Office of Sustainability
Sustainability Officers
Francis Mitalo
Program Specialist
Sustainability Officers
About
I am a sustainability professional with over seven years of experience in higher education, specializing in strategic planning and implementation for climate mitigation and adaptation. In addition, I bring four years of expertise in carbon sequestration and carbon credit programs, with a proven track record of advancing institutional sustainability goals through cross-sector collaboration, data-driven reporting, and policy alignment.
Codie Sterner
Program Director
Sustainability Officers
About
Codie Sterner has explored sustainability from many directions, with education and hands-on experience in behavioral sciences, environmental studies and equity, food systems, renewable energy, and zero waste. Passionate about rethinking how humans interact with the planet, Codie is dedicated to inspiring others to be better stewards of the environment and spark positive change.
Marketing & Communications
Sathya Srinivasan
Website & Newsletter Student Assistant
Marketing & Communications
About
Hi I am a fourth-year Computer Science with Business Applications student at UCR, focused on improving efficiency and scalability of systems over time. I merge web development with sustainability to create meaningful impact around campus initiatives.
Felicity Manns
Marketing Student Assistant
Marketing & Communications
About
Hi! I am a third year Business Administration student with a concentration in Marketing at UCR. I am driven to use my creativity to help others learn about and engage sustainable practices.
Vyshnavi Nallandigal
Marketing Student Assistant
Marketing & Communications
About
I am a Business Administration- Marketing and Information Systems major working half and half with the Office of Sustainability and UCR Transportation services. As a marketing student assistant, my role handles the branding, video content creation, graphic design, and other marketing initiatives for both Offices.
Office of Sustainability Advisors
Gustavo Plascencia
Office of Sustainability Advisor for Dining & Housing
Office of Sustainability Advisors
Adam Schnirel
Office of Sustainability Advisor for Facilities Services
Office of Sustainability Advisors
Sandra Turner
Special Advisor to the Provost on Sustainability
Office of Sustainability Advisors
Bonnie Reiss: Leading on Climate (LOC) Fellowship
Kevin Leung
LOC: Decarbonization
Bonnie Reiss Leading on Climate Student Fellow
About
I'm a senior environmental engineering major at UC Riverside, working on development and implementation of our Campus Decarbonization Study. My goal is to move our decarbonization efforts forward, and enhance the sustainability and energy awareness on campus.
Antonio Torres Jr
LOC: Transportation Survey
Bonnie Reiss Leading on Climate Student Fellow
About
Hi everyone! I am a proud UCR alum with a B.A. in Public Policy, and I am currently in my second year of the Master of Public Policy program. My academic and professional interests lie at the intersection of environmental policy, climate equity, and sustainable community development in the Inland Empire. In my role as a Bonnie Reiss fellow, my primary focus is working on the campus commuter survey where I leverage spatial data and policy research to advance campus sustainability initiatives and regional climate resilience. My goal is to craft intentional, data-driven public policies that protect our environment and allow our local communities to thrive for generations to come.
Sachi Bhanji
LOC: Climate Engagement
Bonnie Reiss Leading on Climate Student Fellow
About
I am a fourth year Environmental Science major with research experience and involvements in other sustainability groups on campus. My goal is to inform and get students involved with the sustainable initiatives on campus. I am eager to work with the Office of Sustainability and the UCR student body to continue to implement sustainability on campus.
Climate Corps (CC) Fellows
Matisse Rios
CC Fellow
CC: Green Labs
About
I’m a fourth-year Environmental Engineering major at UCR, actively involved in research labs on campus and a member of the Green Labs team. We focus on increasing water and energy efficiency in labs while promoting proper waste management and sustainable practices.
Jose Linares
CC Fellow
CC: Green Labs
About
I'm a fourth-year Biology and Environmental Science major at UC Riverside, and member of the Office of Sustainability's Green Labs team. My academic and professional interests focus on water systems, climate change, and sustainability. I currently collaborate with research laboratories to implement and promote sustainable practices across campus.
Jazirae Nacion
CC Fellow
CC: Eco-Highlanders
About
Hi! I’m a fourth-year Biology student at UCR, and I’m involved in creating events and initiatives that improve campus life and support the student community. I help organize workshops and programs through Residential Life that make resources more accessible and encourage students to get involved. I enjoy building community and creating spaces where students feel supported and included.
Sophia Bai
CC Fellow
CC: Alternative Transportation
About
I'm a 4th year Public Policy student minoring in Law & Society, working with TAPS to increase student ridership on local public transit systems like the RTA and Metrolink. A key project my team works on are Travel Trainings, an experiential group-learning initiative designed to address "transit anxiety" for first time riders and connect students to the greater Riverside community. I am open to any possible ideas or collaborations, so please feel free to reach out!
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California Climate Action Corps (CCAC) Fellows
Ashley Avila
CCAC Fellow
CCAC: Zero Waste
About
Ashley Avila serves as a California Climate Action Corps Fellow supporting Zero Waste initiatives at UC Riverside.
Angelique Lawrence
CCAC Fellow
CCAC: Zero Waste
About
Hi everyone! I’m a proud UCR alum with a B.A. in Media and Cultural Studies. During my four years working with the Basic Needs Department, I developed a deep passion for supporting students who share similar backgrounds and experiences as my own. That passion continues to guide my work today as the California Climate Action Zero Waste Fellow, where I focus on educating and engaging students to reduce food waste and promote sustainability on campus.
Emily Macias
CCAC Fellow
CCAC: Eco-Highlanders
About
Hello! I am a proud UCR Alum, and I am excited to be working here! It has been a joy to study, work, and continue giving back to my community at UCR. I have a passion for teaching, and coming up with creative ways to bring education and sustainability together. My role focuses on planning and hosting workshops in Residential Life, student engagement throughout campus, and creating climate-action volunteer opportunities for students. If you are interested in collaborating with the Ecohighlanders for an event, please reach out via email (emily.macias@email.ucr.edu) with details!
Grecia Ortega
CCAC Fellow
CCAC: Sustainability Engagement
About
Howdy! I graduated from UCR in 2025 with a BA in Media and Cultural Studies and I now currently serve as the Sustainability Engagement fellow for the Office of Sustainability. My work includes workshop programming, digital outreach, and community engagement to educate the UCR and broader Riverside community about sustainability and climate change. Outside of my work I enjoy film photography, exploring the PNW, and discovering new music to broadcast on my radio show on KUCR 88.3 FM!