Timeline
2025
This internship ran from August 2025 to May 2026.
Description
Affiliated programs: Green Devils Intern Program, Duke Athletics Climate Team, Duke Athletics Climate and Sustainability
Summary
The Sustainable Athletics Interns supported the Office of Climate and Sustainability and Duke Athletics to bridge the gap and integrate sustainability into sports and athletics culture at Duke. This was accomplished by further developing the Duke Athletics Climate Team and designing an alumni engagement strategy. The internship relied on problem solving and carefully designing stakeholder engagement strategies to improve the future success of Athletics C&S work at Duke. The key initiatives of this internship were the Fall and Spring gear and shoe drives, the Kville material recovery program, and the creation of the Green Game Guide. Additionally, the interns worked with the new Athletics Climate and Sustainability Coordinator to support the creation of a new subgroup strategy for the ACT and worked to develop more community partners.
Goals
1) Execute and scale athletic sustainability initiatives, focusing on athletic shoe and gear diversion, green sporting events, and coordination of the Duke Athletics Climate Team (ACT).
2) Collaborate with Duke Athletics to audit existing environmental practices, identify areas for improvement, and research emerging sustainability opportunities.
3) Liaise with the Duke Sustainable Athletics Group (DSAG) to expand community engagement and awareness through strategic communication and relationship-building.
Experience and Learning Outcomes
This project was part of the year-long paid internship Green Devils program managed by the Office of Climate and Sustainability. Through this project, students developed key competencies in stakeholder engagement and cross-departmental collaboration by coordinating directly with Duke Athletics, university staff, and broader community networks. They gained hands-on experience in project management and event logistics through the execution of the Fall Shoe and Gear Drive and the K-Ville Materials Recovery Initiative, which collectively diverted over 430 items for reuse. Additionally, students built foundational skills in data collection and metric development by creating baseline sustainability reporting frameworks for athletic departments. Finally, the project strengthened their abilities in sustainability storytelling and public communications as they developed frameworks, multimedia content, and institutional playbooks designed to simplify complex sustainability initiatives and mobilize participation across campus.
Recommendations
The students reported deep satisfaction and joy from the process of coordinating community building opportunities. They recommend continuing the data collection and storytelling of climate and sustainability within Athletics – "there is already so much great work going on that should be shared and built upon!" shared one intern.
Student Interns: Mariam Gulamhusein and Sydney Tomlak
Intern Supervisor: Imani Dorsey Kunzweiler, Athletics Climate and Sustainability Coordinator
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