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Sustainability

 

 

EcoLeader Program

The EcoLeader program is a student leadership initiative that focuses on raising positive awareness of environmental issues and encourages sustainable practices at the University. 

The program started in fall 2012 and is operated by the Office of Sustainability. The program's goals are to increase student knowledge on important environmental issues such as conservation, sustainability, recycling, and ecological awareness, in the context of a University setting. In the fall 2024 semester, the program collaborated with SOMAS to become a for-credit internship program. Beginning in the fall 2025 to spring 2026 academic year, students can now work as SUNY Empire State Service Corps Interns through the SBU Office of Sustainability. More information can be found here.

Read our EcoLeader Newsletter

 

Meet the EcoLeaders

Vienna Christiansen ‘27

Hi I’m Vienna, an Environmental Studies and Psychology double major with a minor in Political Science. My favorite sustainable practices are composting food scraps in my backyard, air-drying my clothes, skipping the AC in summer, and eating a vegetarian diet. My work at the Office of Sustainability involves both student outreach and data-driven waste and emissions analysis. During the week, you may find me weighing food waste at our dining halls to raise student awareness of consumption patterns and gather data for composting initiatives. I’m currently leading a student-run waste audit to measure campus waste contamination rates and propose solutions to increase diversion, helping SBU comply with NYS’s EO 22 sustainability goals. I have also calculated Scope 3 emissions to quantify SBU’s carbon footprint in sectors such as athletics, commuting, study abroad, and rental transportation. Outside the Office, I am the Vice President of the Environmental Club and a research assistant in a neuroscience lab. In the future, I hope to connect my studies in environmental policy and behavioral science to drive systems-level change, with a particular interest in expanding access to clean water.

Gilana Etame ‘27

Hi, I’m Gilana and I'm an Environmental Studies and Mass Communications major with two minors in Studio Art and Creative Writing, from Hempstead, NY. Here at SBU, my work with the Office of Sustainability has included designing and developing content for the social media page, outreach through tabling and interacting at student engagement events, and other special projects aimed at investigating how to make a more sustainable campus for the student body. One project I was particularly happy to work on was a series of interviewing students on their thoughts and knowledge surrounding sustainability on campus. Outside of my internship, I also work for campus's Zuccaire Gallery, am on the art department's Undergraduate Student Advisory Committee, and spent the past spring participating in the Florence University of the Arts Study Abroad Program. Throughout my time in this internship I have been able to gain much more insight into the inner workings of the Office of Sustainability and their close collaborators, and I hope to build upon this knowledge to work in the field of sustainability some day.

Analeia Shields'30

Hey everybody! My name is Analeia Shields! I'm a freshman at Stony Brook University, double majoring in International Relations and Sustainability Studies, and I'm from Las Vegas, Nevada. My work at the Office of Sustainability includes event planning, program development, and working Weigh the Waste at East Side Dining. I've enjoyed investigating the campus, proposing and cultivating new sustainability initiatives to make SBU more green! I've also had the pleasure of developing the first Sustainability Intern Newsletter! Outside the Office of Sustainability, I'm a member of Sunrise and a performer for Dynamic Dance. My time as an intern so far has been so incredible in showing me the ropes of institutional sustainability. I hope to take what I've learned, and my background in governance, to eventually work in the international nonprofit sector on environmental policy!

Sophie Sikorski’27

Hi I'm Sophie and I'm a senior Environmental Studies major and Political Science minor! I'm from Birmingham, Alabama, where sustainable initiatives are often sidelined to favor industrial development. My experience growing up in a state that requires such attention and progress motivates me to pursue a career that allows me to tackle environmental justice issues on a global scale! As an Eco-Leader, I work with the other interns to plan educational outreach events and staff Weigh the Waste to encourage food waste mindfulness and further campus composting efforts. On campus, I'm a Resident's Assistant (RA), a Peace Corps Prep Program student, a Sunrise SBU club member, and play french horn in the University Orchestra! I also am an intern for the New York State Sustainable Materials Management Program. I'm super excited to work with the Office of Sustainability this year to promote sustainability across campus and meet new people!

Keira McGarry’28

Hi! My name is Keira, I’m a junior Environmental Studies/Philosophy double major with a minor in History, and I’m from Ronkonkoma, NY! I grew up learning about sustainability from my mother since she has always worked in the field, so I knew from a pretty young age that I wanted to follow in her footsteps. Here at Stony Brook, I’ve been a part of the Weigh the Waste research group with some of my fellow EcoLeaders, helping to assess the impact of food waste intervention in our dining halls on campus. I’m also the Vice President of the Stony Brook Hub of the National Sunrise Movement. I’m so excited to get to work and help build a greener future!

Ruqayah Mahmud’28

I’m Ruqayah! I’m a Political Science and Environmental Studies double major with a minor in Philosophy. I organize and manage the Weigh the Waste (WtW) initiative and the Composting Pilot Program. I am part of the WtW research team and conduct the data analysis necessary to present our findings to the Stony Brook community and beyond. My other involvements include serving as the president of Sunrise SBU and a senator in our Undergraduate Student Government. I am proud to represent the Weigh the Waste community, and aim to be a compassionate and diligent leader. I strive to effectively use my connections to advocate for sustainable waste management practices on campus.

Pre Ferri’28

Hello everyone I’m Pre I’m a Journalism major and English minor here at Stony Brook and I’m from New Hyde Park, Long Island. Some fun facts about me are that I'm a vegetarian and I love playing clue with my friends. My work here at the office of sustainability includes posting on social media, Weighing so much waste, and all the little side quests they send me on! Some of the cool things I’ve done here have been smashing pumpkins for compost, creating a newsletter with my team, and meeting with teams from other schools to tell them about all the cool things we’ve been doing! Aside from the Office, I am a USG Senator, the VP of Model UN, the team captain of speech and debate, and I play Softball at SBU. In the future, I want to go into politics eventually to further advocate for the environment and for the betterment of the people!

Shanel Wu’28

Hi, I'm Shanel and I'm majoring in Marine Vertebrate Biology and minoring in Sustainability Studies. I’m from the Bronx, NY. I’m a really big animal person, even when it comes to bugs and creatures of the sort. I've always really loved nature, especially the beach, which led me to the path I'm on today. With the Office of Sustainability, I help out with initiatives like Weigh the Waste and event tabling. It's been awesome to work with my fellow Ecoleaders and make an impact on our campus. Outside of being an EcoLeader, I'm also the Secretary for the Community Garden and a Social Media Representative for Hidden Treasures. I love the work I do and am always looking for more ways to be involved in marine biology, research, and sustainability!

Sophia Kang’28

I’m a Biology major with a minor in Korean Studies, graduating in Winter 2028. My favorite sustainability initiative is Weigh the Waste, a student-led initiative that raises awareness about food waste in the dining hall. Through this initiative, I am passionate about encouraging students to be more mindful of their food consumption and the environmental impact of food waste. In addition to my work with Weigh the Waste, I collaborate with the School of Nursing to develop a healthcare and sustainability curriculum. These workshops are designed to integrate sustainability education into medical school, nursing school, and undergraduate programs, helping students understand the connection between healthcare and environmental responsibility. I am especially interested in finding ways to make sustainability more accessible and engaging within the campus community. I believe that raising awareness, integrating sustainability into education, and encouraging small, everyday changes can make a meaningful difference in creating a more sustainable future!

 

How do I Apply?

Applications for the 26-27 ESSC Sustainability Internships are closed.

Students interested in work for academic credit can email the office directly for more information.