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News Release

Last modified: Monday, May 21, 2012

IU Office of Sustainability announces summer 2012 interns

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 21, 2012

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The Indiana University Office of Sustainability has named 17 interns to continue efforts toward a more sustainable IU Bloomington during the summer of 2012.

Building upon the tradition of the Indiana University Task Force on Sustainability, the Office of Sustainability addresses issues of environmental, economic and social sustainability in campus operations, academic programs and university-community relations. The student interns, selected from undergraduate and graduate student applicants, will work on a broad array of issues related to sustainability, under the mentorship of IU faculty and staff.

"Over 150 sustainability interns have led research projects and initiatives resulting in major progress on Indiana University's campus sustainability goals with millions of dollars in real benefits to the campus and community," said Bill Brown, IU director of sustainability. "Interns tackle real campus needs in intensive, hands-on, educational experiences. This type of leadership experience has proven effective in securing meaningful employment after graduation. Mentored by dedicated faculty and staff, sustainability interns are powerful catalysts for positive change."

From its inception in 2007, the sustainability initiative at IU has strived to promote experiential learning as an integral part of the "greening" of the campus. Sustainability internships have been offered over the past five summers, and internship projects were conducted over the course of the school year for the first time during the 2008-09 academic year.

In addition to their summer of service, the interns will be enrolled in a one-credit seminar, which will seek to place the individual interns' projects in a broader context and help to develop a learning community among participants in the internship program. Through the seminar, the interns will also take several trips to area businesses and organizations focused on sustainability-related initiatives.

"The sustainability issues the interns are tackling are complex, and successful internship projects often require the support of multiple stakeholders and working groups," said Emilie Rex, IU assistant director of sustainability. "The summer seminar provides a unique space for collaboration where interns can make the necessary connections to strengthen programming."

IU sustainability interns for summer 2012:

Mentored by the IU Office of Sustainability

• Sharlene Fish, Green Teams Coordination
• Rachel Irvine, Living Sustainably Off-Campus
• Haley Long, Sustainability and the First Year Experience
• Jessica Plassman, Green Events Coordination
• Oral Saulters, Green Purchasing
• Erik Schneider, Greening of the Athletic Department

Mentored by the Campus Sustainability Advisory Board

• Erica Bramlet, Hoosier to Hoosier Community Sale -- Resource Use and Recycling Working Group
• Andrew Bushnell, Qualified Energy Savings Project Planning -- Energy and Built Environment Working Group
• Fred Diego, Document and Paper Management -- Sustainable Computing Working Group
• Frances Einterz, Big Red Eats Green Fall Festival -- Food Working Group
• Mark Milby, Keep Indiana University Beautiful -- Resource Use and Recycling Working Group
• Aliya Mood, Sustainability Academic Programs and Research Clearinghouse -- Academic Initiatives Working Group
• Hayley Prihoda, Conserving Natural and Cultural Heritage in Dunn's Woods -- Environmental Quality and Land Use Working Group
• Carolyn Raider, Utility Conservation in Academic Buildings -- Energy and Built Environment Working Group
• David Roedl, Measurement Analysis and Campus Sustainability Dashboard Development -- Sustainable Computing Working Group
• Kevin Sonoff, Bicycle Friendly Campus Initiatives -- Transportation Working Group
• Sara Swan, IUB Campus Garden Initiative -- Food Working Group

Intern biographies and descriptions of the summer 2012 internship projects can be viewed online.

The 2012 Summer Internship Program in Sustainability is sponsored by the Office of Sustainability.

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