Allie Calabro

My name is Allie Calabro and I am a Mechanical and Computing Engineering student here at UConn! When I was younger, I wanted to be Iron Man (and really, I still do). I believe in the clean and sustainable future of energy for our planet, and I’m studying mechanical and computer engineering to equip myself with the skills and knowledge required to build the arc reactor (or alas, more realistic forms of clean energy technology). But I know that developing new technology will not solve all our climate issues, and that even building an arc reactor will be in vain without a significant shift in our society’s status quo. That’s why I am here at the Office of Sustainability, learning how to impact society’s behaviors to make space for the clean energy technology of the future! I hope to make positive change in the way we as individuals view the idea of sustainability and show people that no change is too small - we all have a role to play in saving our home.

Amanda McCard

My name is Amanda and I’m a junior at UConn returning for my second year as a Sustainability Intern. My love for nature serves as inspiration for my desire to create positive environmental change. But the climate crisis is daunting and all-encompassing; losing hope is easy amid the constant flux of confusing news. That’s why I want to combat misinformation and discouragement by telling accurate, solutions-oriented stories about the planet as an environmental studies and journalism major. This year, I hope to help the OS connect with the student body in a meaningful way and work with our community to create lasting change on campus and beyond.

Amanda Stowe

My name is Amanda and growing up I spent a lot of time outdoors with family and friends doing activities like hiking, rock climbing, and kayaking. This led me to develop a deep appreciation for nature. But, over the years, I began to see the damage that was being done to the environment and see the devastating effects of environmental issues like climate change, severe weather, and air pollution. That's why I am committed to educating others on environmental problems, explaining what can be done to resolve these issues, and working to eliminate these problems myself. I plan to do this by learning more about the environment and human impact through my classes as an environmental science major, collaborating with peers to enact positive change, and pursuing a career in the environmental field related to policy, education, and/or research.

Aminieli Hopson

My name is Aminieli James Hopson, I am a Sophomore at the University of Connecticut’s School of Business with a passion for the intersection of International Business and Sustainable Economic Development. Since I was a child, I’ve loved the act of world-building through the arts; I often find inspiration in stories of community. Growing up in 4 states on the North American East Coast, as well as Tanzania, East Africa, I have been exposed to a myriad diverse cultures and human stories that shed light on the possibilities of Sustainable Development. As I continue to examine actionable long-term solutions to Urban Development happening on both local and global levels, I’ve become passionate about incorporating a personal framework and philosophy of accessibility, security, and sustainability to promote and uplift diverse voices that have historically been marginalized or underrepresented in this solutions building. I have a passion for language learning– speak Kiswahili, and Spanish with basic proficiency in Swedish and Korean– that has enhanced my exploration of Sustainable initiatives worldwide.

This emphasis on cross-cultural community, strongly supports my goal to continue the strategic relationship building, and as the 2023-2024 president of the Business Connections Learning Community, I am excited to use my platform as an active School of Business Student Leader create a stronger tie of the University’s sustainability initiatives to the promising careers of the Business Leaders of Tomorrow. Additionally, Aminieli looks forward to becoming LEED Certified to aid in his Real Estate journey and assisting the Office of Sustainability with environmental justice, and climate action initiatives.

Andy Zhang

My name is Andy Zhang and I am currently a sophomore at the University of Connecticut majoring in environmental science and economics. For the longest time, I wasn’t sure how I wanted to make my impact on the environment. I considered analyzing data samples in research labs, fighting for policy changes, and a thousand other possibilities. No matter what I just couldn’t seem to find my specialty within the field of environmental science. However, that changed as I understood more and more about the direct impact businesses have on the environment. For this reason, I am dedicated to understanding the intersection of business and the environment through my interdisciplinary coursework as well as my professional work to create sustainable economic and environmental solutions for all parties involved. In the coming year, I aim to deepen my knowledge and understanding of UConn’s sustainable practices as well as promote sustainability initiatives throughout campus as an intern at the Office of Sustainability. Additionally, my commitment towards a greener, more equitable future has driven me to pursue work in related organizations like the Natural Resources Conservation Academy, where I strive to empower high school students to carry out place-based, environmental action projects in their own communities. I aspire to gain valuable experience from these positions that will develop necessary lifelong interpersonal skills such as leadership, teamwork, and effective communication that can be incorporated in future career professions such as Sustainability Manager and Head of Sustainability Operations.

Ashley Taffe

My name is Ashley Taffe. I am a political science major and human rights minor here at UConn. Growing up I wasn’t always interested in the environment or sustainability. My focus was always more centered around equality and cultural revolutions. However in studying those in high school, I realized that everything and everyone is connected. People of color and low income people, especially those living in poverty are extremely affected by lack of sustainable practices and environmental degradation. Learning about how wild, natural spaces that our ancestors once cultivated are disappearing for our children is disheartening, and even more disheartening to hear that so many people have ignored this problem for so long. I hope to be part of the generation that takes a stand and decides that our world, our health, our communities, our environment is worth fighting for, through policies, science and every person doing their part for the earth.

Dylan Steer

My name is Dylan Steer. I am an Environmental Studies and Political Science double major here at UConn. I was born in Ankara, Turkey and moved to the U.S. when I was a year and a half years old. I have family both in Turkey and in England, who I visit when I am able. Some of my hobbies include playing board games, thrifting, and watching films. To me, one of the most important components of sustainability is its intersectionality. One of my favorite parts of being involved in sustainability is how easily I am able to connect to others through the realm of sustainability. But through my experience working to bring about sustainable change in my community, both at home and on campus, I’ve found just how insurmountable a task making progress can be if taken on alone. That’s why I am extremely excited to be working as a part of a phenomenal team at the Office of Sustainability. I know that my peers are uniquely qualified for the difficult tasks ahead, each of them with the vision to imagine a better campus and the passion to see it through.

Jackie Flaherty

My name is Jackie Flaherty and I am a second-year marketing and urban & community studies major. Outside of the Office of Sustainability, I am the secretary of EcoHusky, a copyeditor for The Daily Campus, and a member of the UConn Honors Program. Some of my hobbies include running, baking, singing, and listening to film scores. I am interested in making sustainable living more accessible, especially through environmentally conscious urban development. But, I understand that such large-scale change is best sparked in local communities via environmental and digital media literacy efforts. That is why I am committed to understanding how cities can prioritize the well-being of both the environment and their residents, while also providing educational outreach through engaging learning opportunities. It can feel daunting to challenge well-established economic and social structures, making it important to remain both conscious and supportive of the very individuals that changemakers are striving to help. This school year, I hope to maintain an active Office of Sustainability digital media presence to promote greater environmental literacy among the UConn community. Additionally, I plan on increasing the accessibility of sustainable living by helping the Office of Sustainability to organize engaging events for the student body. These events will demonstrate how an environmentally conscious lifestyle is both exciting and achievable through even the smallest of actions.

Kanika Chaturvedi

My name is Kanika Chaturvedi, I am interested in learning more about the intersection of the law and the environment here at UConn. I know there are not enough laws in our society that are helping us facilitate/mitigate the ongoing climate change problem. This is why I am committed to learning about the different types of policies that can be enacted to help ensure that we as a society can sustain ourselves in the changing environment. In the coming year at the Office of Sustainability, I hope to learn more about on-campus initiatives and regulations we have in place to ensure we are being as sustainable as possible, but also raise awareness about the lack of policies that exist at the federal/state level in regards to it.