Sustainability Assistants
Sustainability Assistants
Mission
Sustainability assistants at Carleton will improve and invent new communication pathways between staff, faculty, students, and specific organizations of the College by researching, understanding, and educating other of the relevant sustainability intersections of Carleton’s economic structure, community culture, and ecological environment.
What do Sustainability Assistants do?
Sustainability assistants each work in the residence halls as a resource to provide educational programs and information to students. They also work closely with a Carleton staff mentor in one of four sustainability domains, including: food & dining; building, grounds, and transportation; energy & carbon neutrality; and campus culture & social sustainability. As a third part of the position, the sustainability assistants participate in research and communication to keep the greater campus informed on the latest in sustainability initiatives on campus and beyond.
Carleton's Sustainability Assistant program is in its first year. In just the first half of fall term, the sustainability assistants have:
- helped educate the Carleton community on the specifics of the new composting program
- participated in a Residential Life-sponsored day of apple picking, in which they provided facts about the virtues of local food sources
- contributed research and articles to the sustainability blog, Shrinking Footprints
The Sustainability Assistants for Fall 2007
Eliza Berry is History major from New Rochelle, NY. She is pursuing concentrations in Educational Studies and ENTS (Environmental and Technology Studies). At Carleton, she has been involved with the Environmental Advisory Committee and Kids for Conservation. Eliza is constantly amazed by the energy so many Carleton students and faculty members have put into sustainability initiatives at and beyond Carleton. As such, she is excited to see how much can be accomplished in the next couple years. As an STA, Eliza is working with the residents of Watson and Musser. When not in lovely (though landlocked) Minnesota, she likes to sail on the ocean.
Eliza Berry, Energy & Carbon Neutrality, working with Rob Lamppa, Director of Energy Management. Eliza is the Sustainability Assistant for Watson and Musser Halls.
Katie Blanchard is a prospective History major and ENTS Concentrator from Petoskey, Michigan. She co-leads Farm Club, organizes volunteers and translators for HealthFinders Free Clinic in Dundas, and attempts to attend chapel programs of every sort. Katie loves the beautiful chaos of food: the dirt and weeds when growing it, the messy kitchen when preparing it, and especially fingers to lick after consuming it. She believes that “Food is the greatest of sustaining forces” and “The creation of more holistic food systems” is what most excites her about the sustainability movement.
Katie is, shockingly, the Sustainability Assistant for Food & Dining, working with Joe Winegardner, General Manager of Dining Services. She is also working with Goodhue and Evans Halls.
Becky Dernbach is a senior sociology/anthropology major from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. During the past few years, Becky has been involved with MPIRG, through which she helped start Dorm Wars, an all-campus energy-saving competition, at Carleton, and WHOA house (the Wellstone House of Organization and Activism...house), and this year is excited about working with the Office of Intercultural Life as social and cultural sustainability assistant. Becky appreciates autumns in Minnesota, good questions, and her ancient Egypt pop-up wall calendar. She's also a big fan of children's books and will happily read you The Lorax.
Becky is working with Lorrie Bortuzzo, Assistant Director of Intercultural Life and is the Sustainability Assistant for Burton, Davis, and Severance Halls.
Laura Oxtoby grew up in Chicago, IL, but now calls southern California her home. Laura is a senior biology major and ENTS concentrator. During her time at Carleton, she has been an active member of SOPE, co-leader of Carleton's Green Roof iniative, and involved in campus initiatives to incorporate more sustainable foods into the dining halls. Laura is excited to work with the Facilities Department in Buildings and Grounds this year. She is also looking forward to apple picking in Northfield, and delving into her comps research on climate warming and the Arctic.
More Information
For more information about the sustainability assistant program, please contact ENTS Educational Associates Adam Smith and Mathias Bell.