Sustainability Ambassador:
Natalia Sandor
Project: Bottle Drive, Clothing Drive
In 2018, Natalia Sandor, founder and past president of the newly created Sustainability Club was a Junior at the Macaulay Honors College at CSI. She is originally from Long Island where she owns a wholesale ice cream sandwich company called Sand Bars Handcrafted. Natalia also played Division III soccer and enjoys writing. Natalia graduated in 2020 with an MS in Business Management. She is now focusing on business development and administration work alongside running her business.
Greenhouse Ambassador:
Marc Girgenti
Project: Japanese Knotweed eradication project, 6S garden
Marc helped to kickstart various sustainability initiatives on campus. He was an essential part of the 6S building Biodiversity Area cleanup where the Japanese Knotweed eradication project is still taking place working in conjunction with the Biology Department. Marc had single-handedly managed the 6S greenhouse and over 640 plants on a daily basis with watering, propagating transplanting over the years.
“It’s not the money we save or the contribution we make that matters. But, the hearts and minds that transform, innovate, and magnify the responsibility that every community member has to reach our sustainability goals.“ Marc Girgenti, Campus Community Garden Manager
Marc Girgenti graduated with a BS in International Business. He is currently an investment Analyst for NBT Bank Wealth Management working towards his Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF) professional designation.
Sustainability Program Assistant / Sustainability Coordinator:
Brenda Franco
Brenda began working for the office as an intern while persuing her degree in the School of Business in Business Management and double minoring in Public Administration and Spanish. She assisted with Greenhouse Workshops, composting events, annual Daylight Hour and other sustainability events. She quickly learned how to run the office. She monitored and reported progress on our initiatives that helped promote sustainable practices on our campus.
Upon graduation she joined our office on a part time Sustainability Coordinator. Brenda coordinated campus programing and activities related to sustainability, managed the Sustainable Community Planning Office, completely redisigned our CSI Sustainability website. She created monthly reporting and biannual newsletters.
Compost Ambassador:
Keair E. Brown
Project: Compost Drop-Off
To advocate and educate student peers and staff of the CSI community on the importance of food waste.
In 2023, Keair Brown became the compost Ambassador. She is a student at the College of Staten Island who is currently completing both, a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology/Anthropology and a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies. Keair is also the President of the College of Staten Island Green Garden Club.
One of the great achievements of the sustainability department is being able to create a compost drop-off located on campus. this has helped encourage students and employees to compost with their daily food scraps and the importance that this action has in sustainability and also the importance that habit has in sustainability.