2006 Fellows

Leveraging their efforts beyond the campus bounds, National Wildlife Federation's (NWF) 2006 Campus Ecology Fellows are transforming their university's operations, building community ties and advancing discussions about and solutions to address global environmental issues.

From 9 states across the country, including one fellow from Alaska, this class of 11 fellows are working on issues such as protecting vernal pools to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation, and surveying herpetofauna on campus.

Embracing our commitment to infusing youth participation and voices within NWF and our Affiliate organizations the 2006 fellows joined NWF's 70th Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. During the Annual Meeting the fellows were briefed on climate change, learned how to communicate with on and off-campus press and will put those skills to work, learning about NWF's decision making and conservation policies, and mingleing with staff, volunteers and Board Members

Through the generous support of the Kendeda Sustainability Fund of the Tides Foundation, during the course of their projects the fellows will build their professional skills and grow as individuals on a personal level. As articulated by Richard Strain, 2004 NWF Campus Ecology Fellow from the State University of New York at Albany, this experience is beyond compare: "My experience as an NWF Campus Ecology Fellow taught me the pitfalls to avoid and the actions to take in order to successfully coordinate differing personalities, roles and responsibilities, which are as complex and wondrous as the relationships found within the environment I had set out to protect."

The following project highlights illustrate the goals of this year's fellows. For full project descriptions or to contact a fellow, search by campus or project topic on the Meet the Fellows page.

Jessica Clement
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana
Partnering with Barnes and Noble-managed Ball State University Bookstore to carry, promote, and sell more environmentally and socially-preferable products.

Melissa Fries
The Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio
Protecting vernal pools through education, habitat assessment, and site identification.

David Giuilani
University of Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
Demonstration of direct linkages between renewable resources owned by institutions and their consumption of forest-based products such a furniture and wood used in construction through creation of a timber portfolio, establishment of forest inventory plots, and more.

Alexandra (Alex) Harker
University of Colorado at Boulder
Boulder, Colorado
Implementation of a Transit Center at the Colorado School of Mines to provide a more sustainable transportation option on campus, reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and create a community meeting place.

Bree Jambor
Sheldon Jackson College
Sitka, Alaska
Conducting an energy audit and retrofit of a campus building and educating the campus and community about global warming issues and solutions.

Andrew Lee
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont, California
Promotion of water conservation on campus by installing moisture sensors to decrease irrigation, creating a system to report malfunctioning sprinklers, and including water policy in the curricula.

Scot Miller
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Developing 'The Green Guide to Harvard' to educate students and community members on how to create a sustainable campus. The guide will include sustainable and energy efficient practices in the dormitories, a consumer guide to environmentally sustainable shops and businesses in the area, and a guide to environmental and outdoor related events in the area.

Christopher Noonan
Worcester State College
Worcester, Massachusetts
Creation of Environmental Master Plan for Worcester campus, strengthening recycling efforts, and implementing strategies for converting to renewable energy.

Hannah Riches
The New School
New York, New York
Reduction of green house gas emissions and deforestation caused by the campus' paper consumption and the education of students and staff on resource conservation.

Edythe (Edi) Sonntag
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan
Developing a comprehensive survey of the herpetofauna of the Michigan State campus for application to the long-term conservation of local species and habitat.

Anita Yip
Wellesley College
Wellesley, Massachusetts
Creation of a campus and community bike program, educating the community on alternative transportation and clean energy by hosting Town Hall meetings and producing a video, and developing a guide based on the transportation project.

Campus Ecology...It takes a big step to make a smaller footprint.