Internship: Sustainability Ambassador Program Coordinator

Timeline

Fall 2023 - Spring 2024

Description

Affiliated programs: Green Devils Intern Program and Sustainability Ambassadors Program

Summary: Managed by student interns, the Sustainability Ambassadors program is designed to allow first-year students to build a robust toolkit around interdisciplinary sustainability while functioning to build community and leadership skills. The program allows students to explore global sustainability, food systems, environmental and energy policy, urban planning and more. Utilizing project management strategies and community-based social marketing principles, student ambassadors emerge from the program as skilled leaders with a thorough understanding of sustainability issues.

Goals: 1) Facilitate bi-weekly group discussions on sustainability topics and how to design effective behavior change initiatives on college campuses. 2) Coordinate community building activities and outings for first-year students and advise them in designing final project proposals related to campus sustainability.

Experience and Learning Outcomes: This project was part of the year-long paid internship Green Devils program managed by Sustainable Duke. Three student coordinators were responsible for coordinating and delivering program materials and supporting community building among 15 first-year ambassadors.

Recommendations: Student interns suggest further tailoring the program materials and projects to support students in deepening their toolkits for sustainability change-making. Another recommendation is to build opportunities for program alumni of different classes to stay connected and learn from each other.

Student Interns: Rachel Weissman, Nick Nease and Riley Reeves

Intern Supervisor: Sophia Masciarelli, Sustainability Engagement Coordinator (Sustainable Duke)