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EcoAmbassador Internship Program

EcoAmbassadors are students chosen by the Committee on Sustainability to communicate the message of sustainability to various departments and offices on campus.  EcoAmbassadors help to green office practices, educate the W&M community about sustainable practices and create programs to carry out sustainability related projects at the College.

EcoAmbassadors may be eligible to receive one credit through the Environmental Science and Policy program for their participation. The internship will consist of approximately 5 hours spent per week creating and implementing a sustainability project in a department or office, in collaboration with a supervising staff or faculty member, EcoAmbassador class instructor Beth Chambers, and Patrick Foley, the Sustainability Fellow.  This is a great opportunity to work with different departments or offices on campus on environmental issues that are important to the College community.  If you have questions about the EcoAmbassador program or any of the Fall 2012 projects, contact Beth at [[bhcham]] or Patrick at [[e|pjfoley]].

For the Fall 2012 semester, the following EcoAmbassador projects are available:

1.  Promoting Swem Library's Sustainability Guide

In Spring 2012, an EcoAmbassador student helped to expand and update Swem's Sustainability Guide.  The guide is a collection of websites, links, articles and other useful information for those doing sustainability related research.  The student selected for this project would work with Karen Berquist, the Coordinator for Science Libraries, and Swem's Reference Librarians to promote the guide to groups and individuals on campus who are engaged in projects on environmental issues.  A successful applicant would have interest in research resources, both internet sources and library research databases.  The applicant should also possess the ability to evaluate and select 'best resources'; have a broad knowledge of campus organizations, especially those related to sustainability; and have an interest in promoting research resources to improve the quality of work and the efficiency of student researchers.

Project goals:

  • Gathering contact information for groups engaged in sustainability projects
  • Helping to plan and promote one or more events to introduce potential users to the guide, including but not limited to an evening workshop at Swem; presentations to a committee or student group like SEAC; or coordinating a panel of students who have done sustainability research.
2.  Planning Earth Week 2013

The two Ecoambassadors assigned to assist in the planning of the annual Earth Week celebration will have the opportunity to work closely with the College Sustainability Fellow, Patrick Foley, on one of the biggest sustainability-focused events taking place on campus this upcoming academic year. The Ecoambassadors for this project should be well organized, creative, and enthusiastic as their responsibilities will include campus outreach, working with college administrative offices, and planning campus-wide events that include a broad variety of academic disciplines.  This is preferably a full year project; the students would receive one credit for the fall and one credit for the spring semester.

Project goals:

  • Expected to attend weekly planning meetings for Earth Week

  • Contacting the Scheduling Office and confirming locations for events well in advance of the celebration.

  • Assisting with the logistical support for these events i.e. planning multimedia & electronics set-up, campus advertising.

  • Spearheading one specific event that addresses a relevant issue concerning environmental policy or more broadly some aspect of sustainability that relates to the chosen Earth Week theme.

3.  Presenting Energy Data to the W&M Community

The student chosen for this project will work with Dan Patterson, the Associate Director of Utilities for W&M, to educate the campus about how W&M is improving the energy efficiency of its facilities.  The applicant should have a willingness to learn web publishing software and have good writing and communication skills.  This is preferably a full year project; the student would receive one credit in the fall and one credit in the spring semester.

Project goals:

  • Become proficient in the web publishing software Cascade.
  • Review campus energy data and project accomplishments to determine how best to present it to the campus community.
  • Create or modify an existing website to present the information.
  • Develop a sustainable mechanism or plan to update data and accomplishments in the future.
4.  Recycling Analysis and Education

This student will work with Bob Avalle, Director of Operations and Maintenance in Facilities Management, to educate the campus about recycling issues and increase the recycling rate.  This is preferably a full year project; the student would receive one credit in the fall and one credit in the spring semester.

Project goals:

  • Conduct an analysis and research best practices in higher education institutions on recycling participation and education.
  • Assess W&M's current recycling programs and education of staff, faculty, students and visitors.
  • Produce a report on the above.
  • Make recommendations on enhancing recycling education.
  • Help implement the approved recommendations.
  • Work with the Support Services Coordinator to assess waste diversion monitoring and reporting for all sources of the waste stream.
  • Develop a simple and accurate monitoring and reporting program.
  • Report waste diversion rates on the Facilities website several times per year.
5.  Communicating Sustainability on Campus

The two students chosen for this project will work with faculty at the School of Business come up with creative ways to reach different groups of people (faculty, staff, students, alumni, Williamsburg citizens, visitors to the College) using different strategies.  The project includes, but is not limited to, coming up with print, web-based, and film advertising for COS, figuring out how to use the COS logo more effectively, reaching out to departments other than ENSP about sustainability, promoting the COS blog and website, making changes to the website to make it more attractive, helping to promote major events like Earth Week, and more.

 Project Goals:

  • Determine how to use social media most effectively.
  • Research how other schools communicate sustainability.
  • Think of ways to use the COS logo to promote sustainability.
  • Help advertise COS events like Earth Week, and Green Fees and Summer Research Grant deadlines.
  • Reach out to non-ENSP faculty, staff and students to increase COS's volunteer base.
  • Devise ways to promote the COS website and blog. 

The EcoAmbassadors for the Spring 2012 semester are:

  • Will Douthitt '12 and Katie Snyder '13, who are doing grant research and helping to write grants for the EcoVillage.

  • Sharon Hartzell '14, who is revitalizing the COS blog to make it a more effective outreach tool.

  • Elizabeth Saccioccia '14, who is working with Facilities Management on GIS documentation of campus features like memorial trees, sensitive habitats and areas of archeological importance.

  • Darya Minovi '14, who is working to certify the College as a bicycle friendly campus.

  • Jeremy Zhang '14, who is revamping Swem Library's sustainability guide.

  • Priscilla Lin '13 and Zander Pellegrino '15, who are helping to plan Earth Week 2012.

The EcoAmbassadors for the Fall 2011 semester are:

  • Katie Robinson '14, who is working to increase the level of LEED certification in the Rec Center.
  • Will Douthitt '12 and Katie Snyder '13, who are doing grant research and helping to write grants for the EcoVillage.
  • Sharon Hartzell '14, who is revitalizing the COS blog to make it a more effective outreach tool.
  • Tom Innes, MBA '12 who is working with Facilities Management on documentation of campus construction with emphasis on underground utility mapping to support future campus planning, construction, and maintenance.
  • Huan Song '13, who is working with the Mason School of Business to develop an effective environmental signage campaign and raising awareness about water issues.

The EcoAmbassadors for the Spring 2011 semester are:

  • Dominique Paxton '13 and Julia Casciotti '12, who are working in the Office of Procurement on an e-recycling program.

  • Patrick Foley '13, who is working in the Government Department on a sustainable transportation project.

  • Morrison Mast '12, who is working with GIS to map fisheries in South America.

  • Sarah Appleton '14, who is working to improve recycling at Swem Library.

  • Thuy Tran '12 and Will Ozbun '13, who are working on non-traditional recycling programs in the Athletics Department.

  • Maegan Crews '12, who is working with the Art Department to recycle construction waste into art projects.