The office for sustainability filled 10 part-time internship positions for the 2013 spring semester. Seventy-four applications were received, but only 10 were selected to participate internship program.

The interns will assist in various projects, programs and events throughout the semester. Their efforts will support RecycleMania, World Water Day, Campus Conservation Nationals, Earth Day, and Bike-to-work week, as well as the University of Arkansas' carbon neutrality and zero waste commitments.

Applicants from every college applied for the internship program. “This is a reflection of the diverse the interest in sustainability. While most of the applicants are pursuing a degree from the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, they only represent less than 30 percent of total applicants. Every college on our campus was represented in the applicant pool,” says Carlos Ochoa, director of the office for sustainability.

Additionally, 67 percent of all applicants were enrolled in the sustainability minor.

A significant contribution of the internship program will be to elevate the profile of faculty, staff and students engaged in sustainability research and programming on UA's campus. Kris Johnson, a journalism major, will capture stories of sustainability through the lens of the camera and Nnamdi Nnedu, a U of A law student, will help broadcast interviews over the radio waves. All interns will help identify and spotlight newsworthy sustainability stories.

Elizabeth Hood, a political science major from the Fulbright College of Arts, will act as a liaison between the office for sustainability and Greek Life. She will also help coordinate the Greek Recycling Competition and identify additional ways to engage Greek members.  

Andrea Love, Andrew Dugan, Brittny Horn, Supriya Thote, Addie Benson, Alexander Clark, and Elvira Kizilova were also selected to join the office for sustainability.

All interns will identify ways for students to help the University of Arkansas achieve carbon neutrality by mid-century, as part of the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. Specifically, the interns will revisit the University of Arkansas’ Climate Action Plan, which outlines the steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and determine which additional steps can be taken to ensure the University reaches its carbon reduction goals.  

The interns will also use Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education to help drive student engagement, programs, and projects on the University of Arkansas campus. AASHE, the largest sustainability organization for higher education, will provide the students with programmatic ideas and opportunities to learn more about efforts at similar higher education institutions.

To learn more about the office for sustainability, please visit sustainability.uark.edu. To receive newsletter updates about sustainability activities, please click here.