Students and Staff
Staff
Sustainability Director
(She/Her/Hers)
651-696-6020
Megan received a Masters in Development Practice and a Ph.D. in Natural Resources Science and Management from the University of Minnesota. Her dissertation research focused on community-based natural resource management. She is passionate about creating bridges between research and practice through her work and brings experience with international development, renewable energy transition, governance, environmental education and conservation to her role as Sustainability Director. In her free time she enjoys distance running and volunteers as an english/spanish interpreter. Stop by the Sustainability Office to introduce yourself to Megan and talk about sustainability topics that excite you!
Sustainability Office Coordinator
(She/Her/Hers)
651-696-6019
Ellen has a Masters in Natural Science and Environmental Education from Hamline University. Prior to coming to Macalester she was a public school science educator for ten years. Ellen started at Macalester in April of 2022. She believes environmental justice is an integral part of social justice and is passionate about community building. Ellen is also a Ramsey County Recycling Ambassador and loves talking about sustainability initiatives on campus!
Waste Reduction and Reuse Coordinator
(He/Him/His)
651-696-6029
Blake Olson received a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from St. Olaf College with an emphasis in Arts & Humanities. In his program, he focused on understanding the underlying narratives regarding the relationship between humanity and nature found in literature, film, and other media. Although his educational background was more humanities focused, he is passionate about pollution and waste management because these topics deal with immediate challenges and involve solving problems within our close communities. He enrolled in the Minnesota GreenCorps to start tackling these problems on the ground level, completing two years of service at Macalester College from 2023-2025. In 2025, Blake was hired by the Sustainability Office as part of the MPCA’s Waste Reduction & Reuse grant to continue his work at Macalester. In his free time, Blake enjoys reading and writing poetry, video games, foraging, and nature walks. Come by the Sustainability Office if you want to chat about waste, environmental humanities, gaming, or just sustainability in general!
Minnesota GreenCorps Member
GreenCorps Member
(She/Her/Her)
Clara Merlan received a Bachelors in Psychology from Macalester College in 2025. For her honors thesis, she conducted empirical research examining the motivations underlying sustainable decision-making. She is passionate about using behavioral research methods to determine the best practices and interventions to encourage people to act more sustainably. In her role as a GreenCorp member, she hopes to apply her training in psychological research to improve community knowledge and engagement in campus zero waste initiatives. In her free time, Clara enjoys trying new recipes, exploring local nature, listening to audiobooks, and spending time with her friends and family.
Student Staff
Student Staff Content Coming Soon