The ice has melted off the ponds at Washtenaw Community College (WCC) in an early February thaw. We’re hearing birds singing and we’re watching skeins of geese winging north. It’s a time of rebirth and new beginnings and we’re proud and excited to announce our new Center for Sustainability and Resilience (CSR).
The mission of the CSR is to cultivate an engaged, diverse community aiming to achieve sustainability and climate action goals through informed decision-making in the areas of curriculum, college culture, and campus operations. Leading our team are Bill Ghrist, CEM, as Director of Energy, Sustainability, and Facilities Planning, and me, Emily Thompson, Ph.D. in the Biology Department serving as Faculty Lead. Bill and I are excited to collaborate towards our shared goals.
We are also delighted to introduce our three dynamic and engaging work-study students: Bree, Evan, and Roderick. They will have the opportunity to introduce themselves below.
Bree
My name is Bree, I’m a second year Biology major here at WCC. I’m so excited to support sustainability-focused projects around campus with the CSR. During my time here, I hope to advocate for and lead projects based on student concerns such as reducing plastic products sold in the cafeteria and increasing accessibility of walkways and trails around campus. My favorite sustainable features of the WCC campus are the pollinator garden and the marked nature trail and I hope to improve and increase the number of these areas around campus so others can enjoy them as much as I do!
Evan
Hello my name is Evan and I am a new student intern at CSR.To say that I am excited to start connecting with and learning along the other interns and with Emily would be an understatement. I am currently an environmental science major, and hope to either begin working in the field after I graduate or continue my education. My favorite sustainable features here at WCC would be the nature trail and the seed library. I like to take walks in between classes on the trail, and I plan to start my own seed garden this spring! I hope to start ideas and projects that can help WCC become a carbon neutral school in the future.
Roderick
Hi my name is Roderick Martin and I am a Washtenaw Community College Film/Video student. My major is Digital Video Production and I am a filmmaker and video creator. For my extra-curricular activities, I am the president / founder of the WCC Motion Picture Society since 2022 still going strong. I am very involved with campus activities and events which I have earned an award for being the most active. I think the WCC water refill stations are good so students recycle and reuse instead of throwing water bottles away.
Now that we’ve heard from our Work-Study students, we invite everyone in the WCC community to join us in shaping a sustainable future. Whether you’re a student, staff, faculty member, or community member, your ideas and involvement are crucial to our success. Together, we can make a difference and create a campus environment that reflects our commitment to sustainability and resilience. Thank you in advance for your support and we look forward to working with you all!
Tags: Sustainability