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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.

Kyra Hoffman ’24

Jill Troy Werner Sustainability Fellow

Kyra is the Jill Troy Werner Sustainability Fellow at Vassar College. She is from Massachusetts and graduated from Vassar in May 2024 with a BA in Environmental Studies. Her thesis investigated how beaver dams impact the water quality of the Casperkill. She is continuing work in environmental studies through this fellowship by promoting sustainability initiatives and supporting student projects. In her free time, she knits the day away and fights the never-ending battle of crafting clutter.

Sierra Chow

Arboretum Intern

I’m a first-year student from Pennington, New Jersey. I intend on majoring in Environmental Studies, and some of my interests include spending time outdoors, thrifting, crafting, and music! Outside of academics, 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.

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 first year at Vassar and intend on majoring in Environmental Science and English.

Charlotte Willenbring

Graphic Design Intern

I’m in my first year at Vassar, coming from Brooklyn, New York. I have a broad range of academic interests, but I’m currently thinking about double-majoring in Economics and Urban Studies and pursuing a correlate sequence in French and Francophone 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 a part of Vassar’s sustainability team! As the graphic design intern, I hope to make use of my love for visuals in order to promote eco-friendly habits here on campus. I believe that creating this 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!

Irene Chun

Outreach and Education Intern

I am super thrilled to be working with the Office of Sustainability this year. My hometown is Setagaya in Tokyo, Japan. I am an American Studies major and am also pursuing a Childhood teaching certification. I love playing music in my free time, and I am involved with some student bands as the electric bassist. I am strongly interested in restorative education and any kind of interdisciplinary study like Native American studies and Women Feminist Queer studies because there are so many areas that intersect with the climate/environment. I believe in the necessity of Environmental education as I think that starting dialogues about noticing how we as humans are in relation with the surrounding environment politically, socially, and culturally is our very first step in moving towards any change. In my work this year with my team, I hope I can bridge some gaps within the student body's collective consciousness of our surroundings.

Eli Hoskison

Outreach and Education 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 Biology and Environmental Studies with concentrations in Earth Science and Education. 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.

Graycie Peltz

Outreach and Education Intern

I’m a first year student at Vassar. I am from Rochester, NY and I’m currently undecided about my major, though thinking of majoring in Environmental Studies. I’m taking a wide variety of classes this semester, including an anthropology class, an art class, and an environmental science class, so I’m excited to see where that takes me! Other than academics, I am planning to join the ultimate frisbee team and the ceramics club, and 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!

Lily Shimpach

Lead Waste Reduction Intern

I am a senior from Northampton, Massachusetts. I am pursuing an Environmental Studies major with concentrations in Earth Science and Media Studies, as well as a Geography correlate. Besides working with the Office of Sustainability, I am a member of Vassar’s cross country and track teams! I am really looking forward to working with the Triple R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) Team this semester. Sustainability is important to me as it enables us to take actions against climate change on an individual level. Our program, in particular, can make a tangible difference on the Vassar community and help educate our peers on the importance of sustainable practices. Last year, I worked with the Office of Sustainability and participated in waste audits and planning meetings aimed at making Vassar more sustainable when it comes to food waste and waste in general. I am excited to continue that work this semester. We have the ability to make a positive impact on the environment and with our combined experience, and I am confident we will be successful in that endeavor.

Jessie Cai

Waste Reduction Intern

I’m a sophomore from Shanghai, China. I plan to major in Environmental Studies with a correlate in Data Science. In my free time, I usually like to play guitar and sing, play basketball/exercise, chat with friends, or just zone out. 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 increasingly hotter summers and heavier 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 the team and be part of a community that cares about the environment and wants to make collective environmental impacts.

Lora Jaczewski

Waste Reduction Intern

I am a sophomore 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; but when I’m not engaged in stewardship, I love writing, taking long nature walks (with a camera!), or playing sports. I can’t wait to see just how much we can accomplish together!

Sofia Rojas Collins

Waste Reduction Intern

I’m from Washington D.C. and in my second year at Vassar. I am currently thinking of majoring in Biology with correlates in Art and Spanish. My interests revolve around thrifting, painting, STEM and the environment. Since the second I learned of the climate crisis I have felt obligated to try and limit my ecological footprint. I am a pescatarian to reduce meat consumption and sell used clothing on Depop to promote the recycling of clothing. Last year as an intern, I took the lead on starting an annual flea market on campus, which was a big success! I am really excited about continuing on the team this year.

Moxie Thompson

Waste Reduction Intern

I am a Senior from Portland, Oregon. I’m a double major in Anthropology and Hispanic Studies. I love bicycles, hiking, farming, playing guitar, looking at crumbling infrastructure, and learning about first aid and medicine. Last year I studied abroad in Valparaíso, Chile, and got to know a lot of activists and community leaders there alongside my studies. I’m interested in equitable resource distribution and humans’ relationship with the environment, which draws me to the field of sustainability. This year I am going to continue to run our food recovery system, set up last year through collaboration between the Office of Sustainability, the Retreat, and the Dutchess Outreach food bank. We do some amazing work together!

Caroline Mozo

Reuse Programs Intern

I’m a first-year student from Clifton, New Jersey. I am still unsure about what I would like to study but I am definitely considering being an Art major with an Economics or Mathematics correlate. My interests include sculpting, going for relaxing walks, taking pictures of scenery, reading new books, baking, listening to music, and doing yoga. I am also obsessed with pandas, which are my favorite animals! I began truly caring for our environment after I did a project on ocean pollution in middle school and tried my best to reuse, donate, and recycle objects around my house. I became a part of an environmental club in high school 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!

Harper Jamison

Data Analysis Intern

I am a sophomore Economics Major from Evanston, Illinois. My interest in sustainability stems from my passion for the outdoors. As a sailor and a backpacker, I spend a lot of time in our environment and see firsthand how carbon emissions and other human-generated waste impact our environment. I want to help keep the spaces I love green and healthy. I’m excited to use my data analysis skills to help reduce the college’s greenhouse gas emissions. Besides working with the sustainability office, I fence on Vassar’s varsity team and am a member of the Frances Lehman Loeb Student Advisory Committee. I love being a student at Vassar, and I’m looking forward to giving back to the college!

Diego Sari

Data Analysis Intern

Hello my name is Diego (he/him), and I am a sophomore 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. Last year I was a Waste Reduction intern, and I’m excited this year to do data analysis work.