SUSTAINABILITY - Key Persons
Aiden is a senior majoring in philosophy and political science with certificates in public policy and history. He is a member of the Office of Sustainability Academics and Research and Podcast Teams. Aiden's interest in sustainability is grounded in reducing the prevalence of animal production in agricultural settings and eliminating harmful practices in the global food system. When not studying or working, Aiden enjoys contributing to the efforts of several animal advocacy organizations in the Madison area.
Alex Frank brings a background in sustainability planning, program management, cross-sector innovation, and data management to the Office of Sustainability. As a Project Portfolio Manager, Alex supports budget management, status tracking, leadership updates, and intra-office processes and coordination.
Prior to his current position, Alex led data collection and analysis for the Office of Sustainability. Before joining UW-Madison, Alex led pilot project development for City Tech Collaborative, a Chicago-based non-profit focused on developing new technology to improve city services and resident lives. Alex also brings experience consulting for utilities and the private sector on sustainability and new technology adoption as well as managing environmental compliance for renewable energy developments. He received a Master of Science in Environmental Science and Policy from the University of Chicago, and a Bachelor of Arts in Ecology and Conservation Biology from Boston University. He holds a Project Management Professional Certification.
Audrey is a sophomore studying environmental studies and political science with certificates in public policy and sustainability. She is part of the Green Labs and Podcast Teams in the Office of Sustainability. She is passionate about the environment and is specifically interested in how we can use environmental policy, justice, and conservation to help our natural world. Outside the office, Audrey skis in Colorado, plays tennis with friends, sings, plays the piano, and catches sunsets at Memorial Union.
Job Titles:
- Title
- Undergraduate Student
Caroline Arciszewski is a sophomore majoring in environmental science, with certificates in French and sustainability. She is on the Green Labs and Academic Research and Writing Teams. Her sustainability interests include food production and recycling education. In her free time, she enjoys baking, swimming, and spending time relaxing outside by the lakes.
Job Titles:
- Director Emeritus of Sustainability Research
This fund honors Professor Cathy H. Middlecamp, Director Emeritus of Sustainability Research and Education. Gifts to this fund will provide scholarship support for student interns in the Office of Sustainability and/or students pursuing sustainability-related degrees and certificates at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Emma Erickson is a senior studying Conservation Biology and Environmental Studies. She is passionate about exploring the intersections between the environment, sustainability, and social justice. At the Office of Sustainability, she is involved with the Green Events, Green Labs, and Communications Teams. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, camping, and trying new vegan recipes.
Job Titles:
- Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council ( SPLC ) Membership Offers Benefits for UW - Madison Community
Ian Aley brings a professional background in food systems, sustainable agriculture, social justice, capacity building, and cross-cultural collaboration to the Office of Sustainability. In his role as Green Fund Program Manager, he supports student-initiated projects that improve campus sustainability.
Ian is trained as an urban planner, holding an M.S. in Urban and Regional Planning from UW-Madison. He did his undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto and holds a Permaculture Design Certificate.
For the past ten growing seasons, since moving home to Wisconsin, Ian has been a member of a multicultural collaborative farming community called the Farley Center for Peace, Justice, and Sustainability, located just west of Madison. There, he and his family care for and harvest wild and cultivated plants.
Jordyn Czyzewski is a junior majoring in landscape and urban studies, people-environment geography, and environmental studies with a certificate in integrative design of built and natural environments. She is on the Green Office, Green Events, and Education and Outreach Teams. She is passionate about addressing environmental and social challenges within urban settings to positively impact people and the environment. In her free time, Jordyn enjoys exploring the UW Arboretum, supporting sustainable fashion through ReWear It, reading, and creating various arts and crafts projects.
Josh Arnold is the Campus Energy Advisor with the Office of Sustainability, where he is responsible for coordinating energy conservation, renewable energy and strategic planning efforts at the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Working with campus and community stakeholders, he coordinates and implements energy efficiency and renewable energy projects that advance clean energy for people, planet and shared prosperity.
Josh has 20 years of experience in the sustainability industry, including energy efficiency program implementation with the Wisconsin Focus on Energy program, stakeholder engagement and market development with the U.S. Green Building Council, and management consulting with Navigant Consulting (now Guidehouse), where he developed the 100% Renewable Madison report for the City of Madison, WI. Josh started his career in Portland, Oregon with the City of Portland Office of Sustainable Development. His education includes a J.D. in environmental law from Lewis & Clark Law School and an M.B.A. from Portland State University. He has a B.A. from Tufts University in Boston, MA and certificate in Ocean Resources Policy from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa in Honolulu, Hawai'i.
Julia is a third-year student double majoring in community and environmental sociology and landscape and urban studies. She is also pursuing certificates in sustainability, public policy, science communication, and integrative design. Outside of her work with the Office of Sustainability's Green Office, Green Events, and Academics & Research Teams, Julia is the outreach director for The People's Farm: Students for Sustainable Agriculture. Growing up in Wisconsin, she developed a deep love for the beauty of our planet and the importance of pursuing sustainable practices in day-to-day life. She also enjoys photography, hiking, baking, and making jewelry in her free time.
Kate has been drawing scientific illustrations and data visualizations for publications, grant applications, science books, presentations, and more for over 10 years. She is excited to learn more about your research and draw professional, clear diagrams and graphs to make your proposal memorable and easy to understand for reviewers. Kate's formal background is in biology, and she got her PhD in Cell and Molecular biology here at UW-Madison before specializing in visual scientific communication.
Job Titles:
- Title: Student Natural Area Assistant
Sadie Derouin serves as the Sustainability Project Manager with a focus on supporting sustainability efforts in the capital development process and integrating sustainability principles into campus facility and infrastructure projects.
Before joining the Office of Sustainability, Sadie worked as an Environmental Enforcement Specialist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. As an enforcement specialist, Sadie led enforcement cases where she addressed environmental issues ranging from hazardous waste management to safe drinking water requirements. During that time, Sadie was a Bloomberg Fellow at Johns Hopkins University, where she obtained an MPH focused on environmental challenges. While at Johns Hopkins University, her environmental research and interest areas included climate change, water quality, environmental justice, and the impacts of the built environment on public health. In 2012, Sadie earned an MA in Sustainable Business and Communities from Goddard College.
Travis Blomberg (he/him/his) coordinates campus' zero waste efforts. Specifically, Travis aligns sourcing/procurement practices, consumption behavior, and diversion opportunities for recoverable materials. Travis works closely with various stakeholders including, but not limited to, purchasing departments, Physical Plant, research offices, academic enterprise, Capital Planning & Development, business operations, facility and office managers, the UW System, students, student organizations, Wisconsin Union, University Athletics, University Housing, municipal governments, waste / recycling companies, suppliers, economic development councils, and community business partners.
Before joining the Office of Sustainability, Travis was the Executive Director of WasteCap Resource Solutions, an environmental nonprofit that provides waste reduction and recycling assistance to the benefit of business and the environment. Prior to that, Travis was a Sustainability Advisor for Transwestern, a commercial real estate firm, specializing in new construction LEED® certification projects and developing a water rating system for commercial buildings. Travis is an alumnus of the 2015 Environmental Defense Fund's Climate Corps fellowship program.
Travis earned his M.S. and B.S. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison focusing on business, environment, and social responsibility. He holds several sustainability credentials including: TRUE Advisor, LEED® AP BD+C, LEED® AP ID+C, and Alliance for Water Stewardship Professional Consultant. Travis is also a board member of CURC (College & University Recycling Coalition).
Job Titles:
- Policy Analyst With the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources' Green Tier
- Title
Will Erikson has experience in the public and private sectors working on corporate sustainability, environmental policy, and natural resource outreach and education.
As a Policy Analyst with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources' Green Tier, Will was a liaison to Wisconsin's leading sustainable manufacturers, local governments, and environmental organizations, helping build momentum around sustainability initiatives across the state. In this role, he assisted businesses in implementing environmental management systems to the ISO 14001 standard.
Will joins UW after transitioning to a Madison-based agricultural-tech startup that incentivized farmers to collect waste streams, which were then upcycled into protein blends for animal feed and human-grade ingredients.
Will graduated from Dickinson College with an Environmental Studies degree with a focus on sustainability and equity.
Will's passions include sustainable agriculture, cooking, hiking, curling, making playlists, and reading (please share book recommendations!).