Staff

sustainability@ohio.edu

Annie Laurie serves as the Director of Sustainability at Ohio University. Previously, Annie Laurie served as the Sustainability Specialist at Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove, IL where she worked closely with the Illinois Green Economy Network. Her interest in the role sustainability plays in the student leadership development process was refined during her previous work experiences at both Alliance for Climate Education in Chicago, IL and Green Mountain College in Poultney, VT. She holds a BA in Communication Studies and a MS in College Student Personnel Administration with curriculum emphasis in Sustainability.  

2012-2013 Graduate Staff: 

Megan is a first year graduate student in the School of  Rehabilitation and Communication Sciences working towards a Doctorate in  Physical Therapy.  She grew up in Toledo,  Ohio and received her undergraduate degree from the University of Dayton.  Through her work at the Office of  Sustainability as well as in her future career as a physical therapist, Megan  aspires to promote personal sustainability through education and opportunities  to improve wellness and develop healthy lifestyles.  She is also working to further her knowledge  and appreciation of local and global sustainability efforts.  She enjoys running and hiking and hopes to  motivate students to enjoy and develop an appreciation for the natural  resources that surround Athens.

Pronoy is a final year graduate student in International Affairs at the Ohio University Center for International Studies. His academic specialization is in the area of Environment and Development, and he is currently writing his thesis on the politics of access to food in the Indian political-economic context. Prior to coming to Ohio, Pronoy obtained degrees in Physical Science and Development Studies in India. Pronoy joined the Office of Sustainability in August 2012, where he coordinates the Residence Challenge program and the implementation of tours of the campus-wide composting system and Eco-house. He also represents the Office on the Athens County Food Policy Council. During 2007-09, Pronoy worked with Google Inc.'s office in Hyderabad, India where he participated in events such as Earth Day and New Employee Green training. Also, as an Intern Correspondent with an English daily in Hyderabad during the summers of 2006 and 2007, he reported on several local green initiatives, such as the city-based Green Business Center. Pronoy lived in Kiel, Germany and in Hyderabad and Guwahati, India before moving to Athens in August 2011.

Markie Miller is a first year graduate student at the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs, and is currently working towards her masters in Environmental Studies with a certificate in Conservation Biology. She received her undergraduate degrees in Anthropology and German at the University of Toledo in Ohio. Markie has a great interest in native prairie plants, restoration and conservation efforts/projects, and the growing issue of food security. With her work, she aspires to create a sense of place through simple, everyday acts that can help maintain the sustainability of local economies. In her free time, Markie enjoys exploring the different hiking trails in Athens, gardening, or staying home with a good book. 
 

2012-2013 Undergraduate Student Staff:

Jaymie Tighe
Ecohouse and Special Communications Coordinator

Jaymie is a senior undergraduate student currently pursuing a Bachelor’s of Science in Communication Studies with focuses in public advocacy and environmental studies. In addition, she is finishing up a minor in political science. Jaymie has served as an intern at the Office of Sustainability since February 2012 and enjoys contributing to Routes E-zine and helping promote sustainable living through the Ecohouse, among various works on campus. In her free time she enjoys being active outdoors, snowboarding in the winter, and ceramic wheel throwing.


 

Lisa Kefalos
Social Media Coordinator

Lisa is currently a senior at Ohio University in the Scripps School of Communication pursing a Bachelor of Science in Communication with a concentration in Organizational Communication. Additionally, she is a Political Science minor and will receive a Political Communication Certificate upon graduation in April 2013. She has a strong desire to work within an organization that strives for bettering the greater community through either events, services, products, or political change. She acknowledges each experience as a learning opportunity, and through this position encompassing a variety of sustainability principles, she hopes to transpire new opportunities and interests for others in the Univeristy and Athens community.

 

Katie is an undergraduate student pursuing a degree in Business Management and an Environmental Studies Certificate within the Honors Tutorial College. At the Office of Sustainability, her responsibilities include professional development consulting with staff, providing classroom presentations, and administering the Sustainable Ohio University Leaders (SOUL) group in accordance with the Climate Action Plan. In the past, Katie has served as Primary Liaison for the Transportation Sub-Committee of the OU Presidential Advisory Council for Sustainability Planning, and is currently sophomore class representative for the College of Business Select Leaders Development Program. Her academic research is focused on the causal relationship between corporate sustainability performance and financial performance, and she aspires to have a career that integrates the fields of business and sustainability. Apart from work and classes, Katie enjoys practicing yoga, reading historical fiction, rock climbing with friends, playing intramural soccer, and studying classical piano.

At the Office of Sustainability, Liz is responsible for leading tours of the Ecohouse and Compost Facility as well as giving classroom presentations about sustainability. She is majoring in Restaurant, Hotel, and Tourism with a minor in Business and an Environmental Studies Certificate. Her current career interests are in the eco-tourism industry as well as the restaurant and event planning businesses. She loves the environment and all it has to offer, and her goal is to bring sustainability with her into every job she enters. She is also involved in multiple student organizations, including Eco Reps, Student Senate, RHTA, Thread Magazine, and Phi Upsilon Omicron honor society. She is very busy, but loves everything she does!

Austin is a sophomore in the Honors Tutorial College pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and an Environmental Studies Certificate. He is currently undertaking a campus wide compost education and food waste reduction project. In addition to his responsibilities at the Office, Austin is currently working as an Undergraduate Research Scholar with the Consortium for Energy, Economics, and the Environment (CE3) at the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs. Austin is passionate about helping our society transition to a more sustainable economy to create a better future. He believes the best way to do that is by understanding problems from an industry perspective and then working with businesses to help them find ways to boost their triple bottom line. He has done communications research on the media coverage of climate change, the media's power to shape opinion on issues like climate change through agenda-setting, and the relationships between the media, government, energy industry, and grassroots activist groups and their influence on energy policy. Austin's dream job is working with large corporations as a sustainability consultant, where the projects he works on could have positive repercussions around the globe due to their scale. In his limited free time, Austin enjoys working out, playing basketball, the outdoors, and spending time with friends and family.