Director of Sustainability
Brandon M Hoover
Director of Sustainability
bhoover@messiah.edu (717)796-1800 Ext. 4785
My motto for work and service is that redemption is participatory, and requires us to work on redeeming both people and our places. For me the best way to do that is through a sustainability framework. In my unique role as the Director of Sustainability, I provide leadership to both the Office of Sustainability and the Sustainability Studies major, both of which cultivate an ethos of civic and ecological citizenship through experiential learning and institutional sustainability planning. Essentially this means my work has me all over campus, from working in the garden or managing composting efforts to teaching. I have a passion for educating students to become more engaged citizens, both socially and ecologically. My teaching and research focuses on community and urban development, with a particular focus on food systems, economic geography, local policy, and human-environment interactions.
Sustainability Program Coordinator
Student Sustainability Engagement Coordinator
Téa Parris
Student Sustainability Engagement Coordinator
sustainability@messiah.edu (717) 796-1800 X 4784
Téa is serving as the Engagement Coordinator in the Office of Sustainability this year. As a Senior Sustainability Studies major with minors in Environmental Science, Sociology and Anthropology, Téa decided to join the office this year! When asked about why she joined the office, she wrote, "It's good vibes! I love leanring more about how an educational institution works toward becoming more sustainable." Téa hopes to go onto a sustainability career, but if she weren't, she would open a drum club or be a wildflife photographer!
Waste Coordinator
Aleesa Wu
Waste Coordinator
sustainability@messiah.edu 717-796-1800 X 4784
Aleesa is a Senior Civil Engineering major with a minor in Chemistry. This is her third year as the Office of Sustainability's Waste Coordinator. Her tasks include educating the student body on how to reduce waste, composting, recycling tonal cartridges, and creating events for Campus Race to Zero Waste in the spring. A few examples of these events include Swap N Mend, Library BINGO, and Plant Give-Away. In her free time, she can be found outside on a walk, buying over-priced coffee, or watching a movie with friends.
Communication Coordinator
Hanna Ryon
Communication Coordinator
sustainability@messiah.edu 717-796-1800 X 4784
Hanna is serving as the Communications Coordinator in the Office of Sustainability this year. She is a senior Sustainability and Public Relations double major. She writes, “After learning more about the sustainability program here at Messiah and getting to know the staff in the office, I knew it would be a lighthearted environment to tackle some big challenges that our campus faces. I am very passionate about environmental education, and I hope to create inspirational content throughout the year!” Something that makes me unique is that I helped pass the bill to make the Eastern Hellbender the Pennsylvania state amphibian. Make sure to stop in the office and say hi to Hanna.
Biodiversity Coordinator
Hannah Martin
Biodiversity Coordinator
sustainability@messiah.edu 717-796-1800 X 4784
Hannah is a sophomore Biology major. As the new biodiversity coordinator, her tasks include maintaining Messiah’s forested areas, managing invasive species, and educating students on the importance of biodiversity. Hannah’s passion for biodiversity originates from the nearby Adirondack Mountains where she grew up. From 2019-2022 she worked as an employee with Robillard’s Plant City, a small family-owned greenhouse. If Hannah wasn’t tending to plants, you could find her leaving for weekend trips to Lake Placid in an attempt to become an ADK 46R. Hannah is grateful and excited for her opportunity to work in the sustainability office. Hannah often spends her time immersing herself in the beauty of nature, you can catch her spending time with friends, studying, or learning fun facts about invertebrates.
Grantham Community Garden Coordinator
Energy Coordinator
Connor Touhey
Energy Coordinator
sustainability@messiah.eddu 717-796-1800 x4784
Connor Touhey is a Senior Mechanical Engineering Major. As student energy coordinator, he assesses and provides input on the energy consumption and production on campus, as well as evaluating sources of renewable energy sources on campus. Connor spends a lot of time in Excel, but when not sitting at a computer he enjoys topics on transportation. Specifically micro mobility, such as bikes, e-bikes, scooters, and skateboards. On the macro level he loves discussion on the electric revolution happening in the automotive sector and encourages EV adoption as well as the expansion of EV charging infrastructure.