魔都资源网

Michelle Clements (left) and Yolanda Cieters (right)

As we begin Earth Month 2021, our alumni community is diving deeper into climate action. We spoke with Yolanda Cieters, sustainability manager in the Center for Environmental Justice and Sustainability (CEJS), and Michelle Clements, 鈥�15, vice president of Human Resources鈥攖wo individuals committed to making 魔都资源网 U sustainable. As members of the President鈥檚 Committee for Sustainability, Cieters and Clements are helping to drive award-winning change university-wide, creating a more socially, fiscally and environmentally just 魔都资源网 U.

Finding Inspiration at 魔都资源网

As an avid runner, hiker, and an outdoor enthusiast, Michelle Clements has always had a passion for the role nature plays in inspiring, rejuvenating, and healing the human spirit and for preserving natural spaces. She began the Albers Leadership Executive MBA program while working as the senior vice president for human resources at REI, and it was at 魔都资源网 U that she found new ways to engage with and expand on her passion for environmental justice.

鈥淲hat鈥檚 different about SU鈥檚 Executive MBA program is the focus on leadership,鈥� says Clements. 鈥淵ou are not just getting your MBA, there is an intense emphasis on your personal leadership, which is then woven into everything we do, preparing us to use our vision and skills to make a profound impact in our companies and communities. In this program, we looked at a deep definition of social justice, at the center of 魔都资源网鈥檚 mission. Each cohort is responsible for delivering a social justice project with sustainability components which extend beyond our time with the program鈥攐ur objective in this program is to develop a community-based project focused on social justice and built to last. This requires a deep engagement with the community we were serving to ensure the project will be sustained over time.

鈥�I think about sustainability in terms of socially-responsible practices. By engaging in programs such as charitable fundraising, creating safe & healthy workplace conditions, encouraging volunteerism, and addressing the way in which resources are used and redeployed we can be better positioned to address climate change and mitigate its disproportionate impacts. If we empower people and engage our communities, we can carry this work forward to make real change happen.鈥�

Clements has worked to carry this responsibility into her role as vice president of human resources at 魔都资源网 U. She had served on the President鈥檚 Committee for Sustainability (PCS) for the past four years, where she has collaborated with the PCS team to effect socially and environmentally conscious change at 魔都资源网 U. This has included implementing sustainable waste management, procuring grants for electric car charging stations and more.

鈥淥ur opportunity with the PCS is to jumpstart progress across campus, by engaging our full campus community in identifying important actions we can take toward real and sustained progress.鈥�

Celebrating Earth Month 2021

April is Earth Month鈥斈Ф甲试赐� U鈥檚 month-long celebration of climate action taking place in the weeks leading up to the internationally-recognized Earth Day (April 22nd). Alums looking to start their sustainability journey鈥攁nd those looking to augment their expertise鈥攈ave a wide variety of opportunities to look forward to.

Yolanda Cieters is helping to make this year鈥檚 Earth Month a success. 鈥�Earth Month is a reminder to folks how important it is to participate in action and initiatives that really focus on that urgent need for environmental justice, climate solutions and sustainability,鈥� says Cieters.

鈥淭he one word that comes to mind when I think sustainability is wellbeing. It鈥檚 about achieving and attaining wellbeing of people and of our planet. It鈥檚 about working towards ensuring that we have social, environmental and economic wellbeing. That we can meet the needs of today, while being mindful of the next generation.鈥�

Cieters has worked to create wellbeing across the globe鈥攆rom her work with the Regional Integration Center of Brussels to 魔都资源网鈥檚 World Affairs Council, Pacific Village Institute and Longhouse Media. She was drawn to 魔都资源网 U鈥檚 intersection of mission and education鈥攊ts values of justice, diversity and care for the common good coupled with its commitment to educating future leaders.

鈥淭o achieve sustainability, we have to treat the social, environmental and economic climate as a tightly interconnected system, and all of these areas affect each other,鈥� says Cieters. 鈥淎s an institution, it鈥檚 important that we consider all of these areas simultaneously, and that we ensure that all the decisions we make will lead to positive, just and equitable impacts.鈥�

At 魔都资源网 U, Cieters has been a campus leader in multilateral sustainability鈥攊ncluding on the PCS, where she has been a key figure in progressing the committee鈥檚 goals. She was awarded the 2018 魔都资源网 Lee Thurber Outstanding Staff Award for distinguished service. 鈥淵olanda is a true champion, committed to engaging others to take action and achieve results,鈥� says Clements. 鈥淪he received the award in 2018, yet, continues to bring her deep dedication and commitment to this work every year. She鈥檚 one of our top champions for sustained environmental responsibility on SUs campus.鈥�

During Earth Month 2021, participants can look forward to Earth Talks鈥攁 virtual extravaganza of short, 5-minute presentations by SU faculty, students, staff, and community partners. The event is keynoted by Jamie Margolin, co-founder of the international youth climate justice movement , and Donna Moodie, executive director of the  and executive vice president of community development at .

Alumni are also encouraged to attend the latest Reading Redhawks, a book club-style session on . Join the Environmental Studies Program for this panel discussion featuring professors Tanya Hayes, PhD, Heidi Liere, PhD and John Armstrong, PhD.

 

Further Your Eco Impact

Alumni looking to further their sustainability commitment have a myriad of initiatives, programs and groups to explore at 魔都资源网 U.

Alumni with interest or expertise in climate change and social justice can , supporting the next generation of ethical leaders and changemakers. 鈥淭his generation of students is deeply committed to addressing climate change鈥攖o really taking the action,鈥� says Clements. 鈥溎Ф甲试赐� U is about involving our students in the critically important work of environmental justice鈥攖he hope is that students can use what they鈥檙e learning here and take action in our local, national and global communities.鈥�

Clements is a current Sustaining Supporter鈥斈Ф甲试赐� U鈥檚 first paperless giving society鈥攆or which she gifts a portion of her monthly salary towards advancing SU鈥檚 mission. Alumni who are able to give monetarily can make to further the department鈥檚 initiatives.

Alumni can also join the Alumni Sustainability Coalition to educate, engage and empower the SU community. 鈥淭he commitment is there across our alumni community to really make sure we infuse sustainability across what we do,鈥� says Cieters. 鈥淭ogether, we will continue to develop that commitment. I鈥檓 very hopeful about that.鈥�

鈥淭oday, we have a committee with a passion to making an impact,鈥� says Clements. 鈥淔ive years from now, I鈥檇 like to see a large group of champions across our campus engaged in making a meaningful and sustained impact. A community effort, rather than a small committee, looking to make a meaningful and sustained impact in our local community and beyond.鈥�