Sustainability Office
Kagin Commons
1600 Grand Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105
651-696-8138
Comments & questions to:
sustainability@macalester.edu

about us
   

Sustainability Office Mission Statement The mission of the Sustainability Office is to act as a resource for encouraging and enabling the advancement of sustainability across campus.  It does this by: helping to form connections between students, staff, faculty and the senior administration creating and supporting campus communication structures acting as a central hub of information on sustainability supporting sustainability projects and policies The Sustainability Office works in conjunction with and under the oversight of the Sustainability Advisory Committee.

The Sustainability Office is located in Kagin Commons. Suzanne Savanick Hansen is the Sustainability Manager and she works with six student workers.  Student workers across campus are also involved in the Sustainability Student Worker Network, where up to 25 students workers in 11 different departments work on sustainability issue across the campus.  Natalie Locke '10 and Matt Kazinka coordinate the network.  The group meets every other week in the evening.

STAFF

Suzanne Savanick Hansen, Sustainability Manager - Suzanne earned her Ph.D. in conservation biology from the University of Minnesota, a master's degree in environmental management from Duke University, and a bachelor's degree in geology from Carleton College.  She developed the Sustainable Campus Initiative at the University of Minnesota and most recently worked for the Science Education Resource Center and as a visiting professor at Carleton College.  Her previous experience includes working for the Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance and serving as an elected supervisor of the Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District.  She also currently serves on the Forum of Women in the Environmental Field's Board of Directors.  When she is not at work, she cross country skis, canoes, and tries to keep a garden alive at her family's farm in southern Minnesota.

Click here for information on Former Staff.

STUDENT WORKERS

Click here for student worker projects.

Click here for information on Former Student Workers.

	K. Christian Bangert '13 Job: Sustainability Network Coordinator Who I Am: Hailing from Ann Arbor, MI, I'm interested in better ways of living. Sustainably. Inclusively. Freely. Unsurprisingly, I spend a lot of time reading and talking to as many people who'll talk back. What Jobs/Projects I am Working On: Right now I'm working on coordinating the Sustainability Network, growing our work and the relations we have between each other. Goals: Increase the size of the network while still providing a safe and positive network of colleagues. Oh and encourage group access to common and sources of information.
	Merita Bushi '14 Job: ITS sustainability worker Who I Am: I am a sophomore Geography major (with a CGH concentration) from Chicago. This is my second year working at the ITS Help Desk and I love Google (it organizes my life!) What Projects/Jobs I am Working On: I'm working with the library sustainability worker to vamp up Onesies and plan our Ponder Before Printing Campaign. Goals: After that project is underway, I'll work on updating the sustainability portion of the ITS website, working on E-waste, and making technology more faculty-friendly.
	Diana Chao '14 Job: Zero Waste Coordinator Who I Am: Philosophy major who thinks too much about everything! What Projects/Jobs I am Working On: I'm currently working to bring composting bins to the language houses and implement odd item recycling around campus. Goals: Zero waste!!
	Ben Francis '12 Job: Sustainability Data Analyst Who I Am: Applied Mathematics and Statistics Major. I am a huge Gamer and enjoy all kinds of Music. What Jobs/Projects I am Working On: I am working with the energy use data from the past 10 years. Goals: To determine how much more the college has to expend to house students in houses as opposed to dorm buildings.
	Kyle Gename '13 Job: Sustainability Assistant for the Grounds Crew Who I Am: I'm a junior Environmental Studies and Biology double major who loves to grow, cook and eat food. I also love to spin and knit wool, make soap and bike whenever I can. What Projects/Jobs I am Working On: This semester I will be recording data on fertilizer, pesticide and gasoline use at the Grounds Crew, and making updates to  the Tree Inventory published in 2006. I will also be planting bulbs, raking leaves, and shoveling snow around campus! Goals: I hope to quantify information that is already known by those who've worked for years on the Grounds Crew and Facilities and create better access for this information to make our work easier.
	Claire Henkel '13 Job: Social Justice assistant Who I Am: I am a junior from Lexington, Kentucky that loves being outside probably more than anything else. What Projects/Jobs I am Working On: I am helping organize a showing of 'Taking Root' which talks about the Kenya Greenbelt Movement in honor and memory of Wangari Muta Maathai. I am also organizing a Warm Clothing Drive for students at the MNIC (Minnesota Internship Center). Goals: My goal is create some awareness on campus of how social justice fits into the realm of sustainability along with some of the thousands of issues that fall under this category. I'd also really like to communicate this information in a manner that inspires people to get involved and learn more.
	Devon Kristiansen '12 Job:  Energy Efficiency Coordinator Who I Am:  I’m a senior Economics major, Environmental Studies minor from small-town Wisconsin. I’m the head of the Macalester martial arts club and a cross country runner.  I just started playing violin, love studying the Chinese language, and could put peanut butter on just about anything.  The world should view Earth’s natural resources as more than endless commodities, so I am determined to do what I can with this job and my career to change that. Goals:  I’d like to change the way the Mac community views their energy usage by educating them about ways they can conserve energy easily.  I also want to evaluate the efficacy and economic benefit of proposed energy-saving projects.
	Maria Langholz '14 Job: Sustainability Office Assistant Who I Am: I’m a sophomore Environmental Studies, Applied Mathematics double major. I’m from Ashland, a small town in Northern Wisconsin, but I enjoy life in the Twin Cities as well. I am a cook, half-marathoner, book collector, and traveler. What Jobs/Projects I am Working On: I spend a large portion of my time working on the Sustainable Scots newsletter and getting logistics worked out for events. I’m also involved in sustainable food initiatives, getting another greenhouse to campus, and some awesome art sustainability stuff. Goals: My intent is to get everyone intrigued by sustainability initiatives no matter what their interests are.
	Alice Madden '13 Job: Energy Efficiency Coordinator through Facilities Who I Am: I have been called a forest animal, a giraffe, and a sloth. So, I'm a mammal, but I have non-human tendencies. What Projects/Jobs I am Working On: Audits of the language houses, low-watt and motion sensing light installation, researching ways to engage the community outside Macalester on sustainability projects, and continuing the research on heating the Riley Pool with solar Goals: To get the student body excited about making our campus and communities more self-sufficient, efficient, conscious, and collaborative.
	Lizzy Magnuson '14 Job: Bike Share Coordinator Who I Am: I am a Sophomore, Biology Major from Eden Prairie Minnesota. Frisbee player! What Projects/Jobs I am Working On: I am working on integrating the changes in the library's bike share system more with the goings on in the bike shop, and getting more strict about people illegally parking on the bike share racks by the library. Goals: My goals are to get as many bikes in circulation as possible and learn a lot about bike maintenance!
	Rosie Mate '12 Job: Off-Campus Student Employee with Clean Energy Resource Teams Who I Am: I am an environmental science and economics double major with a  passion for clean energy and energy issues. I just returned from a semester abroad in Senegal and I am now working on my economics honors thesis evaluating consumers actions around energy efficient appliances and the effectiveness of the Energy Star labeling program. I love cooking, traveling, and renewable energy. What Projects/Jobs I am Working On: I am currently working on coordinating a low-flow faucet aerator installation campus wide. With the help of metro CERT this project takes advantage of a bulk buy to lower the cost of these devices that will save the campus both water and energy for water heating. Goals: My goal is to help Macalester take advantage of the smaller scale, simplest energy conserving devices.
	Samilee Moody '13 Job: Recycling Communications Coordinator (Facilities) Who I Am: I am a junior Physics/Astronomy Major, Studio Art Minor and child of Northeast Minneapolis. My hobbies include biking, music appreciation and vegetable connoisseur-ship. I'm also an organizer with EXCO! What Projects/Jobs I am Working On: Managing the Free Swap, making lots of recycling signage and potentially getting a greenhouse for MULCH. Goals: Get the greenhouse (see above), extend the Free Swap, the vermicomposting programs at Mac and introduce new recycling signage soon! Get pumped!
	Nola Pastor '14 Job: Sustainability Office - Communications Who I Am: I am a sophomore from Madison, Wisconsin which has lakes I miss and the best ice cream in the world. I live in the veggie co-op with amazing people and like studying Spanish, poetry and gender/sexuality. What Projects/Jobs I am Working On: Right now, I'm spending most of my few sustainability work hours coordinating events, making reservations and working on publicity.  I'm also facilitating the Task Force for Sustainability in Food Purchasing. Goals: I would really like to stay on top of office and event logistics, be able to make cool posters with Inkscape, and collaborate with other sustainability workers on fun, awareness-raising campus event
	Clare Pillsbury '12 Job: Sustainable Purchasing Assistant Who Am I: I am a junior environmental studies major and anthropology minor. Currently, I am a member of the the Macalester Swimming and Diving Team and Mac Catholics. When I have time, I love being playing outside, and on Wednesday nights, you can probably find me salsa dancing at Picosa. What Jobs/Projects I'm Working On: Currently, I am working on a collaborative effort to reduce bottled water among several of the ACTC schools. Goals: Reducing the amount of bottled water purchased by ACTC schools.
	Annie Serra '14 Job: Sustainability Office Assistant. Who I Am: I'm a sophomore planning to do a double major in Biology and Environmental Studies with a Chinese minor. In addition to my love for the environment and learning about new ways to be more green, I also love animals and want to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. What Jobs/Projects I am Working On:  This year I'm working on the greenhouse gas emissions inventory. Goals: After I finish collecting all the data, I will review the data to see if there are any specific areas where usage of a resource or energy could be minimized
	Karen Weldon '14 Job: Food Sustainability Worker Who I Am: I’m a sophomore from Oklahoma who loves food! If I’m not eating, cooking, or washing dishes, chances are you’ll find me browsing cookbooks, shopping at coops or Asian groceries, reading Michael Pollen and Joel Salatin, or doing work for my food sustainability job. Aside from my great appetite for everything food, I also enjoy sewing clothes, throwing pottery, taking walks with friends, and collecting unusual postcards. What Jobs/Projects I am Working On:  This year I’m working to create a sense of community between cafeteria workers and students through a newspaper series on Café  Mac workers,  finish Real Food Calculations for food products in Cafe, reduce waste in the cafeteria, and get more students involved in food sustainability through their coursework as well as through student organizations. Goals: To complete Real Food Calculations for this year and last year, get the President’s Real Food Commitment signed, start a student organization centered on food sustainability, reduce food and packaging waste in the dining facilities, and start a tri-school food sustainability coalition between Macalester, St. Olaf, and Carleton

Macalester College · 1600 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105  USA · 651-696-6000
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