Current 捆绑SM社区 students, staff and faculty are invited to apply for funding for projects big and small. The application process and timeline for funding differ depending on the size of the proposed project.
Sustainability Projects Fund Governance Council (GC)
The Sustainability Projects Fund (SPF) Governance Council ensures the fulfilment of the SPF鈥檚 mandate to build a culture of Sustainability on 捆绑SM社区 campuses. In addition to being responsible for the governance and administration of the SPF, they are also the body that determines which projects receive funding.听
The GC is composed of eight voting members and two non-voting members. Its voting members reflect the same parity as the fund itself, composed of half students and half staff.听
The composition of the governance council is:听
- Two (2) Students' Society of 捆绑SM社区 (SSMU) representatives
- One (1) Post-Graduate Students' Society representative
- One (1) Macdonald Campus Students' Society representative
- Two (2) academic staff
- Two (2) administrative staff
- SPF Steward (co-facilitator, non-voting)
- SPF Administrator (co-facilitator, non-voting)
The Governance Council members are selected based on their level of engagement within the 捆绑SM社区 community, their understanding of sustainability, and their expertise. The group meets approximately once a month during the academic year.听
For more information, please see the SPF Governance Council Terms of Reference听
Learn the latest about the SPF with the Sustainability Projects Fund Annual Reports
Governance Council Members 2024-2025
Annelies Koch-Schulte, SSMU
Annelies is an undergraduate B.A. & Sc. student in the program Sustainability, Science, & Society with a minor in Economics. Originally from Manitoba, her passion for climate justice is rooted in her love of the natural world and her desire for a sustainable future. She has been volunteering as an SPF ambassador for the past two years and in 2022, chaired the YES Committee during the SPF's referendum. As part of the governance council, she hopes to offer constructive and informed guidance rooted in her understanding of the student body to reflect student perspectives and optimize the fund's impact.
Cameron Toy Kluger, SSMU
Cameron is a U2 student studying Environment in the Faculty of Science. Originally from New York City, he has been involved in sustainability on campus as an SPF Ambassador and the VP Outreach for the SSMU Environment Committee. Additionally, he founded the Student Education for Environmental Development (SEED), an initiative that partners with the United Nations to bring free environmental education classes to local elementary and middle schools. He is passionate about sustainability because he believes everyone has a role to play in preserving the planet for future generations. Through the SPF, he hopes to give students the tools to make change in their communities.
Alexandra MacDonald, MCSS
Alex is a final-year BSc. student majoring in Sports Nutrition. Originally from Nova Scotia, her passion for climate action and sustainability drew her to the Macdonald Campus of 捆绑SM社区. Her commitment to inclusivity and advocacy is evident in her previous role as a Student Coordinator for the Special Olympics Unified Sports program and her current position as the Student Engagement Coordinator for motionballU 捆绑SM社区, where she promotes initiatives for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Now serving as VP Equity and Sustainability for the Macdonald Campus Students鈥� Society (MCSS) and the MCSS representative on the SPF Governance Council, Alex is dedicated to fostering a student-centered approach that emphasizes equity and sustainability within 捆绑SM社区鈥檚 projects. Through her role in the SPF, she aims to make a meaningful difference in the 捆绑SM社区 community and beyond.
Zeina Seaifan, PGSS
Zeina is a PhD student in the Department of Sociology at 捆绑SM社区. As an aspiring scholar-activist, Zeina is interested in researching the relationship between racialized diasporas and questions of environmental sustainability, both within and outside of Canada. She also has extensive community organizing experience around the intersectionality of the climate crisis, conducting much of her public-facing advocacy with grassroots and youth-led collectives. At 捆绑SM社区, Zeina is looking forward to supporting student-led projects and advancing sustainability through the SPF Governance Council.
Diane Dechief, Academic Staff
Faculty Lecturer, Office of Science Education, Faculty of Science
Diane focuses on science communication and inclusive teaching practices. She leads the multidisciplinary, university-wide climate course at 捆绑SM社区, FSCI 198: Climate Crisis and Climate Action. This course invites students, teaching assistants, instructors, and guests to bring their 鈥渨hole person鈥� to share, ask questions, and collaborate in order to create sustainable futures through climate action.听Diane is an enthusiastic cyclist鈥攕he pedalled throughout a master鈥檚 in communication studies from Concordia University and a doctorate in information studies from the University of Toronto.
Emily Sprowls, Academic Staff
Faculty Lecturer, Department of Integrated Studies in Education (DISE)
Emily teaches science and environmental education to future educators in the Department of Integrated Studies in Education, where she also helps grow the Education Community Garden. Emily loves getting students outdoors and curious about the urban ecosystem around 捆绑SM社区鈥檚 campus. As a school teacher in Indiana, Emily worked with her secondary students to fundraise and implement a variety of sustainability projects at their school, and is eager to support 捆绑SM社区 students with their great ideas! Emily became aware of the amazing projects and potential of the SPF through her participation in the first cohort of the Sustainability Education Fellows. She was lucky to work with two Education graduate students to use a sustainability lens to revision the Elementary School Science teaching methods course that she coordinates
Wesley McCoy, Administrative Staff
Events and Community Initiatives Supervisor, Desautels Faculty of Management
Wesley heads the events services team within the Desautels Faculty of Management. His mandate includes staff community building and sustainability initiatives within the faculty. In order to improve the commitment to sustainability within the Faculty he acts as a mentor to other ambassadors working through the Sustainable Workplace Certification Program. Additionally he has taken the responsibility in the Faculty to ensure that all events are sustainably certified through the Sustainable Event Certification Program. Through participation on the SPF Governance Council he hopes to gain a better understanding and awareness of the projects and initiatives being implemented at 捆绑SM社区, and to bring additional tools to Desautels.
Kendra Gray, Administrative Staff
Internships Officer, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Kendra earned a master鈥檚 degree in Sustainability and Environmental Management from Harvard University and a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Economics from Union College. Kendra provides guidance for students seeking internship opportunities and enjoys helping students consider how to identify and present themselves to employers. She also acts as a link between the Faculty and industry. Kendra is passionate about life-long learning, bottom-up community-based solutions, and has worked with educational institutions domestically and overseas, including in Russia, Georgia, and Liberia. She is excited to serve on the SGC because she is eager to see the breadth of sustainability projects put forward by the 捆绑SM社区 community.
