Faculty, students, leaders and staff making a difference at Penn State
Sara Mueller, executive director of Wildlife Leadership Academy
Sara Mueller is the executive director of Wildlife Leadership Academy (WLA), a non-profit that organizes five weeks of “field school” each summer for students to get involved in conservation. After field school, students do community hours to bring awareness to the cause, helping them lead their community toward a more [...]
Chef Tawnya Brant, Entrepreneur, Author, Top Chef Canada Competitor, and Indigenous Food Sovereignty Leader
In our recent interview with Chef Tawnya Brant, an Entrepreneur, Author, Top Chef Canada Competitor, and Indigenous Food Sovereignty Leader, we learned more about Brant’s personal journey, exploring her lived experiences, her passion for Indigenous food sovereignty, and the transformative role of food in fostering cultural resilience and community well-being. Chef [...]
Joe Gyekis, Bird Safe Penn State Advisor and Associate Teaching Professor of Biobehavioral Health
In our recent interview with Joseph Gyekis, Bird Safe Penn State Advisor and Associate Teaching Professor of Biobehavioral Health, we discussed the life-long bird admirer’s journey as an advocate for bird-safe practices on Penn State's University Park campus. This year, on October 12, World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) is celebrated [...]
Diane Burko, Pennsylvania research-based climate artist-activist
We recently sat down with Diane Burko, a Pennsylvania research-based climate artist-activist, to discuss art's influence in communicating the climate crisis. Burko will visit Penn State's University Park campus on October 2-3 as part of Penn State Sustainability's “Sustainability Showcase Series.” On Wednesday, October 2, she and community members will [...]
Heide Gibson, Associate Director & Student Pantry Manager for The Lion’s Pantry
We recently interviewed Heide Gibson, Associate Director and Student Pantry Manager for The Lion’s Pantry. Gibson shared her experience spreading awareness about food insecurity and further student work toward finding strategic solutions for students experiencing hunger and mitigating food insecurity. Behind East Halls and adjacent to the Blue Band Building [...]
Hilary Caldwell, Penn State Campus Organizer for the Climate Action Campaign
In our recent interview, Hilary Caldwell, Penn State's Campus Organizer for the Climate Action Campaign (CAC) during the Spring 2024 semester, shared her experience mobilizing individuals through civic engagement to tackle the climate crisis. During her time working on the CAC at Penn State, Caldwell educated students on voter registration [...]
