Meet the Sustainability Office
Launched in 2012, the Wesleyan Sustainability Office demonstrates the University's commitment to promoting holistic sustainability. Meet past Office employees on the alumni page.
Sustainability Director
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Jen Kleindienst
Sustainability Director
284 High Street Room 104
860-685-3242
Jen Kleindienst began as Wesleyan's first Sustainability Coordinator in 2012 and became Sustainability Director in 2015. Jen is passionate about building a more sustainable world and loves putting ideas into action with Wesleyan and Middletown communities. She oversees Wesleyan’s sustainability strategic planning, which focuses on achieving carbon neutrality, preparing students to become environmental and social leaders, and integrating holistic sustainability into everything that Wesleyan does. Jen leads a team of 30 students and collaborates with campus and community to turn challenging goals into reality and make change. Before coming to Wesleyan, Jen worked in the sustainability offices at Tufts University, St. Michael's College, and MIT. Jen holds an M.S. in Environmental Studies from Antioch University New England and a B.A. from Hamilton College.
Environmental Fellows Coordinators
Two Environmental Fellows (EF) Coordinators lead fellow students in this minimum three-semester program. They manage rising EF apprentices in their first semester and manage EFs and their projects in the second and third semesters.
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Lydia Brutvan '25
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Matthew Gilbert '25
Environmental Fellows
Environmental Fellows (EFs) are a group of students who provide students with the tools, education, and encouragement necessary to develop sustainable living practices, as well to encourage a sense of environmental consciousness and social responsibility. Working as an EF is a great opportunity to gain leadership skills and take part in building a more sustainable, equitable, and inclusive campus community. To learn more, email sustainability@wesleyan.edu.
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Lara Barzenji '26
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Nell Brayton '27
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Akram Elkouraichi '27
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Margery Fang '26
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Brynn Heller '27
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Aishlinn Parrinello '27
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Lily Robbins '26
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Sage Saada Saar '26
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Thalia Witkovsky '27
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Jazmin Alvarez '26
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B Frankenstein '25
Compost Interns
Compost Interns manage Wesleyan's residential composting program and food waste reduction programs in dining halls and residences.
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Olivia Benton '25
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Ethan Lee '26
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Matar Rocker '26
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Devin Sturtevant '25
Sustainable Middletown Interns
The Sustainable Middletown Interns coordinate with City of Middletown employees and volunteers to identify and implement projects to support Middletown's sustainability efforts.
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Laine Gorman '25
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Shekinah Mba '26
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Tamira Le '26
Abroad Fall 2024
Sew What Coordinators
The WesThrift free thrift store is run entirely by students, offering shopping hours each week, as well as free tailoring and tailoring workshops.
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Coleman Hamilton '27
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Shayna Klaidman '27
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Eden Porter '27
Sustainability Strategic Plan Ambassadors
Student Sustainability Strategic Plan (SSP) Ambassadors work on education, outreach, and support efforts relating to a particular aspect of the SSP.
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Arlette Aguilera '25
Focus areas: purchasing and Sustainability EDU
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Michael Minars '25
Focus area: sustainable careers
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Isaac Moss '25
Focus area: invasive plant management
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Gad Nkurunziza '27
Focus area: sustainable careers
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Alex Potts '27
Focus area: publicity
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Elanora Smith '27
Focus area: invasive plant management
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Ava Symons '26
Focus area: transportation
Sustainability Office Coordinators
The Office Coordinators work on a variety of projects including those related to strategic planning, marketing, and general office assistance.
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B Frankenstein '25
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Natalie Sweet '25
Data Analyst
The Data Analyst is an Environmental Fellows who collects and analyzes Office data for accountability and marketing and develops graphics and other ways of sharing data publicly.
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Angela Han '26