Sustainability Leadership Group (SLG)

“I’m so excited to welcome the Class of 2027–and the future members of SLG ’27–to campus this fall! The Wake Forest Office of Sustainability is all about empowering leadership for the sustainability transformation, and that’s exactly what SLG does. Seeing students develop their skills, knowledge, and confidence while building a tight-knit community is what I find most rewarding about my job, and it’s something that never gets old. If you’re passionate about sustainability or even just mildly curious, I encourage you to apply. Have questions? Please don’t hesitate to reach out!”

“Having been part of SLG ’26, I loved getting to know and work with my group members throughout the year on different activities, discussions, and later on our projects. I truly believe that sustainability is the issue of our generation, and I’m very hopeful that we’ll be able to tackle it thanks to groups like SLG that create community around sustainability. I’m extremely excited to get to know the incoming SLG team, hear what they have to say about sustainability, get to work with them on their projects, and have lots of fun together throughout the year!”

“I found my time as a member of SLG ’25 to be one of the most meaningful experiences of my first year of college. I was constantly inspired by the work of my peers, and it was enlightening to be surrounded by a group of like-minded people who shared such a strong passion for sustainability and an appreciation for nature. SLG is a great way to gain leadership and communication skills that will carry over into other parts of your life, acquire insight into sustainability-related career paths, engage with other first-year students, and become more familiar with concepts such as social norming and sustainable behavior change, all while being surrounded by a vibrant and supportive community. I highly recommend all who are interested to apply!”

“My life long passion for insects and biodiversity made me want to join SLG. Our world’s environment is in dire need of increased sustainability in order to maintain life.”

“I’ve always been extremely passionate about the environment, so when I saw that there was a leadership group at Wake that supported first-years who loved sustainability as much as I did, it was a no-brainer to apply. I’ve seen the ways that young individuals such as myself have impacted those around me through education and I want to be able to do that for Wake Forest students as well.”

“The climate crisis is a pressing, time-sensitive issue that I have always been passionate about, and education is the first step in enacting change. Learning about sustainability and helping to educate others is of the utmost importance to me, and SLG creates a collaborative environment that encourages its members to make an impact. I decided to join because I hope to work towards making Wake a more sustainable place!”

“Growing up, I’ve always been passionate about the environment, especially marine ecosystems. SLG allows me to not only express my passion for environmentalism and sustainability but is shaping me into an impactful leader so that I can go on and make a difference in the future. My goal is to make an impact while I’m in SLG, as well as take what I’ve learned and combine it with my passion for research to learn new things about our environment and how we can help save it!”

“I joined SLG ’26 because I want to help make the Wake Forest community a more sustainable one. I was in a sustainability club in high school that was aimed at educating the surrounding community about the positive impacts of more sustainable practices and the negative effects of climate change. I would like to continue to help educate and take action this year!”

“I decided to join SLG because I wanted to take my passion for environmental science and use it to make a positive change in our community. What drives me to make an impact was the time I spent volunteering at a sea turtle hospital and seeing firsthand the impact we have on Earth’s ecosystems.”

“I decided to join SLG after seeing the impact environmental racism has made on Winston-Salem through work with community gardens in my area. My passion is educating people on the issues in Winston, such as the massive food deserts, but also showing off the amazing environmental community that surrounds our city.”

“I’m extremely grateful for my background in International Climate Justice Advocacy, but joined SLG ’26 to be able to have an impact on and deliver for my local Wake Forest University and Winston-Salem communities.”

“I’ve always viewed environmental studies through a national or global lens but rarely on what I can do. So I decided to bring my knowledge on topics such as environmental policy to the table and try to learn about personal sustainability.”

“I have grown up in a generation ready to impart change and solve world issues. I joined SLG ’26 to develop my knowledge of sustainability, improve my leadership skills, and meet some amazing people! I believe in equal access to resources and opportunities for everyone, and this is why I strive to positively affect the world around me. I’m looking forward to a fantastic year with SLG!”

“I decided to join SLG as it seemed like the best and most exciting way to develop the skill set needed to become both a leader and team player in the environmental field. I’ve developed a strong passion for the environment, specifically marine and textile sustainability, over the past few years and look forward to working with my peers at SLG this year!”

“I decided to join SLG ’26 because I am passionate about the environment. In high school, I did a lot of work with reducing food waste generated by the cafeteria. I wanted to continue doing similar work in college because of the rewarding experiences I had there. Additionally, I am excited to strengthen my leadership skills, especially in the area of environmental activism, so I can help promote more sustainable solutions to my peers.”

“I decided to join SLG so that I might make a meaningful effort to support my new community at Wake Forest, as well as make a substantial impact in my efforts to act and live sustainably. Growing up in Alabama, nature played a considerable role in my daily life, and the desire to preserve the environment in all respects remains with me.”

“Having grown up in Kentucky, my life has been shaped by my experiences in the mountains that surround me. Learning about the threats endangering the landscape that I had learned to love was the catalyst that drove me to explore environmentalism and my role in creating a more sustainable future.”

“I decided to join SLG ’26 because I am passionate about preserving and taking care of our environment for future generations. Intersectional Environmentalism in particular is important to me as I believe that social justice has an immense amount to do with prioritizing marginalized communities. Being a child of immigrants allows me to observe developing nations work towards sustainable development goals despite ongoing adversities, this inspires me to pursue similar goals at Wake!”