Contact
Kenneth Foster, PhD
Director of Sustainability
kfoster@vassar.edu
(845) 437-7035
Office: Main S214
Office of Sustainability
124 Raymond Avenue, Box 102
Poughkeepsie, New York 12604-0731
Bios
Kenneth Foster, PhD
Director of Sustainability
Ken leads and coordinates Vassar’s efforts to decarbonize campus operations and implement environmentally-friendly practices, while providing active support for sustainability-focused education and skills development. Ken came to Vassar in 2024 after over two decades working in Minnesota and British Columbia. He spent seventeen years as Professor of Political Science and Environmental Studies at Concordia College, where he also served as Chair of the President’s Sustainability Council and, for three years, as Director of Community Engagement. During that time, Ken served as a Public Member, appointed by Governor Walz, of the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board and spearheaded the Moorhead Community Resilience Project. He also has deep experience in China and Taiwan. Ken serves on the Board of Directors of the national organization Wild Ones, which promotes native plants and natural landscaping.
Lucy Steward
Social Media and Publicity Intern
I am passionate about environmental sustainability and climate justice. Having grown up in New York City, I’ve experienced significant air pollution daily and have seen how harmful the use of fossil fuels can be to people and the climate. In my future career, I hope to fight for the implementation of renewable energy both within my city and across the globe, because it’s imperative that we as a society work to protect and preserve the earth. I bring to this position my experience of creating social media content for my own Instagram platform (@writingbylucy_) and from my previous internship as a content creator at a marketing agency. I’m driven to create engaging content that brings attention to environmental issues. I also enjoy creative writing, playing the piano, and reading. I’m in my second year at Vassar and intend on majoring in Environmental Science and English.
Charlotte Willenbring
Graphic Design Intern
I’m a sophomore here at Vassar, coming from Brooklyn, New York. I’m a prospective Urban Studies and Economics double major, but I enjoy taking classes across a broad spectrum of academic disciplines, from studio art to environmental studies. Some of my hobbies include sketching, fiber arts, reading, singing, and dancing. As someone who grew up in a large city and is fascinated by urban design, I’m conscious of the fact that sustainability plays an integral role in a community’s well-being. That is why I am so excited to be returning to Vassar’s sustainability team! In my second year as the graphic design intern, I hope to continue to make use of my love for visuals in order to promote eco-friendly habits here on campus. I believe that creating lasting change requires incentivizing the Vassar community to actively care for the world outside of academics. I’m looking forward to furthering this mission through graphics, and I can’t wait to see what our team (and Vassar at large) can do!
Graycie Peltz
Outreach and Education Intern
I’m a second year student at Vassar. I am from Rochester, NY and I’m a prospective chemistry major. I’m taking a variety of classes this semester, including an organic chemistry class, a printmaking class, and a Spanish class, so I’m excited to see where that takes me! Other than academics, I am a part of the ultimate frisbee team and the ceramics club, and I’m hoping to try many other new things. I first became really interested in the environment during junior year of high school while taking an environmental science course. I love the problem-solving aspect that comes with environmental issues and seeing how everything is connected. I’m looking forward to working on making Vassar a more sustainable campus as an intern!
Eleanor Pilling Chappelear
Outreach and Education Intern
I’m a first-year student from Berkeley, CA excited to explore interests in environmental humanities, public health, and social justice at Vassar. My journey with sustainable action started in 7th grade after I read a book about the climate crisis and committed myself to doing what I could to fight it. That commitment has taken the shape of protest and event planning, national and local policy work, speeches and presentations, curriculum development, and hours on zoom calls working to build a network of support for grassroots activism as part of Fridays for Future USA. I’m excited to work as an education and outreach intern helping fellow students understand their responsibility in creating and fixing the climate crisis, and find ways to integrate sustainable action into their lives.
Katherine Chang
Outreach and Education Intern
I’m a first-year student from Queens, New York. I’m planning to major in Earth Science with a possible correlate in Computer Science. I love learning about the natural world—some of my specific passions include glaciers, rocks, astronomy, and birds. I think that outreach and education are some of the best ways to raise awareness about climate change and other environmental issues, and I’m looking forward to working on creative projects and engaging with local communities. I also really enjoy teaching and connecting with other people, which is what drew me to this internship. In my free time, I love photography, reading science and climate fiction (some of my favorites include The Overstory by Richard Powers and Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir), and listening to indie pop.
Eli Hoskison
Outreach and Education / Food Recovery Intern
I am a first-year student here from a tiny rural town half an hour outside of Fayetteville, Arkansas. I intend to pursue a double major in Earth Science and Environmental Studies. Despite growing up in land-locked rural Arkansas, I’ve always been drawn to marine ecosystems and everything that the ocean has to offer. I’ve spent many of my summers at marine science labs and organizations. At these programs, I was taught the importance of making sure that human interactions with our natural environment is as sustainable as can be. I took this with me back home to the Ozark Natural Science Center, where I learned much of what will help me as an Education and Outreach Intern with the Office of Sustainability. Because whether the environment around me is the ocean, the Ozark Mountains, or Vassar, I love educating others about why we should be mindful about our interactions with our environment. Alongside that, I love putting sustainable interactions with our environment, such as recycling or reducing meat consumption, into action.
Lora Jaczewski
Waste Reduction Intern
I am a junior from Queens, New York. I’m majoring in Biology with possible Environmental Studies and English correlates. I love learning about the many different ways organisms interact with each other and respond to their environments. Because of this interest, I was immediately drawn to sustainability and how we can make sure our homes are protected for future generations. I love in-person environmental activism. During the Fall semester, I’m studying abroad in Copenhagen, learning a lot about environmental sustainability work in a different country. I still write columns for the Vassar student newspaper, the Miscellany News. When I’m not engaged in stewardship, I love writing, taking long nature walks (with a camera!), or playing sports.
Sofia Rojas Collins
Waste Reduction Intern
I am from Washington, D.C., and in my third year at Vassar. I am a biochemistry major with a correlation in studio arts. My interests revolve around thrifting, painting, going to the gym, and the environment. Since the second I learned of the climate crisis, I have felt obligated to try and limit my ecological footprint. I don't eat red meat to lower my consumption and sell second-hand clothing to ensure it doesn't end up in the landfill. In the past two years as an intern, I have taken the lead on organizing an annual flea market. I will continue to take the lead this year given its grand success. I can't wait to continue as an intern this year; there is a lot more to be done!
Jessie Cai
Waste Reduction Intern
I’m a junior from Shanghai, China, majoring in Environmental Studies with a correlate in Data Science. In my free time, I like to play guitar and sing, play basketball/exercise, and nap. My interest in sustainability stems from both social media stories and stats on environmental degradation and my own observations of extreme weather, such as Shanghai’s heat waves and heavier, more frequent rainfall. I’m worried about how the future will turn out if we keep living this way, which is why I see sustainability as an essential concept to create and sustain meaningful change. I’m very excited to work with this team to reduce Vassar's carbon footprints and be part of a community that cares about the environment and wants to make collective environmental impacts.
Risham Sah
Waste Reduction Intern
I am a sophomore from Janakpur, Nepal. I am majoring in Environmental Studies and Science, Technology, and Society (STS). My interest in sustainability comes from my personal experiences growing up in my hometown and witnessing environmental challenges throughout my life. I am particularly passionate about waste management, GIS mapping, and finding collaborative ways to make our air, water, and land cleaner and healthier. Outside of academics and my work with the Office of Sustainability, I am involved in the Vassar Cricket Club, Asian Student Alliance, and Club Soccer. In my free time, I enjoy biking, playing sports such as soccer, cricket, and ping pong. And I love going for walks.
Chloe Landers
Waste Reduction Intern
I am a first year student from New York City on the Upper West Side. I am excited to explore a variety of interests and a wide range of classes at Vassar, but eventually I want to major in political science and study how different countries and their governmental systems negotiate with each other. When I am not reading the news, I love to play frisbee with friends and play my violin. Living in a big city like NYC, I have witnessed firsthand how the waste crisis and excessive trash on our streets has harmed our local environment. It has been fascinating to observe how political leaders have taken initiative to expand the waste management systems in the city. Now, it’s my turn to stand up and take part in these efforts at Vassar to reduce waste and promote sustainability. I can’t wait to work with my fellow interns this year to restore our environment!
Caroline Mozo
Reuse Programs Intern
I am a sophomore from Clifton, New Jersey and I’m a prospective Chemistry and Art double major. My interests include sculpting, going for walks around campus, eating snacks, drawing, reading new books, baking, listening to music, and doing yoga. I am also obsessed with pandas, my favorite animal! I began truly caring for our environment after I did a project on ocean pollution in middle school that opened my eyes to the vast extent of the damage being done to natural environments. After this, I tried my best to reuse, donate, and recycle as much as I could in my daily life. In high school I became a part of an environmental club called Kindness in Plants which is where I really felt as though I did my part in maintaining our Earth. I cannot wait to support sustainability here at Vassar where a lot of wildlife flourishes!
Diego Sari
Data Analysis Intern
Hello my name is Diego (he/him), and I am a junior from Peekskill, New York. I intend on majoring in Economics or Mathematics. Some of my interests are running because I got into running my sophomore year of high school when I began cross country and track. Another of my interests is soccer. I am a big Lionel Messi fan and an FC Barcelona fan as well. In high school I conducted a recycling education intervention project where I assessed students’ improvements towards recycling. Before this, there was very little recycling going on in my community and I wanted to change that. And there is actually an incinerator in Peekskill which many students were unaware of and I felt they should be aware of the things they throw away due to it affecting us so closely. I’m excited this year to continue to do data analysis work.
Jannat Majid
Data Analysis Intern
I'm from Long Island, New York, and I'm pursuing a major in Science, Technology, and Society with a minor in Environmental Studies. This semester, my courses include Political Ecology, Energy and Public Policy, an art course, and a class on Anatolian struggles. Outside the classroom, I stay connected to the creative and hands-on side of things. I love hiking, sketching, sewing, making jewelry, and reading. In high school, I participated in a summer youth employment program with the Suffolk County Department of Labor, where I gained hands-on exposure to grid operations, energy storage, sustainable technology, advanced manufacturing, and welding. That program gave me an early appreciation for the infrastructure that underpins modern life and the skills required to build it better. After graduating high school, I interned at Haugland LLC, a civil infrastructure contractor, working in government and community affairs. Last summer, I worked as an Environment, Health, and Safety Intern at a public water authority. These experiences left me fascinated by the regulatory and operational systems that build and sustain our civilization.
Sierra Chow
Arboretum Intern
I’m a sophomore from Pennington, New Jersey. I intend on majoring in Environmental Studies and Biology, and some of my interests include spending time outdoors, thrifting, crafting, and music. I’m also on Vassar’s field hockey team. This year I hope to spread appreciation for Vassar’s amazing arboretum and all of its beautiful trees! Growing up, I spent tons of time exploring nature, which contributed to my love for it and desire to protect it. Therefore, I believe that everybody, regardless of where they live, should have access to outdoor green spaces. I am also passionate about outdoor and climate change education. I believe that educating others, giving them a stronger connection with the outdoors, and showing them why they should care is a vital part of climate activism.
Ella Catalano Mallardi
Arboretum Tree Care Intern
My name is Ella and I am a first year here at Vassar. I am from Brooklyn, New York. My major is currently undecided, but I am considering anthropology and/or studio art. Outside of academics I love rock climbing, camping, baking, playing music, and making things. Although I grew up in the city I've spent a lot of time in the woods of the New Jersey Pine Barrens and in New York state. I love the outdoors and care deeply about the environment, and doing what I can to take care of it. I have a particular love for trees and so I am very excited to be working in the arboretum this year.
Jasper Blue
Arboretum Tree Care Intern
I am a first year student from Cornish, New Hampshire. I am currently not sure of my major, but I know that I want to work in international studies and international law. I grew up in a village less populated than Vassar but with around 85% forest coverage, so I have had plenty of opportunities to connect with nature. I have been hiking, camping, and running under the coverage of hemlocks and hardwoods my whole life. I have fond memories of walking around the woods, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. All this to say I owe nature, especially trees, a great deal. As an arboretum tree care intern, I want to give back to the woods and campus that have helped me so much.