UVA Office for Sustainability

?? Attention UVA Employees! ?? Join us for a special Lunch and Learn event with Fiona Flynn, UVA's Morven Kitchen Garden Manager! Enjoy a delicious catered lunch while learning sustainable gardening tips to get your garden ready for spring. All gardening levels welcome! ?? Date: March 27 ?? Time: 12-1 PM ?? Location: Newcomb Hall, South Meeting Room Participants will also receive seeds to start growing their own edible plants! ?? Don't miss out—register now at https://lnkd.in/dHdN42P4. This event counts as a stamp on the UVA Sustainability Passport program. @morven_kitchengarden @uvamorven #UVA #SustainableGardening #LunchAndLearn #SpringGardening #GreenWorkplace

For our next #SustainabilitySpotlight we have @Jack Thomas Hamrick. Jack graduated from the University of Virginia in 2016 with a bachelors in Environmental Thought & Practice and again in 2017 with a masters in Global Sustainability. Jack’s interest in sustainability started by growing up hunting and fishing. He developed a deep appreciation for the natural environment and the importance of preserving it. Early in his undergraduate studies, he developed strong convictions surrounding the idea that innovation at the intersection of business and sustainability can not only refute the notion that what’s good for the environment is bad for business, but that the exact opposite can be true. Creating win-win solutions at this nexus requires multidisciplinary creativity, and the opportunities for innovation spurred his interest in sustainability as a career path. Now Jack is founder and CEO of the company Foraged. He explains that Foraged is a marketplace for wild & specialty foods, where home cooks can order rare ingredients directly from independent producers. Their mission is to empower small-scale food purveyors to grow sustainable businesses while making unique foods accessible to more people. Foraged is not an online farmers market -- it's everything you can't find at your local farmers market. He says to check out all of the extraordinary products and the people who bring them to life on Foraged.com! As for advice in finding a career in sustainability, Jack says to be bold. Be creative. Stay buoyant. You’re going to face obstacles at every step — whether it’s ambiguity about your role, organizational obstinacy to change, or the realities of operating a business — so be prepared to blaze your own trail. Always remember, though, that you’ll go further with a strong team. Seek out mentors, allies, and advocates who share your vision and can help turn it into reality. #Sustainablefood #Innovation #Bebold #Trailblaze

Event submissions for Earth Month 2025 are open! Every year UVA's Office for Sustainability promotes 50+ events of all types on our website for easy searching. Design an event that inspires others to care for our shared planet together, whether through science, practical solutions or creative enjoyment. Then let us know, so we can amplify. Past events: ??Workshops ?? Tours ?? Panel discussions ??? Litter clean-ups ?? and much more! Use this submission form to add your event to the Earth Month calendar. https://ow.ly/Ie4450VeTV6

We're hiring! The Office for Sustainability is seeking passionate students to join our Sustainability Student Employee cohort for Fall 2025. Applicants can expect to support a variety of tasks including event planning, content creation, mentoring peers, and more. The application closes on Monday, March 31 at 11:59pm EST. See the formal job description at the link in bio ?????? @uvacareer

For our next #SustainabilitySpotlight meet Bergen Hubert. Bergen graduated from the University of Virginia in 2012 with a major in Environmental Sciences and a minor in Global Sustainability. Bergen's interest in sustainability started with one of her very first memories: a long day of swimming off the boat in the Potomac River in a Save the Bay T-Shirt. She grew up in a small town in the Northern Neck of Virginia where people have a strong cultural, historical, and economical connection to their environment, so conservation was instilled in her from a very young age by her community, her family, and her education. When she was in high school, she was accepted into Chesapeake Bay Governor’s School for Marine and Environmental Science, where she furthered her now lifelong passion for environmental protection. Now Bergen is Product Chemistry & Regulatory Affairs Manager at New Balance Athletics. Bergen says that the connections she made through UVA helped her land my first internships and job right out of school. She truly does believe it’s the connections you make with people outside of job applications that make you a standout from the rest of the crowd. She suggests putting yourself out there and asking for a mentor on LinkedIn, requesting to shadow a family friend at work, and finding ways to learn from people directly who are doing work you are interested in. Better yet ask them how you can help them and it could land you your first job unexpectedly. Bergen’s advice for those pursuing a career in sustainability is to not get discouraged when you don’t land your “dream job” in sustainability right away. Just make sure it just isn’t a step in the wrong direction. It can be a step to the side, just not backwards. Sustainability is so multifaceted, so don’t be afraid to take the long way round. #sustainabledesign #productchemistry #globalcompliance #connections

?? UVA Employees: Spring into Sustainability with the Green Workplace Program! ?? As we begin to transition into spring, it's the perfect time to embrace new green habits in the workplace. Join the Green Workplace Program this spring and help make our workplaces more sustainable! ?? Why Participate? - Conserve natural resources - Reduce costs - Collaborate with colleagues to make a positive impact Interested in learning more? Request an info meeting by emailing [email protected]. Let's make a positive impact together, Hoos! #UVA #GreenWorkplace #Sustainability #Hoos

We have extended the deadline to nominate a worthy sustainability changemaker to COB Monday, March 3! The Sustainability Leadership Awards honor those who are advancing sustainability practices and solutions in our community. We accept nominations in four categories: UVA students/groups UVA staff/departments UVA faculty/departments Community members/groups based in Charlottesville/Albemarle or nearby counties Individuals and groups from all backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences are encouraged to apply. Even if someone does not meet all criteria for the Award, we encourage them to submit. Self-nominations are welcome, or you may nominate another person or group. The form is simple and easy to fill out. Winners will receive $1,000 and will be honored at the UVA Sustainability Leaders Luncheon in May. Nomination form: https://ow.ly/fGfx50V7A2z #SustainabilityAwards #SustainabilityLeadership

?? Join Us This Thursday for a Zero Waste Events Training! ?? Calling all UVA event organizers! Get ready to green your spring events by joining our virtual Zero Waste Events Training on February 20th. Learn how to make your events more sustainable. (Psst: This virtual event is eligible for a stamp on your Sustainability Passport) ?? ?? Date: Thursday, February 20th ?? Time: 1:00 PM ?? Location: Virtual (Zoom registration link:https://lnkd.in/eX8ndg_W) We hope to see you there! #UVASustainability #ZeroWaste #GreenWorkplace #SustainabilityPassport

The 2025 Sustainability Leadership Award nominations are due in just ten days! Please fill out our short form and make sure that outstanding individual or organization gets the recognition they deserve. We are looking for those who exhibit an exceptional commitment to advancing sustainability practices and solutions. Four awards will be granted to individuals or departments: 1) UVA student, 2) UVA staff, 3) UVA faculty or department, and 4) a local (Central VA) community member or organization. Self-nominations also accepted. Deadline Feb. 24. Learn more: https://ow.ly/lHpC50V0iWf #sustainableUVA #climateleadership #sustainability #UVA

?? EMPLOYEES: Join the new UVA Sustainability Passport Program! Ready to make a positive impact and win financial rewards? Join the Sustainability Passport Program and start your journey toward becoming a sustainability leader on Grounds! Example actions include following us on social media or watching one of our webinars. ?? Why Join? - Learn how you can become a sustainability champion at UVA. - Make a positive impact. - Win monetary rewards and recognition for the actions you take. Visit https://lnkd.in/erwYG9yu to learn more and get your Sustainability Passport! #UVASustainability #GreenWorkplace #SustainableUVA #Hoos