Michael Volk works to intertwine sustainability with land use planning as part of his role as a Research Associate Professor and Associate Director of UF’s Center for Landscape Conservation Planning. He encourages collaboration on sustainability issues and strives to welcome everyone to the table that can contribute.

Brynn’s wildlife and conservation interests have taken her around the world to observe and work side-by-side other cultures to learn more about sustainability in different environments in Madagascar and Honduras. At UF, Brynn relies on her awesome mentors for support and advice navigating a future in sustainability!

Lauren Keiser is an Event Manager with the UF Conference Department. She helps finalize venues, catering, transportation, lodging, travel, materials, swag, and more for events. In doing so, she is well-positioned to make suggestions and adjustments that can better the planet. Her advice is unforgettable – “Events are inevitable, but the waste they produce doesn’t have to be.”

Madeline Stewart talks with us about her job at the Butterfly Rainforest, Manatee County Natural Resources Department Internship, and her thesis covering the connections between hunting and Fish and Wildlife Department funding nationally. You also don’t want to miss her poetic explanation of what drives her commitment to sustainability!

Anusha Chaudhary, PhD student of Medical Geography and instructor for Conservation of Resources, is the Green Gator of the Month! She says her favorite thing about teaching is meeting new students every semester and having a cross-learning environment. Whether it be conservation updates, fun facts, or new slang, she enjoys the opportunity to learn from students while they learn from her. 

Dr. Danny Coenen is heavily involved in educating, promoting, and supporting sustainability at UF through his work. He is an Instructional Associate Professor of Environment Science and the Undergraduate Coordinator for the School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE). He teaches EVR2001, Intro to Environmental Science, and impacts hundreds of students each year who otherwise may never engage with sustainability in their lives.

Get to know Maddie Kowalewski, the Sustainability Manager for Florida Fresh Dining at UF! She talks to us about salvageable food, local businesses, and climate anxiety. Maddie shares her journey into sustainable living and provides important insights into easy ways to change the things that you can control.

Chris Landaeta, a nearly lifelong resident of Gainesville, is super active in the local environmental scene. He finds joy in bringing people from UF and beyond together to work on the common goal of protecting the environment. Chris defines sustainability as a Venn diagram where environmentally friendly, economically feasible, and socially just actions overlap.

Valentina Padron-Rasines is a Sustainability Studies major who has a passion for social justice and preserving the environment. We talk to her about her internships as a LEED for Cities Intern and a Sustainability Intern with Alachua County. Her experiences have given her a positive outlook and an understanding of how to implement successful public policy!

Jess Mercier is the Assistant Director of Outreach and Marketing for UF Study Abroad. She’s dedicated to sustainable event processes, committed to exploring the intersection of sustainability and international travel, AND she’s running her own vintage and secondhand thrift resale business!