ECO Reps

Become an ECO Rep, APPLY NOW!  Are you a student resident at UM with a passion for the environment, or do you just want to have a positive impact on your peers and improve sustainability on your campus? Become an ECO Rep now! Start helping your fellow residents on environmental issues like waste reduction, energy and water conservation.

 

      

    

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  • ECO Rep Coordinator and Team 2025-26

    ECO Rep COORDINATOR 


    Diego Lopez Oranday - Chair
    "I am a junior international student from Monterrey, Mexico, pursuing a BS in Chemical Engineering with a passion for environmental protection. I am especially interested in air quality and aerosol technology, but sustainability is a main driver in both my professional and personal life. As a co-coordinator of the ECO REP program, I make sure that the team is always working towards creating a fully sustainable environment in the residential areas. Raising awareness among students and developing practical solutions to sustainability challenges are the two pillars of our operations."

     


    Sophia Fernandez - Co Chair 
    “Hi, my name is Sophia Fernandez! I am a sophomore from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, majoring in Marine Biology & Ecology and Ecosystem Science & Policy. I am passionate about promoting environmentally friendly lifestyles across campus, and as a Co-Coordinator for Eco Reps, I strive to inspire collaboration within our team and across campus to promote sustainability in creative and impactful ways. I look forward to working with our team to make the ‘Canes community a greener place.”

     

    TEAM

    University Village

    Ziara Pichardo

    My name is Ziara Pichardo and junior studying architectural engineering and minoring in sustainable development and geography. I am a second year participant of the eco agency and eco reps. I am extremely passionate about reducing waste and finding ways to reuse products for a functional solution to everyday issues.

    Hanna Christian

     

     Eaton

    Skyler Vallangeon

    Hi! I am Sky, your Eaton eco rep for this semester! Just a little bit about myself: I am a sophomore majoring in ecosystem science and policy with an anthropology minor on the pre-law track. I am super excited to educate more students on how to live a more sustainable lifestyle this semester! If you have any questions about our buildings sustainability efforts or anything in that realm feel free to contact me at sxr3848@miami.edu

     

     

    Erin Parrott

    Hi! My name is Erin Parrott and I'm a sophomore studying biology and minoring in Spanish on the premed track. I'm an eco rep for ERC and I'm really excited to be helping Eaton stay eco friendly! Not only am I big on sustainability, but I also love to travel and play/watch sports!

     

     

    Lakeside Village

    Jayda Holman

    Hi! I’m Jayda Holman and I’m a sophomore studying Marine Science / Geological sciences. I grew up in Space Coast Florida seeing the devastating effects of harmful algal blooms in my own hometown. One of the major causes of harmful algal blooms is fertilizer-contaminated run off water from excess fertilizer application to agricultural and suburban land. Investigating this through my high school’s science research program spurred my passion for education on more sustainable living practices. I’m especially interested in water pollution research and remediation. I’m super excited to create a tangible impact on campus this year!

     

    Maggie Padavan

    Hi! My name is Maggie Padavan, I am a sophomore from Long Island, New York majoring in Marine Biology & Ecology and double minoring in Ecosystem Science & Policy and Spanish. As an ECO Rep, I am looking forward to learning more about the sustainable resources we have in each of our residential colleges, and working with students in Lakeside Village to promote reducing their ecological footprint. I am very excited to share my knowledge on conservation and sustainability with my peers, and to do my part in making a greener campus!

     

    Morgan Parodi

    I’m a junior from Miami studying Biomedical Engineering. As a Housing and Residential Life (HRL) student employee, I’ve learned how to navigate the department to bring real change to students’ lives on campus. I look forward to being a bridge between ECO Reps and HRL so that our new initiatives are impactful! Beyond graduation, my goal is to bring sustainable changes to the medical research field.

     

     Mahoney and Pearson

    Scarlett Kiene

    Hey, I'm Scarlett Kiene and I'm excited to serve as one of your Mahoney/Pearson Eco Reps! I'm from Orlando, FL, and currently studying Marine Affairs and Anthropology. I've always been interested in human's interactions with the environment and different conservation efforts. One of my goals to work towards this year is minimizing energy waste in dorms and educating about the different ways to recycle on campus. I hope we can all work together to make a cleaner campus and learn how to live a greener lifestyle at UMiami. 

     

    Yordana Vasquez

    I am a freshman majoring in biology on the pre-med track. I'm Honduran, but born and raised in Miami, Florida. Fun fact, I hold respect as my biggest principle. It serves to guide me through life and translates into my daily interactions, including the environment. I believe our environment deserves more respect than it is given, and I'd like to make it a goal of mine as an ECO Rep to help myself and others treat our surroundings with more care and respect by practicing sustainability. Specifically, I'd like to make it as easy as possible for those in Mahoney-Pearson to be able to go about their daily lives while still implementing sustainable practices encouraged by the ECO Agency.

     

    Centennial Village

    Ashley Howe-Smith

    I am a freshman living in Ibis and I am majoring in marine biology and ecology and minoring in marine policy. I am from Doylestown, PA and I am so excited to join Eco Reps this year. Some goals that I have for the year are educating my peers more about sustainability practices. One thing I've noticed since moving in is that there are many people who aren't familiar with simple things they can do to be more sustainable, such as using less water and wasting less food. I think it would be a good idea to organize more tabling events and hang posters so that students are more knowledgeable about how they can live more sustainably.

     

    Rithika Lalia

     

  • ECO Rep Job Description

    Position Description & Requirements

    • Must be a UM student Resident.
    • Passionate about creating a sustainable environment within a residential college
    • Educate peers on ways to be more eco-friendly around campus
    • Work with other students on a flexible time frame to coordinate events and raise awareness
    • Meet with others in your building as well as the whole ECO Rep program to plan and discuss upcoming events
    • Benefits:
       
      • Hold a leadership position on campus
      • ECO reps are part of the Student Government ECO Agency
      • Great experience to become an RA and/or Student Government ECO Agency leader
      • Help build a sustainable future for UM
      • Be featured on the sustainability webpage
      • Receive a certificate of completion from the UM Office of Sustainability
      • Network with various departments at UM
      • Be trained in sustainability at UM
      • Have a lasting impact on UM’s housing environment

     

    ECO Rep Responsibilities

    • Create and host 2 events per semester in your building to promote awareness about sustainability on campus. Events can be anything from tabling in the lobby to movie screenings, organized outings, keynote to anything else you can think of! Carry out one uniform event (developed amongst entire team) within your building
    • Spend 1-2 hours per week working on various responsibilities (mostly tracking waste diversion programs available in HRL). The timing is flexible, so meetings and preparation can be done whenever it is most convenient for you and your building partners
    • Advertise upcoming ECO Agency-related events and encourage sustainable behaviors
    • Participate in events with other ECO Reps, like volunteer days and sustainability-related social outings
    • Optional subcommittee membership for involvement in larger-scale ECO Reps programs. Meetings once a week (virtual every other week)- *Meeting time decided beginning of year based on member availability

  • Residents Recycle Right at the U!

    For Recycling Instructions by Residence, CLICK HERE

     

    ECO Rep RECYCLING STATIONS
    located in each residential college lobby


    Paper bags for recycling - Plastic bag recycling - Alkaline batteries recycling

  • U Conserve Campaign

    Residents will make small but impactful changes to their living habits to try to achieve the highest percentage reduction and, of course, reducing their ecological footprint. Make sure you follow @sgecoagency for additional weekly tips. Visit the Green U Building Dashboard, and click on your residence hall to view its monthly data. 

    ECO Reps are launching an Energy and Water Saving contest, running from October 1 to October 31. Participate in the contest by downloading the Get Green app now!

    Residence Halls will be ranked by best performance: On Oct 31st, the one reducing the most energy consumption compared to September 2024 will win! Winners will be announced during the 3rd week of November. There will be mini cupcakes and sweet surprises for the winners!

    U CONSERVE OCTOBER CONTEST

    Results are in: The most energy efficient residence hall is UNIVERSITY VILLAGE! 

    You can view the changes in consumption
    from September to October on the
    Energy dashboard

    Special Kudos to Buildings 5 and 7!


    Here are 10 tips for our residence hall:

    • Set your thermostat to 74 instead of 72 
    • Send a full load of laundry instead of partial 
    • Use cold water when using the washing machine 
    • Try cold/lukewarm showers for the month of October 
    • Unplug devices when not in use (or use a smart plug/ timer chord )
    • Make sure you buy LED lights (especially strips) but still remember to turn lights off when not in use 
    • Close your curtains when you leave the apartment  
    • Shorten your showers (less than 5 min)
    • Take the stairs instead of the elevator 
    • Turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth or when washing dishes 

  • Get Green App

    Make sure to stop by at ECO Reps’ tables in your residential college during the month of October for giveaways and to learn about ways to reduce your residence’s consumption!

    Also, all Get Green app participants, students, faculty and staff can earn "leaves" by completing sustainable actions tracked in the app.

    Green Prizes:

    • 50 leaves: A reusable Harvest Straw Cutlery Set (includes a knife, fork, and spoon made from wheat straw).
    • 100 leaves: An eco-friendly tote bag.
    • 300 leaves: A Mini hydroponic garden

  • Sustainable Living at the U

  • ECO Rep Resources

    Resources

    Zero Waste Initiatives at the U

     

    HRL general Recycling sign:                         University Village Recycling Sign:
       

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