You work closely with the sustainable food and farming program. Can you tell me a bit more about this work? How did it start?
I am a plant and soil science major. The way I'm involved is through Stockbridge’s livestock program. I did an independent study last fall testing soils at the agricultural learning center, specifically studying the impacts of turkey manure on soil health. We wanted to see if the impacts were positive, and if they were we wanted to encourage the the program to bring more animals to the project. The results were positive, and the research now brings more awareness to the benefits of integrating more animals to help grow vegetables.
I also work at the Renaissance Center maintaining their kitchen garden, which is its own entity not associated with my research. The garden is much more vibrant now than it was previously. I also took a pigs and poultry class where we raised animals from when they arrived at the farm here to harvesting. It was eye opening to see the entire process, and it gave me a broader perspective about our food processes and what is involved in them.
What do you find most rewarding about the sustainability-related work you do?
On top of [Stockbridge’s] Sustainable Food and Farming program I’m involved with, I am also a sustainability fellow under Ezra [Small] and Laurie [Simmons]. I worked on integrating the Green Office Program into the campus. There was an earlier version of this program, but I tweaked it to make it more accessible. The program challenges purchasing habits and encourages waste diversion.
This semester I worked on eWaste towers at the Student Union and other facilities. Now I run that program and that’s been amazing. I also worked on the food recovery network, and I record for them for them the amount of waste diversion. This will show where we stand against other campuses. It’s all about encouraging more waste recycling and diversion. My last project I’ve been applying to is a plastic reduction program—campus race to zero waste. I'm reviewing credit points and completing documentation. We need to properly document to get points. If we do the work and don’t document it we get no credit.
Have you seen any tangible results from your efforts?
On a smaller scale, my work at the Renaissance Center was to revamp their kitchen garden. I was able to see change, as we did totally revamp it. There is a noticeable visual change. In terms of a lot of the sustainable work I and other do at UMass, you don’t see the results from the work you do until a year or two down the line. The Green Office Program is a good example. The work is done, but it hasn’t officially been posted yet. Everything I've done is on a more micro scale and contributes to broader efforts.
In 2023, I won the undergraduate sustainability award for Classrooms of Hope, which inspired an outdoor classroom and permaculture garden. This work was published in academic journals, so the word did get out. With the livestock and soil research, it wasn’t creating new things, but the research I did was handed off to Stockbridge so they can inform student farmers where to graze animals so they can better grow vegetables. Really, I’m helping people who are overwhelmed with work, and that is beneficial.
Why is sustainability important to you?
Being a young adult, sustainability is especially important to me. When I hear my family and older friends talk about the past, I’m envious. I want to enjoy the land, and animals, and farms like they did. I don’t want any of this to go away. I also have a niece and nephew and I feel protective about their futures.
Another reason is that my sustainability work helps foster a community. I also have fear but hope to protect myself and the ones I love. You do what you need to do. We’re constantly faced with challenges, and I feel empowered to do what I can do and live a life that is valuable. Environmental Conservation work. Policies for humans and animals. Leaving a legacy. What kind of a life do you want to leave? I want to leave this campus wanting to improve these things so I can feel good and say I did what I could with the tools I was given.
What would say to someone who is passionate about sustainability and considering applying to UMass?
I’d say go for it. You’re going to face a lot of obstacles. You may not see the impact in your time here but the work is worth doing. It will happen. I was Undersecretary of Sustainability for SGA [Student Government Association] and recognized the bureaucracy. In some cases, I’m giving a mile and getting an inch, but I’m not discouraged. No university is perfect, but I will say UMass is in a transformative state. One example: geothermal wells are coming online. One of the great things about UMass is that it’s a living lab and you can choose whatever area you want to explore. There are no pigeonholes. When I was looking at campuses, the size of UMass was actually a plus. The size means more opportunities and getting the chance to do what you want to do. I have a toe in multiple projects across this campus. You don’t get that everywhere. I wouldn’t be able to do all that I do here at other campuses. You’re discovering things about yourself and being well rounded through exposure.
Obviously, you’ve had hands-on, real-world experience with sustainability. What do you see yourself doing in the future?
What drives me is passion and hope for the future. There’s a lot of hysteria in Gen Z about the state of the world. I want to build a better world for myself and my fellow humans. I want to work at the Massachusetts Statehouse to research and write environmental policy. My other major is English with an Environmental Humanities concentration. This will help with my future work. I want to help inform state government, though I’m trying to stay open to all my interests in sustainability, the environment, conservation, soil, and others.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about the work you do or UMass or sustainability in general?
I touched on a lot of what I’ve done already, but I also want to mention the UMass Women into Leadership Program, UWiL. I’ve gained a strong network of fellow women in this program. It’s associated with the School of Public Policy but it’s open to everyone. It’s allowed me to cultivate a community on the campus, which can be hard given our large size. There have been lots of professional development skills I’ve acquired and it’s great to connect with similarly passionate students. This program doesn’t get enough praise so I wanted to give it a call out.