
TEAM
Meet the people that make our work possible.

Chris Herr
he/him/his
Director of Sustainability
Chris's role is to facilitate programs and projects that reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, conserve water, encourage alternative forms of transportation, create educational opportunities for the student body, and otherwise conserve our resources. Chris works with student groups and individuals that have ideas on how we can make the Auraria Campus more sustainable.

Cassy Cadwallader
she/her/hers
Sustainability Coordinator
Cassy’s role is to develop and execute a robust Education and Outreach plan, assist the Director of Sustainability with annual Greenhouse Gas Inventory requirements, manage and develop the student employees, facilitate opportunities for further student involvement, and otherwise expand the capacity of the Auraria Sustainable Campus Program (ASCP). Her position will also play a role in project research, various areas of strategic planning, and in developing proposals. In her spare time she also Chair’s the AHEC Diversity Equity and Inclusion Community Coalition and serves as an AHEC representative on the Auraria Campus Police Department Community Advisory Board.

Rylee McCone
she/her/hers and they/them/their
Waste Diversion Specialist
Rylee focuses on waste diversion efforts through projects such as the Green Office Program and Compost Expansion. She helps the campus sustainability continue to grow by tracking and assessing data around waste diversion and campus emissions to find ways to reach ASCP’s goal of a 35% diversion rate by 2024 and lessen our environmental impact on as many fronts as possible. By collaborating with EcoReps, event staff, campus faculty, and our marketing team, Rylee is able to create and implement projects and educational events that add to a campus-wide effort towards a more eco-friendly and earth-conscious institution. Rylee is a strong believer in collaboration and the power of leading by example. She looks forward to engaging as many people as possible to work toward a common goal of making the Auraria campus a spearhead in environmentalism and creating a domino effect that radiates outward, encouraging sustainable mindsets and a sense of stewardship in every individual.

Girija Kulkarni
she/her/hers
Graduate Assistant - Marketing
Girija is a Master’s Student in Environmental Sciences at CU Denver. She is the Graduate Assistant at ASCP and specializes in community outreach centered on environmental justice and sustainability. Her passion for animal rights and environmental justice led her to focus on spreading awareness on sustainable living through an understanding of global ecology. In her free time, Girija teaches Bollywood dance classes at the Student Wellness Center, wrangles horses, and spends time with her two wonderful dogs. She hopes to combine her knowledge of ecology, evolutionary biology, and business administration to inspire an environmentally conscious future.

Amanda Dian
she/her/hers
Graduate Assistant - Waste Diversion
Amanda is a Master’s Student in the Accelerated Master of Public Administration Program at CU Denver. She received her undergraduate degree in Environmental Policy and Planning from the University of Iowa. She is currently the Graduate Assistant for the Waste Diversion Department at ASCP and specializes in the Green Offices Program, Share Meals, and campus Green Events. Amanda hopes to continue working in higher education sustainability and promote sustainability initiatives throughout campuses nationwide. Outside of work, she loves hiking, spending time outdoors, attending concerts, and traveling.

Evan Pierpont
he/him/his
Student Associate - Marketing
Evan is an undergraduate student at MSU Denver obtaining his B.S. in Sustainable Systems Engineering. He intends to create more sustainable solutions whether that’s transportation infrastructure, services, products, or buildings. He serves as a marketing specialist within the ASCP, maintaining this website and creating in-house assets for the team. He is also responsible for on-campus collaborations with student clubs and organizations. He enjoys servicing and building computers, playing video games, and watching movies on his free time.

Maya Pojar
she/her/hers
Student Associate - Marketing
Maya is an undergraduate student at MSU Denver. There, she is pursuing a major in public relations and a minor in sustainability studies. She serves as a Marketing Student Associate at the ASCP, specializing in Communications and Logistics. She is motivated to make a difference in social causes as a public relations professional. During her free time, she enjoys hiking, cooking exciting dishes, attending concerts, spending time with her family/pets and traveling the world.

Lucy Harger
she/her/hers
Student Associate - Marketing
Lucy is an undergraduate student at MSU Denver obtaining a B.A. in Biology and a Minor in Studio Arts. She hopes to study botany to find creative ways to incorporate plants into urban environments for a more sustainable and enjoyable environment and ecosystem. She works as the graphic design artist within the ASCP, focusing on getting the word out about our events, information, and current efforts to make campus a more sustainable community. She also helps to manage campus events with a focus on education and outreach through our media outlets. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, camping, and making art in her free time.

Lauren Hart
she/her/hers
Student Associate - Marketing
Lauren is currently an undergraduate student at UCD, working on her Bachelor's in Interdisciplinary Studies. Although she was originally interested in public health and preventative care, Lauren went on an abroad trip to study sustainability in Denmark during May of 2022 and now is deciding her path forward is a career in sustainability and renewable energy! Lauren is currently a Marketing Student Associate within the ASCP and enjoys the opportunity to educate others about sustainable lifestyles. Apart from the ASCP, Lauren is often out attending pop punk concerts, exploring vegan restaurants downtown, rock climbing in Clear Creek Canyon and hitting the slopes with her friends #ikon!

Veronica Minster
she/her/hers
Student Associate - Waste Diversion
Veronica is an undergraduate student at CU Denver obtaining her B.A. in Environmental Science. She serves as the Waste Diversion Associate for the ASCP. Her role is to assist with reducing the Auraria Campus' waste production by staffing zero waste events, sorting waste, and providing bin-side education. She additionally helps develop sustainability learning materials and ensures that waste bins are sufficiently maintained. In her free time, she enjoys reading, exploring nature, and travelling.

Amy Nash
she/her/hers and they/them/their
Student Associate - Waste Diversion
After an eight-year career in the performing arts, Amy Nash has discovered a passion for Ecology and Environmental sciences. Currently enrolled at the Community College of Denver, she plans to graduate and enroll in a four-year school to pursue a bachelor's degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Amy is the ASCP's first student employee from the Community College of Denver, working with the Waste Diversion team to reduce campus landfill rates and make the campus environment healthier for the students, staff, and urban wildlife who share the space. Her favorite animals are turtles because of their cute tails and tushies.

Jaxon Mawhiney
he/him/his
Student Associate - Waste Diversion
Jaxon is a member of the Waste Diversion team and grew up in Colorado Springs. Learning about the state's environment in school, hiking on the weekends, and camping in the summer all instilled a sense of appreciation for the state's natural environment, and they feel as though it is their responsibility to pitch in and keep Colorado awesome. Jaxon also likes houseplants, old photos, and traveling.

Audrey Mah
they/them/their and she/her/hers
Student Associate - Waste Diversion
Audrey is an undergraduate student at CU Denver obtaining their Bachelor of Fine Art with a focus on Transmedia Sculpture. They're a Student Associate at the ASCP on the Waste Diversion team. They have always had a passion for ecology and environmental science. They enjoy hiking, gardening, making art and being outside. Some additional hobbies outside of ASCP are listening to music, reading and watching movies.