Sustainability The EcoReps

Julia is a junior Law, Jurisprudence, and Social Thought major thrilled to return to the Office of Sustainability as an Ecoleader. Working as an Ecorep last year, she saw how essential community, especially first-year involvement, is to sustainability, and she is excited to lead the program and work with the new class of Ecoreps to build a sustainable community at Amherst! Although Julia grew up in New York City, she is a big lover of nature, and she loves to take advantage of all the wonderful outdoor opportunities around Amherst. You can usually find Julia walking/running/biking on the rail trail, playing tennis, picking flowers at the farm, or reading outside on the quad. 

Anna is a Political Science and Spanish double major. Having grown up on 12 acres outside Portland, Oregon, with a Dad who restores rivers for a living, she has always felt a strong pull to the earth and its protection. She developed a passion for climate action through experience in small-scale farming and school-based projects in a region where caring for the environment is learned from a young age. At Amherst, Anna served as an Eco-Rep during her sophomore year and enjoyed making accessible and meaningful changes at Amherst. She is now excited to lead the Eco-Rep program and continue working in the Office of Sustainability! Anna is also a member of the Women’s Lacrosse team, loves backpacking, cooking, the 3rd floor of Frost Library, and is a ball girl for the Women’s Soccer team.  

Cora is a senior environmental studies and mathematics major who is excited to be returning to the Office of Sustainability after being the Zero Waste Fellow in the summer of 2023. She is passionate about making sustainability accessible to students and getting the community involved in the college’s sustainability goals. Cora grew up in coastal Maine and hopes to have a future dedicated to protecting the environment. Outside of being an EcoRep, Cora is a captain of the Swim and Dive Team and enjoys taking long walks on the rail trail, skiing, and attending Zumba classes.

Sidney is a Sophomore form Northern Virginia and is double majoring in Biology and Black Studies. As his choice in major may show, Sidney is interested in the disparages in healthcare and beyond when it comes to the Black community. He has a goal of becoming a Plastic Surgeon, Researcher, and Volunteer Doctor and using his position to speak for those that are often neglected. Outside of academics, Sidney is into community service, community based organizations, healthcare clubs, track, and tennis. As an Eco Rep, Sidney hopes to establish sustainable practices in the Amherst community by making these practices equitable.

Mike is an outgoing Massachusetts-native planning to study Biophysics. In the future, he hopes to find the intersection between nature and technology with an engineering grad degree to build a more sustainable future, with interests ranging from carbon sequestration systems to plastic-eating microbes. He likes to take initiative and plan ahead, and he’s particularly interested in showing Amherst simple things that go a long way toward building a more sustainable campus. Outside of academics, Mike is a hurdler on the school’s Track and Field team, and he watches sports leagues like the NBA. 

Carys is a sophomore from Washington, D.C. She is hoping to major in Biology and East Asian Languages and Civilizations. As someone who loves walking, biking, and being outdoors in general, she is very passionate about the environment and excited to be a part of the Office of Sustainability next year! She is looking forward to making the campus more sustainable through fun initiatives involving the dining hall, transportation, dorm energy use, and more. In her free time, Carys enjoys playing ultimate frisbee on Sparklemotion, playing cello and trombone in the Amherst Symphony Orchestra, and playing club basketball!

Abigail is a sophomore environmental studies major who is very excited to be joining the Office of Sustainability! In the past, Abigail had the opportunity to get involved in various local sustainability initiatives in several environmental justice communities within her hometown. For this reason, she has become especially interested in learning more about the relationship between humans and the environment as well as how the sustainability movement can successfully support and include all individuals. At Amherst, Abigail looks forward to contributing towards increasing interest in sustainability issues within the student body while emphasizing the positive and hopeful aspects of this movement. Outside of academics, Abigail plays the cello and a little bit of piano, playing in the Amherst Symphony Orchestra! 

Emmanuelle, a prospective Environmental Studies and Economics major, is so excited to be joining the Sustainability Office team this year. She’s invested in various sustainability issues, but growing up in NYC has made her especially passionate about environmental justice and sparked her interest in environmental policy. She looks forward to working with fellow EcoReps to create a culture of sustainable living and promote environmental engagement across Amherst! In addition to working as an EcoRep, Emmanuelle is on the crew team, works as a research assistant in the Political Science department, and enjoys reading, drinking bubble tea, and biking on the rail trail.

Praise is a sophomore hailing from London, England, who plans to double major in Economics and Anthropology. Praise has a strong interest in structural inequality and environmental justice, and in the past, has campaigned with other young people to ensure that youth in the UK - particularly those who are most disadvantaged -  have the right to grow up in environments with healthy and sustainable food systems. She is excited for the opportunity to be able to tackle some of the more unsustainable practices on campus, as well as working with her fellow EcoReps to develop creative solutions that will bring the Amherst community closer together. In her free time she enjoys taking long walks, reading and trying out different American restaurants.