Food Waste Prevention Educator

Anne-Lunie Rodney is a fourth-year senior majoring in Management and Environmental Science and Policy. In the future, Anne plans to attend graduate school and later pursue both her passions through a career in Corporate Sustainability. Anne believes that the Fellows program is an amazing opportunity to learn and apply skills taught in and outside of the classroom on campus and in the community. To Anne, sustainability means making a commitment to ourselves by finding the balance in planning for today and planning for the future.

Karina Sultan

Program: Second Year Undergraduate in Environment and Society

Campus/Community Partner: Apalachee Canoe and Kayak Club

Project: Big Bend River Advocate

Karina is an Environment and Society major, and she hopes to have a career focused on conservationism. Her interest in the Fellows program is to take part in something bigger than herself and gain relevant experience in environmental projects. Sustainability, to Karina, means finding ways to preserve our natural resources for the benefit of society, current and future, and for the environment itself.

Lauren Thornberg

Program: First Year Graduate Student in Urban and Regional Planning

Campus/Community Partner: Florida Springs Institute

Project: Citizen Science Data Collection and Advocacy

Lauren is pursuing a master's degree in urban and regional planning with a focus on environmental planning. She is interested in adaptative planning for coastal cities, and the effects climate change has on urban life. She joined the fellows program to better understand the relationship between Florida's waterways and its communities. Her definition of sustainability is "living in a way that does not harm future generations, constantly asking ourselves if we are being good ancestors".

Zachary Wigodner

Program: Third Year Undergraduate in Commercial Entrepreneurship

Campus/Community Partner: Leon County Office of Sustainability

Project: Sustainable Business Recognition Program Implementation Specialist

Zachary is a Commercial Entrepreneurship major, pursuing a minor in Business Analytics. He is especially interested in creating sustainable supply chains, mobilizing private equity for social ventures, and learning about emerging technologies. At the Leon County Office of Sustainability, Zach is excited to understand all aspects of the local businesses he will be working with, help them solve complex problems, and exploit opportunities for sustainable innovation. Zach believes sustainability involves human responsibility to be resourceful and forward-thinking to ensure a brighter future.

Fall 2021 Sustainability Fellows

Lauren Mayou

Program: Fourth Year Undergraduate in Environmental Engineering

Campus/Community Partner: FSU Planning & Space Management

Project: Campus Plazas, Irrigation, and Flower Bed Map

Lauren Mayou is a senior studying environmental engineering and is hoping to pursue a career in water resource engineering or environmental assessment and remediation. She previously participated in an environmental assessment and feasibility project with Dr. Ahmadisharaf funded by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. She also received the Computational Hydraulics International Grant to assist with her research and has experience as an intern at Drummond Carpenter. Lauren joined the Sustainability Fellowship program to assist FSU Planning & Space Management with their Campus Plaza project and to expand upon her experience with irrigation and flow bed mapping. For Lauren, sustainability is defined as utilizing available information to optimize the benefit to the future environment while also considering the current economic, environmental, and social costs.

Jessica Meeker

Program: Second Year Graduate Student in Public Administration

Campus/Community Partner: Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)

Project: Away from Home Recycling Analysis

Jessica is currently in the Master of Public Administration program and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. Her academic and career goals include exploring energy policy and bridging the gap between government administration and engineering. She is interested in the Sustainability Fellows program because of the interesting projects proposed and the opportunity to help the local community, and Florida, become more sustainably conscious. For Jessica, sustainability encompasses the integration of the economy, societal impacts, and the environment, and she believes everyone has the opportunity to do their part.

Zachary Wigodner

Program: Third Year Undergraduate in Commercial Entrepreneurship

Campus/Community Partner: Leon County Office of Sustainability

Project: Sustainable Business Recognition Program Implementation Specialist

Heather Zdyb

Program: Third Year Undergraduate in Environment and Society and Geography

Campus/Community Partner: ExpeditionTLH

Project: ExpeditionTLH Content Creator

Heather is a junior majoring in Environment & Society and Geography with a minor in Urban and Regional Planning. In the future, she would like to pursue a graduate degree in Urban and Regional Planning with an Environmental focus. Sustainability to Heather is a compromise of best meeting our current environmental, economic, and social needs without sacrificing the needs of future generations. She looks forward to working with ExpeditionTLH because of the opportunity to share her passions for sustainability and outdoor recreation with fellow community members.

Summer 2021 Sustainability Fellows

Michelle Evangelista

Program: Third Year Undergraduate in International Affairs and Environment and Society

Campus/Community Partner: Miami Climate Alliance

Project: Social Justice Community Engagement/Marketing

Michelle Evangelista is majoring in International Affairs. Some of her professional goals include starting her Honors in the Major Thesis and starting a second major in Environment and Society. She is also interested in the Sustainability Fellows program to promote sustainability in communities, while also considering the demographics and circumstances that affect the people in the area. She hopes to utilize her skills, learn, and improve her abilities to benefit herself and other people she works with. For Michelle, sustainability means the preservation of nature, resources, and the Earth for diverse communities. Everyone can contribute to the Earth’s preservation. It is important to present it from different perspectives, to bring about the most change in mindsets and habits. For sustainability to succeed, it needs to address other issues that affect its accessibility and attainment such as environmental racism.

Catarina Fernandez

Program: Third Year Undergraduate in Environment and Society

Campus/Community Partner: Miami Climate Alliance

Project: Social Justice Community Engagement/Marketing

Catarina is a senior studying Environment and Society with a minor in Urban Planning. She plans to pursue a graduate degree in Urban Planning as she believes that by transforming our built environment we can change the ways we connect with our community. To her, sustainability means acting in balance with the Earth, establishing a give and take relationship which provides for all people regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, ability, age, etc!

Kaleb Hobson-Garcia

Program: Third Year Undergraduate in Environmental Science

Campus/Community Partner: Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)

Project: Away from Home Recycling Analysis

Kaleb is a junior majoring in Environmental Science with an interest in working in environmental remediation and long-term pollution solutions. He was drawn to Sustainability Fellows as it would give him the opportunity to give back to the Tallahassee community while gaining applicable experience for professional goals. Sustainability to Kaleb is keeping the environment’s needs at the forefront while meeting the needs of an ever-evolving and growing population.

Jessica Meeker

Program: Second Year Graduate Student in Public Administration

Campus/Community Partner: Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)

Project: Away from Home Recycling Analysis

Corbin Nall

Program: Graduate Student in Public Health and Urban & Regional Planning

Campus/Community Partner: City of Tallahassee, Department of Sustainability & Community Preservation

Project: Tallahassee At Home Resilience Guide

Corbin is a second-year graduate student pursing a joint degree in Urban and Regional Planning and Public Health. In the future, he hopes to work in a career focused on community health and food systems planning. The Sustainability Fellows program provides an avenue in which to explore these career goals. According to Corbin, the concepts of sustainability and resiliency go hand-in-hand for both refer to the capacity to adapt to change while continuing to thrive well into the future

Crystal Posey

Program: Second Year Graduate Student in Geographic Information Systems

Campus/Community Partner: FSU Planning & Space Management

Project: Visualizing Green and Open Spaces

Crystal Posey is in the M.S. Geographic Information Systems graduate program. She graduated from Florida State University with a B.S. in Environmental Sciences in 2018 and she currently works in the public sector's environmental management field. She hopes to continue my service in the public sector by supporting environmental managers and the public using geospatial technologies to protect our natural resources and enhance its ecosystems. The Fellows program gained her interest because it provides the university an all-inclusive, secure, and effective approach to combating challenges our society and environment face. Sustainability focuses on providing an approach that assists in combating those challenges. It does not deplete nor compromise our natural resources so that we can maintain a future for others to live in a healthy society and environment.

Michael Walsh

Program: Second Year Graduate Student in Integrated Marketing Communication

Campus/Community Partner: FSU Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS)

Project: TAPS Sustainable Transportation Marketing

Michael is in his final semester of the Integrated Marketing and Communication Master's program. He was drawn to making a positive impact on the FSU community before graduation. His personal definition of sustainability is making the changes necessary to ensure that future generations inherit a safe and healthy planet.

Peter Woodley

Program: Second Year Graduate Student in Product Development

Campus/Community Partner: Compost Community

Project: Tallahassee Business Environment Analysis

Peter is a graduate student in the FSU Jim Moran Institute product development program with a focus on start-up and SME project management and business analysis. He interprets sustainability as a responsibility people owe to the world as global citizens to ensure the development and longevity of environmental, social, and economic resources for future generations. In alignment with his efforts to mature into a serial entrepreneur, he is confident his experience as a Fellow will challenge and develop his communication, business strategy, and leadership skills as he pioneers a start-up in the commercial sustainability sector.

Heather Zdyb

Program: Third Year Undergraduate in Environment and Society and Geography

Campus/Community Partner: ExpeditionTLH

Project: ExpeditionTLH Content Creator

Spring 2021 Sustainability Fellows

Tyler Osha

Program: Fourth Year Undergraduate in Environmental Science and Policy

Campus/Community Partner: Apalachicola Riverkeeper

Project: ArcGIS Story Map for Apalachicola Basin Trails

Tyler is a senior studying Environmental Science and Policy. He has a passion for protecting the environment and is interested in a future career in land and species conservation. His interest in the Sustainability Fellows Program stems from his desire to learn applicable skills and help community partners around Tallahassee. His definition of sustainability is when a process can be maintained while minimizing the negative externalities on the environment and community. Tyler is excited to work with Apalachicola Riverkeeper this semester!

Dasha Kosheleva

Program: Second Year Graduate Student in Urban and Regional Planning

Campus/Community Partner: Apalachicola Riverkeeper

Project: ArcGIS Story Map for Apalachicola Basin Trails

Dasha is pursuing a master’s degree in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning. The Sustainability Fellows program allows her to combine her GIS skills with her passion for sustainable design. For Dasha, sustainability is determined by the coherent and balanced work of multiple components of the development system, such as economic growth, mitigation of environmental impact, and ensuring fair and equal opportunities for people.

Connor Ford

Program: Third Year Undergraduate in Business Management

Campus/Community Partner: Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)

Project: Away from Home Recycling Analysis

Connor is a Business Management major, pursuing a minor in Urban and Regional Planning with the eventual goal of becoming a planner specializing in economic development or land-use strategies. He thinks the Sustainability Fellows program is a great way to improve his local community while gaining real-world experience in environmental planning. Connor would define sustainability as the responsible management of our earth’s finite resources.

John Massa

Program: Third Year Undergraduate in Sociology and Biology

Campus/Community Partner: Florida Disabled Outdoors Association (FDOA)

Project: iFind Recreation Resource Database

John is a junior majoring in sociology and biology with an interest in public health and medicine. He was drawn to Sustainability Fellows because the projects are identified by community members, ensuring that the goals of these projects are in line with what the community really needs. His personal definition of sustainability is investing resources into our communities to preserve our environment and create long-lasting bonds between the two.

Mackenzie Hayes

Program: Fourth Year Undergraduate in Environmental Science

Campus/Community Partner: Florida Disabled Outdoors Association (FDOA)

Project: iFind Recreation Resource Database

Mackenzie is majoring in Environmental Science (BS) with a minor in geography and urban planning. In the future, she plans to go to grad school for urban planning with a focus in sustainability or environmentalism. In the future Mackenzie wants to work on sustainability in cities regarding mixed-used development, walkable and bikeable landscapes, and equitable, public transportation. She defines sustainability as creating living life in a way that preserves a high standard of living for everyone and for future generations.

Rachel Tullius

Program: First Year Graduate Student in Social Work

Campus/Community Partner: FSU Food for Thought Pantry

Project: Local Food Resources Inventory

Rachel Tullius is a graduate student in the Master's of Social Work Program with a concentration in Policy and Social Leadership. Her interest in the Sustainability Fellowship Program comes from her passion for helping others. Sustainability, to Rachel, is a holistic lens which prioritizes longevity, accessibility, inclusion, and equity. At its core, sustainability is social work to Rachel.

Alyssa Love

Program: First Year Graduate Student in Public Interest Media and Communication

Campus/Community Partner: FSU Food for Thought Pantry

Project: FSU Food for Thought Pantry Marketing

Alyssa Love is a first-year graduate student in the School of Communication in the Public Interest Media Communication program. In the future, Alyssa hopes to create content that gets people thinking and taking action when it comes to the world's environmental problems. She is very passionate about sustainability and helping people understand how they can help and get involved in more sustainable practices. To Alyssa, sustainability is about creating an environment that is here for future generations. Alyssa is excited to work with the Food for Thought Pantry to create a campaign that can reach as many students and people who need this amazing service.

Alexia Denton

Program: First Year Graduate Student in Public Health

Campus/Community Partner: Healing Arts Alliance

Project: Virtual Healing Arts Fact Sheet Collection

Alexia is a first-year graduate student in the Master of Public Health program. She aims to pursue health policy to improve access of care for rural and underserved communities. She is very interested in holistic approaches and prevention methods to promote health. Alexia believes sustainability represents the efforts made to preserve resources and to act in such a way that best benefits individuals and their environment.

Ellie Rill

Program: Third Year Undergraduate in Environment & Society and Economics

Campus/Community Partner: Healing Arts Alliance

Project: Virtual Healing Arts Fact Sheet Collection

Ellie is a junior studying Economics and Environment & Society with a minor in Computer Science. She is interested in pursuing a career that educates others on sustainable living, which goes hand-in-hand with the environment. She is very excited to be working with the Sustainability Fellows Program and Healing Arts Alliance this semester as this opportunity empowers individuals to implement sustainable, holistic practices into their everyday lives.

Hannah Mendillo

Program: First Year Graduate Student in Urban and Regional Planning

Campus/Community Partner: Leon County Office of Sustainability

Project: Identify Opportunities to Expand Community Composting

Hannah is a first-year graduate student studying Urban and Regional Planning and plans to pursue a career in environmental planning after graduation. She is passionate about sustainability and building a better community, which led her to this community composting project. For Hannah, sustainability is about planning for future generations.

Delaney Wicker-Miller

Program: Third Year Undergraduate in Management

Campus/Community Partner: Leon County Office of Sustainability

Project: Sustainable Business Recognition Program

Delaney is a junior majoring in Management and minoring in Environment and Society. Across her professional career, Delaney strives towards opening her sustainable business and promoting corporate responsibility in the workplace. The Fellows program offers Delaney the chance to explore both of her passions and implement all she has learned in college so far. To Delaney, sustainability means more than using metal straws and reusable bags. While every small effort counts, businesses are responsible for the vast majority of harmful emissions. Taking responsibility for means of production and implementing modern efforts is a large goal in the environmental community. Today more than anything sustainability is a collective effort between consumers and the workplace to keep our earth healthy.

Nicolas Fields

Program: Fourth Year Undergraduate in Finance

Campus/Community Partner: Leon County Office of Sustainability

Project: Sustainable Business Recognition Program

Nicolas is a senior studying finance. He hopes to work as a financial analyst at a company or foundation focused on mitigating climate change and helping those impacted by it. The Sustainability Fellows Program interested Nicolas because it gives him an opportunity to implement waste reducing and energy saving habits in his community, all while gaining valuable professional business experience. Sustainability to Nicolas means keeping our planet healthy with the goal of an improved quality of life not just for humans but all living organisms.

Linda Beauport

Program: Fourth Year Undergraduate in Environmental Science and Policy

Campus/Community Partner: Florida Physicians for Social Responsibility

Project: Get the Lead Out! Educational Campaign and Public Health Lobbying Initiative

Linda is currently an Environmental Science and Policy Major. Her future goals include working for an organization like the Environmental Protection Agency or the United Nations Environmental Programme. She is interested in the Sustainability Fellows to aid the community and campus in its efforts to improve the quality of our surroundings. Sustainability should be flexible and adaptable to anyone who wants to partake in the effort.

Kimberly Watts

Program: First Year Graduate Student in Public Health

Campus/Community Partner: Florida Physicians for Social Responsibility

Project: Get the Lead Out! Educational Campaign and Public Health Lobbying Initiative

Kimberly is in the Master of Public Health Program to prepare for a career in epidemiology. Within this field, Kimberly plans to explore public health issues and implement ways to stop a disease spread. Working with others to advocate for safe drinking water is an experience Kimberly will be able to build on, as well as one that will help improve her community. She looks forward to building her network with others who are advocates for public health. Kimberly views sustainability as something that can endure time without doing harm.

Sarah Calzada

Program: Third Year Undergraduate in Geography

Campus/Community Partner: Apalachee Audubon Society

Sarah is a third-year undergraduate studying Geography with a minor in Environment and Society. After graduating from FSU, she hopes to pursue a master's degree in environmental science. Sarah is a continuing Fellow from Fall 2020, and she loved her experience of installing a bat house at Lake Elberta Park with the Apalachee Audubon Society. Sarah’s definition of Sustainability is inclusive, long-term, ethical community development towards goals that positively impact multiple parts of a community, such as environmental, economic, and human resources.

Fall 2020 Sustainability Fellows

Sarah Calzada

Program: Third Year Undergraduate in Geography

Campus/Community Partner: The Apalachee Audubon Society

Sarah is a junior studying Geography with a minor in Environment and Society, and her sustainability journey started when she volunteered in the Atlantic Rainforest, Brazil for 2 months last year. Volunteering in rainforest restoration helped her realize that sustainability is a lifelong practice that she wants to live by. Since being accepted to the Sustainability Fellowship, she is excited to continue this journey by aiding the Apalachee Audubon Society this fall!

Jacob Doty

Program: First Year Graduate Student in GIS

Campus/Community Partner: FSU Facilities

Jacob is a first year graduate student looking towards a future career in GIS. He is continuing his work as a Sustainability Fellow to map recycling availability on campus, make the data more accessible, and improve the recycling on campus, as well as working on other GIS projects with FSU Design & Construction.

Sarah Galt

Program: Fourth Year Undergraduate in Environment and Society

Campus/Community Partner: Sustainable Campus

Sarah is a Senior at FSU interested in pursuing a career that furthers environmental awareness/education, which goes hand-in-hand with sustainability. She is excited to be working with the Sustainability Fellows Program this semester, as she feels this program merges environmental and sustainable practices in an effort to educate and encourage our youth's creativity.

Mahyar Ghorbanzadeh

Program: Ph.D. candidate in Civil and Environmental Engineering

Campus/Community Partner: Second Harvest of the Big Bend

Mahyar’s research is related to “Traffic and Transportation Engineering”. He has been involved in multiple research projects which were externally funded through agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). The overlap between the goals of the Sustainability Fellows project and his research areas made him very passionate to work on this project. The journey through this project and the outcome will be mutually beneficial to him as a researcher and the organization.

Sajeeb Kirtonia

Program: Ph.D. candidate in Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Campus/Community Partner: Second Harvest of the Big Bend

Sajeeb is completing a PhD and working as a research assistant. His research is primarily focused on improving the efficiency of the transportation sector by implementing optimization techniques. He is very excited to get involved in the Sustainability Fellowship program where he will apply his knowledge to address the challenges of environmental, social and economic sustainability.

Tyler Osha

Program: Fourth Year Undergraduate in Environmental Science and Policy

Campus/Community Partner: FSU Facilities, Procurement

Tyler is a senior studying Environmental Science and Policy. He has a passion for protecting the environment and is interested in the intersection of business and sustainability. After graduation, he plans to work in the corporate sustainability field.

Alejandro Suarez

Program: Second Year Undergraduate in Digital Media and Production

Campus/Community Partner: Sustainable Campus

Alejandro is a sophomore from Miami, Florida pursuing digital media and production at FSU. Having an interest in media production and sustainable living, he is excited to be involved with this organization.

Spring 2020 Sustainability Fellows

Alejandro Suarez

Program: First Year Undergraduate in Digital Media and Production

Campus/Community Partner: Sustainable Campus

Alejandro is a freshman from Miami, Florida pursuing digital media and production at FSU. Having an interest in media production and sustainable living, he is excited to be involved with this organization.

Alexis Chavez

Program: Fourth Year Undergraduate in Environmental Science and Policy

Campus/Community Partner: Apalachee Audubon Society

Alexis’s interest in sustainability increased due to the classes he took at FSU and his internship program at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Alexis joined the Sustainability Fellows program because wanted to contribute to sustainability research in Tallahassee and become more prepared for his career after graduation.

Andrea Zang

Program: Second Year Graduate Student in Urban and Regional Planning

Campus/Community Partner: FSU Grounds and Landscaping Operations

Andrea is a second-year master's student in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning (Go DURP!) focusing on sustainable affordable housing policy, asset-based community development, and the impact of gender and sexuality on the urban experience. She's excited to leverage her background in project management, public participation, and GIS to understand and map recycling facility access across FSU's campus - you'll find her biking around campus with a GPS all of spring 2020!

Dani Proffitt

Program: Fourth Year Undergraduate in Advertising and Studio Art

Campus/Community Partner: Leon County Office of Sustainability

Dani is a double major in Advertising and Studio Art focusing on creative, social, and business issues alike. She has a growing passion for the environment that she wanted to apply to her current professional life as well as further grow her knowledge in the field of sustainability. She saw a post on social media about the Fellows program and it seemed like the perfect fit!

David Krijgsman

Program: Fourth Year Undergraduate in Environment & Society and Political Science

Campus/Community Partner: Leon County Office of Sustainability

David grew up throughout Europe and South Florida, where he developed a passion for the outdoors early on in life. After graduation, he plans to pursue a career in environmental law and public policy.

Jacob Doty

Program: Four Year Undergraduate in Geography and Economics

Campus/Community Partner: FSU Grounds and Landscaping Operations

Jacob is a senior studying Geography and looking towards a future career in GIS. He is looking forward to working with the Sustainability Fellows to map recycling availability on campus, make the data more accessible, and improve the recycling on campus.

Kate (Shiqian) Wang

Program: Ph.D. Student in Geography

Campus/Community Partner: Apalachee Audubon Society

Katie is a Ph.D. student in the department of geography. She’s interested in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing (RS), and human-environment interactions.