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The Peers Network educates and empowers members of the Auburn family to lead and connect the campus community in cohesive efforts toward sustainability.

Employee Ambassadors, who champion sustainability, represent units across the university. The Office of Sustainability trains the Ambassadors to affect change, and then this network of changemakers works in their respective areas to help Auburn University achieve its sustainability goals, particularly in relation to the university’s day-to-day operations.

Get to Know the Ambassadors

We’re excited to have the passion and leadership of the following people in the Peers Network.  If one of the listed Ambassadors represents your unit on campus, please don’t hesitate to reach out to them concerning topics and issues related to sustainability.  They have volunteered to be a contact and champion for sustainability within their units, and can definitely help steer you in the right direction to find answers and solutions.  If you don’t find your unit represented below, please contact our office for assistance.

Photo of Maiben Beard

Maiben Beard

Unit –  College of Liberal Arts
Subunit –  Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities

How long have you worked at Auburn?

  • 9 Years

What is your favorite part of your job?

  • Traveling around the state and meeting new people.

What do you hope to accomplish through the Peers Network?

  • I hope to learn new ways to affect change within my unit and broader community.

What personal hobbies do you enjoy in your free time?

  • Reading, gardening, and playing board games.
Sustainability Compass Icon

Teri Briggs

Unit –  College of Sciences and Mathematics
Subunit –  Donald E. Davis Arboretum

How long have you worked at Auburn?

  • 8 Years

What is your favorite part of your job?

  • The ability to work outdoors.

What do you hope to accomplish through the Peers Network?

  • To meet others that have the same interest in sustainability and to get a better understanding of the Office of Sustainability

What personal hobbies do you enjoy in your free time?

  • Listening to live music, enjoying the company of good friends and great cheese.
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Delaney Bullinger

Unit –  Auburn University Libraries
Subunit –  Instruction & Information Literacy

How long have you worked at Auburn?

  • 1 Year

What is your favorite part of your job?

  • Teaching–seeing the connection when students understand how the library can help with their research. It’s a light-bulb moment!

What do you hope to accomplish through the Peers Network?

  • Make sustainability a more prominent focus in the library, and to have my coworkers and library patrons see how small changes can make a big difference.

What personal hobbies do you enjoy in your free time?

  • Cross-stitch, reading (of course), playing board games, and Pokemon GO.
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Karen Cochran

Unit –  Raymond J. Harbert College of Business
Subunit –  Department of Finance

How long have you worked at Auburn?

  • 10+ Years

What is your favorite part of your job?

  • Meeting people and developing relationships.

What do you hope to accomplish through the Peers Network?

  • Promote sustainable relationships with people and varied resources

What personal hobbies do you enjoy in your free time?

  • Scrapbooking, card making, gardening, and family life.
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Michael Freeman

Unit –  Risk Management & Safety
Subunit –  Environmental Health & Safety

How long have you worked at Auburn?

  • 11 Years

What is your favorite part of your job?

  • Working with other departments on campus to advance the Auburn mission.

What do you hope to accomplish through the Peers Network?

  • Help Auburn become a more sustainable campus for others to emulate.

What personal hobbies do you enjoy in your free time?

  • Competitive Bass Fishing, Water Quality Advocacy, Conservation, AU Athletics
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Caroline Leonard

Unit –  Graduate School

How long have you worked at Auburn?

  • 6 Years

What is your favorite part of your job?

  • My favorite parts of my job are helping students with questions regarding transfer coursework and data entry.

What do you hope to accomplish through the Peers Network?

  • Through the Peers Network, I hope to learn more about sustainability efforts across campus and different ways to contribute individually and as a group.

What personal hobbies do you enjoy in your free time?

  • In my free time, I enjoy watching movies and t.v. shows with my friends and family (including my two cats)! I also enjoy riding my bike.
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Steven Nelson

Unit –  Risk Management & Safety

How long have you worked at Auburn?

  • 16 Years

What is your favorite part of your job?

  • As part of the Department of Risk Management and Safety I have the opportunity to build and contribute to programs which improve the safety and health of university environment.

What do you hope to accomplish through the Peers Network?

  • I hope to build the foundation for a “Green Labs” program at AU.

What personal hobbies do you enjoy in your free time?

  • Gardening, Camping, and Hiking.
Shelly Nemeroff

Shelly Nemeroff

Unit –  Office of Development
Subunit –  College of Architecture, Design, & Construction

How long have you worked at Auburn?

  • 12 Years

What is your favorite part of your job?

  • Helping the Office of Development achieve and surpass our goals.

What do you hope to accomplish through the Peers Network?

  • Helping others realize the importance of sustainability in all aspects of our lives.

What personal hobbies do you enjoy in your free time?

  • Yoga, reading, spending time with my family, riding bikes and hiking.
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Hayford Nsiah

Unit –  College of Liberal Arts
Subunit –  Department of Political Science

How long have you worked at Auburn?

  • 1 Year

What is your favorite part of your job?

  • Teaching and mentoring students.

What do you hope to accomplish through the Peers Network?

  • To support the Peers Network to achieve it mission of educating and empowering members of the Auburn family to lead and connect the campus community in cohesive efforts toward sustainability.

What personal hobbies do you enjoy in your free time?

  • Playing soccer and reading Christian literatures.
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Ana Plana

Unit –  College of Human Sciences
Subunit – Nutrition, Dietetics, & Hospitality Management

How long have you worked at Auburn?

  • Less than 1 year

What is your favorite part of your job?

  • Engaging with the student.

What do you hope to accomplish through the Peers Network?

  • To learn new skills and improve my efforts in sustainability in our community.

What personal hobbies do you enjoy in your free time?

  • Learning about wine, traveling and cooking.
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Mike Stover

Unit –  Raymond J. Harbert College of Business
Subunit – Office of Professional & Career Development

How long have you worked at Auburn?

  • 5 Years

What is your favorite part of your job?

  • Helping students connect with employers and find their ideal job or internship.

What do you hope to accomplish through the Peers Network?

  • I hope to be a resource for my colleagues to learn about and implement more sustainable practices both at work and outside the office.

What personal hobbies do you enjoy in your free time?

  • Travel, spending time with friends and family (and our many pets), being outdoors, and any spontaneous fun we can find.
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Giovanna Summerfield

Unit –  College of Liberal Arts

How long have you worked at Auburn?

  • 15 Years

What is your favorite part of your job?

  • Students

What do you hope to accomplish through the Peers Network?

  • Advance sustainability goals on campus.

What personal hobbies do you enjoy in your free time?

  • Reading, writing, photography, and travel.
Claire Wilson

Claire Wilson

Unit –  Office of University Outreach/University Libraries
Subunit – Encyclopedia of Alabama

How long have you worked at Auburn?

  • 11 Years

What is your favorite part of your job?

  • Learning new things about the world.

What do you hope to accomplish through the Peers Network?

  • I hope to foster and broaden a commitment to creating an ethos of sustainability on the AU campus

What personal hobbies do you enjoy in your free time?

  • Gardening, hiking, watching films, and traveling.

Former Peers Ambassadors

We’re excited to have had the opportunity to work with the following people during their time as Peers Ambassadors.  Prior to their retirement or switching positions, they served with passion and dedication, and their efforts contributed to a more sustainable Auburn.  We’re grateful for their time and energy!

Amber Denham

Amber Denham

Unit –  Samuel Ginn College of Engineering
Subunit –  Department of Biosystems Engineering

How long have you worked at Auburn?

  • 1 year

What is your favorite part of your job?

  • Working on campus and interacting with students.

What do you hope to accomplish through the Peers Network?

  • I hope to bring further attention to sustainability efforts in my department and campus-wide. I also look forward to meeting and working with others outside of my department.

What personal hobbies do you enjoy in your free time?

  • Hiking with my dog and following Auburn athletics.
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Priscella “Prissy” Goodson

Unit –  Samuel Ginn College of Engineering
Subunit –  Department of Aerospace Engineering

How long have you worked at Auburn?

  • 6 Years

What is your favorite part of your job?

  • Getting to meet new people.

What do you hope to accomplish through the Peers Network?

  • Help others and make our community a better place in the process.

What personal hobbies do you enjoy in your free time?

  • Spending time with my family & friends, teaching Children’s Church, camping, and crafts.
Photo of John Kush

John Kush

Unit –  College of Forestry, Wildlife & Environment

How long have you worked at Auburn?

  • 33 Years

What is your favorite part of your job?

  • Interacting with students and educating the public about ecological issues associated with forestry and prescribed fires.

What do you hope to accomplish through the Peers Network?

  • Learn more about sustainability, make others aware of the many issues with the topic, and organize an activity or two to do something positive for the campus.

What personal hobbies do you enjoy in your free time?

  • Travel, cooking, and gardening.
Ken Thomas

Ken Thomas

Unit –  Undergraduate Studies
Subunit – Honors College

How long have you worked at Auburn?

  • 7 Years

What is your favorite part of your job?

  • Getting to work directly with undergraduate students on a daily basis.

What do you hope to accomplish through the Peers Network?

  • A deeper understanding of sustainability assessments and metrics.

What personal hobbies do you enjoy in your free time?

  • Reading non-fiction that is not work related especially global current events.

What Do the Ambassadors Do?

Peers Network Ambassadors serve as liaisons between the Office of Sustainability and the functional unit they represent for a minimum of 2 years.

Their main responsibilities include:

  • Communicating with their unit and the Office of Sustainability on sustainability topics, goals, and concerns;
  • Attending 3 foundational training sessions during the first year of involvement;
  • Attending a minimum of 3 gatherings per academic year. Ambassadors may choose to bring a guest as a way to help extend the network;
  • Assessing needs and setting goals with their unit related to the program;
  • Implementing at least one change initiative in their unit during the two-year commitment. This begins with a one-on-one strategy meeting with the Office of Sustainability staff and a student staff member, who will continue working closely with the Ambassador throughout the change process; and
  • Coordinating the activities, resources, and services needed to achieve goals.
  • Participating in the Battery Recycling Program by hosting a bucket.

In addition, Ambassadors are expected to sign up for the Auburn Sustainability Digest, actively communicate within the Peers Network through the Yammer communication platform, and contribute to program evaluation efforts.

SUPPORT PROVIDED

Office of Sustainability staff will provide direct support for the Peers Network Ambassadors by:

  • Providing foundational training on key aspects and concepts of sustainability, including how to create lasting changes;
  • Hosting and facilitating the gatherings;
  • Creating outreach campaign materials — including timelines, posters, videos, etc.;
  • Conducting a unit site visit to help identify opportunities for improvement;
  • Assisting in researching potential solutions to identified opportunities;
  • Getting product samples; and
  • Connecting to key campus units that can help with sustainability goals.

In addition, each Peers Ambassador will be paired with an Office of Sustainability student staff member to work with over the course of the year.  The student will serve as the Office Liaison and will touch base with the Ambassador on a regular basis to check on progress and see how they or the Office can be of additional assistance to the Ambassador.  Ultimately, the Office of Sustainability commits to providing direct, individualized support to the Peers Network Ambassadors to ensure their success.

Interested in Becoming an Ambassador?

LEARN MORE

If you’re interested in learning more about the Peers Network program, you can reach out to your unit’s Ambassador, join your Ambassador as a guest for a gathering , or contact our office directly.

BEFORE YOU APPLY

While any employee may apply to become an Ambassador, the nature of the program and associated responsibilities align particularly well with job functions of staff/A&P employees.  That being said, we’re happy to have anyone apply!

Active participation by Ambassadors in Peers Network trainings and gatherings will be critical to ensuring success for sustainability efforts at Auburn, along with helping to weave together a strong network of changemakers. As a result, we require all Ambassadors to attend the 3 foundational trainings during the first year in the program, along with attending at least 4 gatherings during each academic year.

Therefore, we recommend assessing your availability for the 3 trainings, and at least some of the gatherings prior to applying.  If you find your schedule already conflicts with training dates, please go ahead and still complete an application, making sure to note in the appropriate space what conflicts you may have.  The 2019-20 and 2020-21 dates have been listed below for your convenience.

Given participation in the program will involve a commitment of time and effort, official designation as a Peers Network Ambassador will require the support of the Ambassador’s direct supervisor. As such, it’s suggested applicants discuss participation with their supervisors prior to applying to ensure adequate support. If additional information or direct support should be needed at this phase, please reach out to our office.

Foundational training sessions will be held on the following dates and likely be held during morning work:

  • Thursday, September 19, 2019
  • Wednesday, November 13, 2019
  • Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Gatherings will take place either over the official university lunch hour or during the last hour of the workday.

2019-20 gatherings will be held:

    • Wednesday, August 21 –  4:30pm-6:30pm (Sustainability Picnic)
    • Tuesday, October 8
    • November, TBD – 7pm-9pm (Sustainability Film Series)
    • Wednesday, December 11
    • Thursday, February 6 – 6pm (Sustainability Speaker Series)
    • Tuesday, March 3
    • Wednesday, April 22

2020-21 gatherings will be held:

    • Welcome Week –  4:30pm-6:30pm (Sustainability Picnic)
    • Tuesday, September 15
    • Thursday, October 15
    • November, TBD – 7pm-9pm (Sustainability Film Series)
    • Tuesday, January 12
    • February, TBD – (Sustainability Speaker Series)
    • Thursday, March 25
    • Wednesday, April 21 – 3:30pm-4:45pm (Spirit of Sustainability Awards)

HOW TO APPLY

You can apply to be a Peers Ambassador between May 1st and August 15th. Prior to applying, the applicant should discuss participation with their supervisor to ensure departmental support. If you would like for us to reach out to you when the application period opens, please complete our Peers Network Interest Form. If you have computer-based accessibility needs, we kindly request you please reach out to our office to begin the application process.

NEXT STEPS

After being accepted into the program, applicants will need to complete the following tasks to become an official Ambassador.

  • Meet with your supervisor and Office of the Sustainability staff to sign the Memorandum of Understanding.
  • Fill out the Ambassador Profile Form.
  • Sign up for the Auburn Sustainability Digest.
  • Add the foundational training sessions to your calendar.
Logo for the Auburn University Battery Recycling Program

The expansion of the Auburn University Battery Recycling Program came about due to the efforts the Peers Network Ambassadors.