History

The Sustainability Leadership Group (SLG) is an opportunity designed specifically for sustainability-minded first-year students to gain leadership experience early on in their Wake Forest careers. The inaugural SLG team, SLG ’23, formed in the fall of 2019 and was composed of an eager group of first-year students who served as peer leaders in their respective residence halls. Now in its fifth year and with nearly 100 SLG alumni, the program has established itself as the premier leadership opportunity for new Deacs who share a passion for sustainability.


Mission

SLG’s mission is to develop students into impactful leaders who work together to spread a culture of sustainability throughout the first-year class at Wake Forest. This mission is achieved through three pillars: leadership development, education, and community building.


The Three Pillars of SLG

Leadership
SLG members develop leadership skills through workshops, guest speakers and panels, group discussions, and–most importantly–action. While the program sets the foundation for your development, you’re encouraged to take the next step on your own (with the team’s support, of course). Step out of your comfort zone, discover your leadership style, and gain first-hand experience in a culture where there are no failures, only opportunities to improve.

Education
No prior sustainability knowledge or experience is required! We take the time to bring you up to speed on the latest science on the climate crisis, sustainability at Wake, intersectional environmentalism, and the psychology behind social change efforts. Even if you already consider yourself a seasoned expert, you’re bound to learn something new. SLG is a great way to discover your passion and chart your path forward at Wake Forest.

Community
Through fun team bonding activities, collaborative meetings, interactive workshops, group outreach, and the occasional outdoor excursion, SLG members get to know each other pretty well! The sense of community we work hard to develop extends outside the group as well, as you’ll engage with other students, create sustainability-themed events, coordinate with campus leaders like RAs, and ultimately put together your own group project that makes a lasting impact on campus.


How It Works

We kick off SLG with a team retreat where members learn the basics and meet their teammates. SLG then meets weekly, where we focus on developing leadership skills, teaching each other about and discussing sustainability, and building community. In addition to team meetings, members work together to build community with the rest of the first-year class and work in teams to develop initiatives and projects that they execute on their own time. SLG team members have the opportunity to learn about and work on a variety of topics, including intersectional environmentalism and environmental justice, carbon reduction, waste minimization, environmental education, civic action, behavior change psychology, and more. We also have plenty of opportunities to have fun and bond with one another through (optional, but highly encouraged) movie nights, Campus Garden volunteer sessions, local hikes, and more! SLG is a group that truly belongs to its members; you get out of it as much as you put in.


Application Season

SLG members are selected through an application process that is made available to incoming first-year students each summer. All incoming first-year students are eligible, regardless of knowledge and experience. 


Working with SLG

Want to learn how you can work with SLG and be part of the sustainability transformation? Email Brian Cohen (cohenbj@wfu.edu) with questions and ideas.


Meet SLG ’27

Profile picture for Syed  Abdullah
Profile picture for Beatty  Cathey
Profile picture for Anna  Dickson
Profile picture for Dany Doughan
Profile picture for Sam  Helman
Profile picture for Hayley Irvine
Profile picture for Ahlanna-Nikole  Jackson
Profile picture for Claire Kroeger
Profile picture for Molly  Pan
Profile picture for Hongyun  Peng
Profile picture for Kayleigh Quinn
Profile picture for Owen  Sawyer
Profile picture for Aastha Shukla
Profile picture for Sierra Smith
Profile picture for Dominik  Srnensky
Profile picture for Justin  Yang

Meet Your SLG ’27 Coordinators

Profile picture for Brian Cohen
Profile picture for Juan Londono ('26)


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