Our Team
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Staff
Dedee DeLongpré Johnston
VP for Human Resources and Sustainability, Chief Sustainability Officer
she/her/hers
Dedee DeLongpré Johnston is the Chief Sustainability Officer at Wake Forest University. She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Southern California with a concentration in entrepreneurial studies and a master’s of business administration with an emphasis in sustainable management from the Presidio Graduate School in San Francisco. She has over 20 years of experience in nonprofit management, primarily in the areas of education, sustainability, and the environment. Her past appointments include director of the University of Florida’s Office of Sustainability, where she was awarded the President’s Medallion, executive director of the non-profit organization Sustainable Alachua County, and US program director for Fauna and Flora International. DeLongpré Johnston served on the founding board of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education and now serves on the association’s advisory and editorial boards. She also currently serves on the board of directors for the Piedmont Environmental Alliance.
Lindsay Batchelor
Sustainability Director
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Lindsay Batchelor is the Sustainability Director at Wake Forest University. Lindsay joined the team with more than 17 years of institutional sustainability experience, having served most recently as Sustainability Director at NC State University, where she led collaborative efforts in climate action planning, academic integration, environmental justice, waste reduction and recycling, and the development of the ACC Sports Sustainability Team. She received a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies, with a concentration in ecology from UNC Asheville. As Sustainability Director at Wake Forest, Lindsay will serve as the lead campus resource on the integration of sustainability-centered solutions into campus operations and culture. Her responsibilities will include supporting the university in reaching the goals articulated in the 2020 strategic plan, including climate action planning.
Brian Cohen
Assistant Director, Sustainability Engagement
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Brian Cohen is the Assistant Director for Sustainability Engagement. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Bucknell University and a Master of Environmental Management degree from Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment. Prior to joining Wake Forest in 2016 as Program Coordinator, Cohen worked in higher education for the previous five years as an assistant tennis coach at Old Dominion University and Washington & Lee University, while also becoming involved in campus sustainability. He helped introduce a number of environmental initiatives to the athletic departments at both schools and served as the Athletic Department Liaison for Environmental Initiatives at W&L. In addition, Cohen has multiple years of environmental conservation experience with two nonprofits: SeaWeb and the Ocean Conservancy. He enjoys working with students, faculty, and staff who share a passion for sustainability, even if they have yet to discover it.
Nathan Peifer
Campus as Lab Program Coordinator
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Nathan Peifer is the Campus as Lab Program Coordinator and the WFU Campus Garden Manager. He gained a master’s of divinity degree from the Wake Forest University School of Divinity in 2013, and enjoyed a WFU Campus Garden internship in the summer of 2012. After graduation, Peifer earned a Certificate in Sustainable Agriculture from Central Carolina Community College and worked on several small, organic farms. Peifer served as a Christian Educator in the Presbyterian Church (USA) prior to his professional pursuits in agriculture and sustainability. He holds a bachelor’s degree in American studies from the Pennsylvania State University. Peifer resides in Forsyth County and supports community garden initiatives and the local food movement.
Catherine Mizzi-Orrell
Communication & Events Specialist
BA in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Minors: Health & Human Services/Theatre
she/they
mizzicm@nullwfu.edu
Kim Couch
Budget and Administrative Coordinator
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Kim Couch is the Budget and Administrative Coordinator for the Office of Sustainability and the Center for Energy, Environment and Sustainability (CEES). She graduated from Salem College in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in mathematics. She joined the staff of WFU in May 2015.
2022 – 2023 Intern Team
Our interns play a key role in Wake Forest’s sustainability operations, initiatives, and events. They are peer-to-peer educators. They are trained design thinkers. Most importantly, they are leaders.
Learn about the current members of our intern team below.
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Interns
Molly Anderson (’23)
Waste Reduction & Diversion Intern
Majors: Environmental Science/Economics
she/her/hers
Hometown: Fort Mill, SC
Fun Fact: I have an identical twin sister who goes to Clemson University.
My biggest passion is sustainable development. Environmental responsibility is something that my parents taught me from a young age, and I have worked hard to incorporate sustainability into everyday aspects of my life and my work. One of my most impactful environmental experiences was developing fishing advisory signs for the Catawba Riverkeepers in my hometown of Charlotte, NC. Through that experience, I was able to recognize the importance of persistence and drive in being a change agent, and have since pushed myself to incorporate my passions for climate change reduction and resource management into my work and extracurriculars.
I am excited to gain transferable skills in Waste Management that I will hopefully translate to a future career in corporate sustainability. Particularly, I am excited to learn more about and become more involved in the recycling programs on campus.
Katie Bullock (’23)
Outdoor Learning Spaces Intern
Major: English Minor: Anthropology/Schools, Education, & Society
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Hometown: Kansas City, MO
Fun Fact: My two favorite food groups are mac n’ cheese and ice cream.
I am passionate about engaging others with the outdoors and land we live on so as to shape a society that understands the incredible beauty and value of the world around us and our relationship with Earth.
I am looking forward to learning from the Three Sisters and Tohi gardens and sharing that knowledge and experience with others.
Gretchen Castolle (’23)
Sustainability & the Arts Intern
Major: Environmental science Minors: Anthropology/Dance
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Hometown: Oakboro, NC
Fun Fact: I spent the summer marking, relocating, and taking inventory of sea turtle nests on barrier islands in South Carolina!
I am most interested in the interconnectedness of the human-nature relationship and how human interference affects aspects of the environment on different scales. For example, I’m interested in how coastal development affects local tidal pools as well as how it affects migrating birds that stop on beaches on their journeys north or south. My goal is to continue repairing the human-nature relationship so that it is more about balance than about exploitation.
As an environmental science major and a dance minor who is also invested in theatre, I spend much of my time thinking about the human-nature relationship and communicating through the arts. I could not be more excited to merge my two passions in the Sustainability and the Arts internship. My goals for this position are to continue to bridge the artistic and scientific communities, encourage sustainability in the arts departments, and use the arts to bring attention to environmental issues.
Sophie Eldridge (’25)
First-Year Leadership Intern
Majors: Biology/Politics & International Affairs Minor: Environmental Science
she/her/hers
Hometown: Boca Raton, FL
Fun Fact: Thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail is at the top of my bucket-list!
I am particularly passionate about reducing food waste, ditching single-use products, and educating others on the ways in which they can reduce their carbon footprint.
I am most looking forward to providing guidance, support, and building community among the new class of first-year students. I hope to inspire my peers to forge their own path at Wake and create a space where they can develop meaningful projects to build upon the culture of sustainability on campus. I am also eager to collaborate with and learn from the diverse group interns while working with them on a variety of environmental programs and initiatives this upcoming year!
Lila Gneiting (’24)
Campus Garden Intern
Major: Economics Minor: Latin American Studies
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Hometown: Walden, NY
Fun Fact: I lived in England for seven years.
I am particularly passionate about how sustainability can create a more equitable society for everybody.
I am looking forward to working alongside my fellow wake students to grow beautiful plants, share sustainability enthusiasm, and nurture the chickens.
Lily Miller (’23)
Athletics Waste Reduction & Diversion Intern
Major: Biology (BA) Minors: Anthropology/Environmental Studies
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Hometown: New Orleans, LA
Fun Fact: I’m currently working on getting my boating license!
I hope to go into environmental law so learning about sustainability is crucial for future regulations/ enforcement.
I can’t wait to learn more about recycling and composting and meeting all the other interns, as well!
Aidan Norris (’25)
Athletics Waste Reduction & Diversion Intern
Major: Engineering Minors: Philosophy/Physics
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Hometown: I grew up around the world!
Fun Fact: I am terrified and fascinated by snakes and have too many stories of my encounters with them.
I hope to work in sustainable development in rural areas of the developing world. Having spent a lot of my formative years living in East Africa, I am interested in how sustainable water production and electricity generation can benefit both the communities and environment in rural areas of great ecological significance.
I am looking forward to interacting with people about sustainability and making a difference in cleaning up the environment. I also look forward to learning more about waste management strategies that I can incorporate into my career after college.
Olivia Page (’24)
Social Media & Graphic Design Intern
Major: Business and Enterprise Management Minors: Psychology/Studio Art
she/her/hers
Hometown: Mountain View, CA
Fun Fact: I have four dogs!
I hope to incorporate sustainability into my future career in the business world. Large corporations have the means to make a massive impact on our climate, and I would love to help them do so.
I am looking forward to getting back into my passion for art and graphic design. Other than my minor, I have found little time to focus on art. I think this will be a great opportunity for me to get in touch with my creative side while working on an important cause.
Molly Pluta (’25)
Sustainable Dining: Engagement Intern
Major (intended): Environmental Science/Sociology Minor (intended): Health Policy & Administration
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Homtown: Chappaqua, NY
Fun Fact: I worked on a farm last summer!
I’m really passionate about getting people interested in sustainability. I find that a lot of the conversations surrounding environmentalism involve generating shame and fear, but I believe that fostering excitement about sustainability is a much more compelling way to get people to care. More specifically, I want learn about ways to make food systems more sustainable yet still effective in feeding Earth’s growing population, ranging from implementation of sustainable agricultural practices at production to the promotion of plant-forward dining on the consumption side.
I’m looking forward to showing Wake students that living more sustainably doesn’t have to be daunting or all-consuming, and that a plant-forward diet is a really accessible way to support environmental health. I’m also excited to work with other the interns and spark conversations about sustainability among Wake students.
Meredith Power (’23)
Sustainable Student Engagement Intern
Majors: Environmental Studies/Communication Minor: Psychology
she/her/hers
Hometown: Hillsborough, CA
Fun Fact: I love to bike!
Because I have been surrounded by so many sustainability-minded people throughout my time at Wake, I want to continue to work in spaces with others that have the same passion for concrete change.
I’m excited to come back in my third year as an Office of Sustainability intern! I really felt like the intern program has helped me develop my leadership skills, boost my confidence, and make an impact on campus. I am so grateful for the sustainability community on campus!
Charlotte Ramirez (’23)
Alternative Transportation Intern
Major: Environmental Science Minors: Art History/Writing/Politics & International Affairs
she/her/hers
Hometown: Marietta, GA
Fun Fact: I have an identical twin sister!
I’m currently planning on going into environmental law, and I think the principles of sustainability majorly intersects with environmental issues.
I’m looking forward to learning and growing as a leader as well as working with Wake’s transportation department.
Roxie Ray (’23)
Sustainable Clothing & Style Intern
Major: Anthropology Minors: Biology/Chemistry
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Hometown: Maryville, TN
Fun Fact: I used to have an internet famous frog.
I’m passionate about fusing the anthropological with the environmental and recentering humans within the environment. I’m particularly interested in facets of culture, namely fashion, that should become more sustainability focused.
I’m looking forward to working with the other interns as well as other student groups around campus to create a culture of sustainability across every branch of campus life.
Harper Shanly (’25)
Campus Garden Intern
Major: Environmental Science Minor: Interdisciplinary Humanities
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Hometown: Blowing Rock, NC
Fun Fact: I have a Navy Blue Subaru Outback Stick Shift named Maurice, who has insanely efficient gas mileage.
I am incredibly passionate about sustainability virtue ethics, sustainable/regenerative agriculture, environmental preservation, and food waste management.
I am most looking forward to creating interpersonal relationships with everyone who comes to the campus gardens while learning and working among them.
Janelle Wargo (’23)
Energy: Carbon Data Intern
Major: Engineering (Concentration in Civil and Environmental) Minors: Mathematics/Physics
she/her/hers
Hometown: Easton,
Fun Fact: I have lived in 6 states!
I am particularly passionate about how energy efficiency can be maximized in different systems. By using less energy (instead of an excess of energy) we will be able to minimize costs, conserve natural resources, and brainstorm new energy saving solutions. In the future, I plan to go to graduate school in environmental engineering.
I am looking forward to being a part of the journey for Wake Forest to get to carbon neutrality by 2040! I can’t wait to analyze and report Wake’s greenhouse gas footprint.
Abby Wilder (’23)
Energy: Buildings Data Intern
Majors: Biology/Psychology
she/her/hers
Hometown: New Rochelle, NY
Fun Fact: I have been to almost every baseball stadium in the country!
One area of sustainability that I am really passionate about is sustainable energy. I believe that green energy is the way of the future and I love learning about and exploring new options for the ways in which we can reduce and resource our energy usage.
I am looking forward to be working with the Office of Sustainability again this year and to focus my passion for sustainability into a new, data-driven area. I am excited to be working with such a large group of like-minded individuals and forming a sustainability community on Wake Forest’s campus!
Una Wilson (’24)
Communication & Events Intern
Major: Biology Minors: Journalism/Environmental Studies
she/her/hers
Hometown: Winston-Salem, NC
Fun Fact: I once fell off a cliff (and lived to tell the tale)!
I hope to incorporate environmental education into my career in science.
I am most looking forward to connecting with other interns and members of the Office of Sustainability to create inclusive, interdisciplinary events.
Quin Wolters (’23)
Sustainable Dining: Carbon Reduction Intern
Major: Mathematical Economics Minor: Environmental Studies
she/her/hers
Hometown: Darien, CT
Fun Fact: I spent my junior year abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark where I enjoyed exploring the city and learning about the Danish approach to sustainability.
I am particularly interested in the impact of business and economic activities on the environment and exploring alternative solutions to current harmful practices. I am hoping to expand environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives through my career, whether through consulting or within a company itself. I believe corporations have the opportunity to rewrite the narrative of their purpose being solely for profit, to instead consider more holistic solutions that achieve success for all stakeholders. In that regard, I want to help companies recognize their environmental and social impact and determine how their products and/or services create value for all stakeholders, especially the regeneration of the environment and its ecosystems.
I am looking forward to working with individuals of varying backgrounds and expertise, and having candid conversations to achieve long lasting initiatives for Wake Forest. I am excited to explore Wake’s current approaches to sustainable food production and how our present energy and water conservation mechanisms compare to relevant neighboring institutions. I want to make a contribution to Wake’s sustainability efforts, aiding in the creation of an atmosphere that inspires students to lead healthier and more environmentally conscious lifestyles. Further, I hope to gain perspective on sustainability issues facing not only Wake Forest, but of institutions and systems all over so that I can serve my future communities in the most productive way possible.