01/28/2026
SUNY Cortland's Sustainability Office started another new year of planet-friendly advancements and activities with a group of students both new and returning to the Green Reps program.
The mission of the Green Reps is to inspire more environmentally conscious lifestyles through peer-to-peer environmental education programs that encourage a more eco-friendly and sustainable campus and lifelong behaviors.
As seen in the photo above, during their training the Green Reps visited the Cortland County Recycling Center and Cortland ReUse to learn more about sustainable living off campus and get inspiration for their upcoming programs!
On campus students, keep an eye out for Green Rep programs about recycling coming in February.
Meet the Green Reps!
Alexa Piraino
She / Her
Sophomore
Major: Criminology & Psychology
Goal: My goal is to make the campus more aware of how they can contribute to keeping the environment safe.
Brianne Leak
She / Her
Sophomore
Major: Early Childhood/ Childhood Education
Goal: I am looking forward to learning more about our environment and the changes we are facing as well as potential solutions. I am very excited to share my knowledge with my peers and helping them adopt more sustainable habits and mindsets. I believe that through collaboration and effort we can make a change. I would love to play a role in the future progression of sustainability on this campus and beyond.
Caden Riegger
He / Him
Sophomore
Major: Political Science
Goal: Find more ways we can be more sustainable at Cortland.
Christina Gelchie
She / Her
Senior
Major: Business Economics | Minor: Communications
Goal: Help educate students on sustainability and create an incentive to get more students involved in volunteering in our local community.
Elena Gonzalez
She / Her
Senior
Major: Environmental Geoscience
Goal: This year, my goals are to learn more about and implement sustainable practices on campus, become more involved in the local community, and build connections by educating and collaborating with my fellow peers.
Fiona Joss
She / Her
Sophomore
Major: Therapeutic Recreation
Goal: Improve my mending skills!
Kelsey Thornton
She / Her
Major: Criminology
Goal:
Be more sustainable on campus and encourage others to do the same!
Linda Maerkl
She / Her
Senior
Major: Sport Studies
Goal: Spend more time outside!
Rian Thomas
She / Her
Junior
Major: Early Childhood Education
Goal: My goal is to educate more people on campus on how we can decrease waste and what it means to be sustainable!
Tiana Schelble
She / Her
Sophomore
Major: International Studies with a concentration in health and environment
Goal: To significantly reduce the amount of plastic being used in food packaging at SUNY Cortland.