This month Bellevue College officially launches a new Office of Sustainability to fulfill the College’s commitment of a sustainable learning, working and living environment through the application of sustainable practices that guide decision making and the engage students, staff, faculty and the community. The Office is funded by the Student Environmental Sustainability Fund as well as grants and resource conservation savings. Joining Deric Gruen, Sustainability and Resource Conservation Manager, and Angela Hildre, Sustainability Curriculum Manager, is a group of hard working group of staff and students that will be part of the sustainability team for the 2012-2013 school year.
Here is a bit about each of the new members:
Program and Student Staff
Patrick Green, Program Coordinator
Patrick Green works as Program Coordinator for the Office of Sustainability. He provides project support for the Office as well as to students and staff engaged in sustainability efforts. He graduated from the University of Washington in 2012 with concurrent master’s degrees in Public Administration and Urban Design and Planning. He brings experience in infrastructure project management, strategic planning, community development, and performance measurement. Beyond the office, Patrick is an avid fly fisherman, cyclist, kayaker, and painter.
Zack Boucher, Transportation Coordinator
Zack Boucher is the new Transportation Programs Coordinator here at Bellevue College. Zack will actively be working around campus to promote alternate modes of transportation such as, biking, walking and bussing. Zack’s ultimate goal is to drastically reduce Bellevue College’s carbon emissions from students and staff driving themselves to and from campus. After taking a handful of years off from school to gather life experience Zack has returned with a revitalized energy and determination to do great things in class and on campus. Zack is very friendly and loves interacting with others so do not hesitate to reach out to him with questions or comments. In his spare time you can find Zack outside running, hiking, camping, skateboarding and generally playing any type of sport.
Elham Zaeri, Resource Accounting Coordinator
Elham Zaeri joined the sustainability team as a volunteer working on transportation issues at Bellevue College on October 2011. She continued her work as Transportation Coordinator during last academic year. Elham now serves as the Resource Accounting Coordinator. Originally from Iran, where she received her B.S in Civil Engineering and got experience in Cost Estimating, Elham now studies Paraprofessional Accounting in Bellevue College to help her husband on financial aspect of his construction and renovation company. Her professional career outside of Bellevue College includes volunteering as Operation Manager in Sunday school in Eastside Baha’i Center. During the tax season you can also find her in Bellevue Hopelink preparing tax documents for low income families. An important aspect of her life is family. She enjoys living in Bellevue with her husband, 3 year old daughter, and a baby-to-be.
Alex Clark, Communications Coordinator
Alex Clark is the Communications Coordinator for the Office of Sustainability. He works to promote and foster involvement in sustainable efforts on campus by networking with students, clubs, faculty, and staff. He is currently enrolled at Bellevue College seeking an associate’s degree in Botany. He is dedicated to making the campus more sustainable by getting people motivated and inspired to make change. Alex was born and raised in Washington and enjoys hiking, camping, gardening, and playing guitar outside of the office.
Project Staff
Chris LaRoche, BCRideMatch
Chris LaRoche joined Bellevue College in June of 2012 to help launch BCRideMatch and promote carpooling, alternative transportation and sustainability on campus. He received his MPA from the Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington in 2011, focusing his studies on climate change, community solutions to sustainability, water conservation, and decarbonizing the global economy. Previous to the Evans School, Chris worked for over ten years in public education as a teacher, coach, Spanish Language Assistant and Gang Intervention Specialist. Originally from Montana, he spends his spare time biking, kayaking, playing soccer and trying to turn his small Ballard shack into a model of zero-waste, carbon neutral off-grid living. He admits he has a long ways to go.
Suzanne Zitzer, STARS Assessment
Suzanne Zitzer is working on a special project with Bellevue College this summer, conducting a comprehensive assessment of sustainability on campus. She recently graduated with a Master of Public Administration degree from the Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington. She has BA degrees in History and German Studies from Whitman College. Professional highlights include researching Germany’s renewable energy policy on a Fulbright grant at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research in Leipzig, Germany and interning for former head of the German Green Party and Member of European Parliament Reinhard Buetikofer in Brussels, Belgium. A Puget Sound native, Suzanne is passionate about restoring and preserving the incredible ecosystems of the region. In her free time, Suzanne enjoys staying active through yoga, biking, hiking, weight training, and dancing, listening to live music, and spending ample time outdoors.
Last Updated September 25, 2014