The CSD Team
Our office is comprised of full time staff and students working together to advance sustainability initiatives across campus.
Center for Sustainable Development Team
Meet the Team
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CSD Staff Members
Nicole Killen (she/her)
Director of Sustainability
Nicole first came to the College as a graduate student in the concurrent Environmental and Sustainability Studies and Public Administration programs. As a graduate assistant with the CSD, Nicole worked on student-facing programming. Her thesis was on creating sustainable behavior change with recycling in athletic facilities at the College. She moved into a full time role as the Associate Director of Student Engagement in 2023, then transitioned to the Director of Sustainability a year later in 2024. Her primary focus as director is overseeing sustainability-related initiatives at the College, and guiding the implementation of the Sustainability Action Plan. Some other fun information about Nicole is that she was a collegiate softball player and has been to 46 out of the 50 states.
Kelsey Whiting-Jones (she/her)
Associate Director of Student Engagement
Born and raised in Massachusetts, Kelsey has lived in big cities like Rome, Italy; New York City; and Cape Town, South Africa, as well as the tropical coast of Malaysia, the plains of Indiana, and the mountains of Colorado. Her career has been focused on environmental advocacy and international peace building – as an Advisor in rural Colombia for a new interdisciplinary, experiential graduate program at the University of Notre Dame – Regenerating Ecologies and Economies for Livelihoods, as a Project Manager of Green Grids Accelerators at the Harvard Negotiation Project and Climate Parliament, etc. She has also worked with high school and college students alike as a teacher, coach, and community builder at places like Columbia University and Westfield State University. Kelsey is a former USAID Research & Innovation Fellow and US Fulbright Fellow with a Master’s degree in International Peace Studies from the Kroc Institute at Notre Dame and a Bachelor’s degree in History and Classics from the Commonwealth Honors College at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst.
Katie Doherty (she/her)
Zero Waste Manager
She is responsible for the strategy, management and continuous improvement of the College's zero waste initiatives. She's an advocate for sustainable waste management, manages partnerships with stakeholders, and works on improving the infrastructure, programs and services for our campus community. In her free time, she helps care for birds of prey at the Avian Conservation Center!
Emerson Woodhall (she/her)
Graduate Assistant
Emerson is a first-year graduate student in the Environmental and Sustainability Studies Masters program at the College of Charleston. Her thesis will focus on the inclusion of disabled people in coastal hazard planning and communication across the Gulf Coast. She received my BA in environmental studies from Northeastern University in Boston.As a Graduate Assistant at the Center, Emerson provides support to the Associate Director for Student Engagement, manages the rotation internship, mentors interns, and assists in various other projects or tasks needed for the office. A fun fact about Emerson is that I painted a few murals in the outer banks.
Zero Waste Team
Robert Fields (he/him)
Keith Freeman (he/him)
Jerome Smalls (he/him)
Carlos Summersett (he/him)
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CSD Student Interns
Reese Baker (she/her)
Zero Waste Programs Lead
Reese is a junior Marine Biology and Environmental and Sustainability Studies (ENSS) double major at the College and works as the Zero Waste Program Lead at the Center for Sustainable Development. She provides support to the Zero Waste Manager and Specialty Recycling operations. Reese is also an Atlas Fellow with Post Landfill Action Netowrk (PLAN) where she assists in the development of a Zero Waste Action Plan to guide us in reaching our goal of 90% diversion by 2025. A fun fact is that this past summer, she did research on alligators on Fripp Island!
Sarah Clark (she/her)
Campus Outreach Lead
Sarah is a senior Marketing major at the College of Charleston. She works as the Campus Outreach Lead for the Center for Sustainable Development. She helps plan and coordinate events, such as Sustainability Week, and manages our website to connect people on campus with active sustainability. A fun fact is that she saw Hozier last summer!
Bailey Crane (she/her)
Zero Waste Data Lead
Baily is a senior Marine Biology and ENSS double major at the College. As the Zero Waste Data Lead at the Center for Sustainable Development. Baily tracks, compiles, and summarizes all of the data streams related to waste management. She is also an Atlas Fellow with the Post Landfill Action Network (PLAN) where she is developing a Zero Waste Action Plan to guide us in reaching our goal of 90% diversion by 2035. A fun fact is that she had an art exhibit in Greenville's Artisphere!
Will Dalton (he/him)
Project Implementation Specialist
Will is a junior double majoring in Biology and Chemistry at the College. As a Project Implementation Lead of the Center for Sustainable Development, he works to make real-world change for sustainability on campus by supporting the implementation of special projects at the Center, including projects from the Cougar Changemaker Program, Blue Bin Brigade, and Bike Share. A fun fact about him is that he is a big Manchester United fan!
Lexi Dowd (she/her)
Student Engagement Lead
Lexi is a senior History and Political Science double major at the College of Charleston. As the Student Engagement Lead, Lexi's job is to raise awareness, educate, and interact with the student body to make sustainability on campus accessible to all. Her goal is to meet people where they are and show them where they can be. A fun fact about her is that she saw Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce in the crowd of Coachella!
Sophie Ecklund (she/her)
Community Engagement Lead
Sophie is a senior Biology and ENSS double major at the College. At the Center for Sustainable Development, Sophie oversees the Living Lab program, which connects student with local non-profits in the Charleston community. This allows students to complete short-term projects and gain professional development skills while engaging with and supporting the community. A fun fact is that she showed goats in high school through the FFA and currently has a pet goat!
Regan Krist (she/her)
Climate Action Lead
Regan is a senior Environmental & Sustainability Studies (ENSS) major at the College. She works at the Climate Action Lead at the Center for Sustainable Development. Regan supports and facilitates the campus greenhouse gas inventory. College-wide climate action planning, and addresses climate-related events and challenges. A fun fact about Regan is that she went scuba diving in El Chapo's old plane!
Jadyn Lembeck (she/her)
Project Implementation Lead
Jadyn is a junior Environmental and Sustainability Studies (ENSS) major. She is a Project Implementation Lead with the Center for Sustainable Development, where she supports the implentation of special projects such as Cougar Changemaker funded ideas, Blue Bin Brigade, and Bike Share program. She works with key stakeholders, vendors, and other staff to bring sustainable ideas to life. A fun fact is that she is open-water scuba certified!
Meghan Lord (she/her)
Marketing & Communications Lead
Meghan is a senior Psychology and ENSS double major at the College. As the Marketing & Communications Lead for the Center for Sustainable Development, she creates marketing materials to promote the Center's mission, programs, and events. Meghan also manages our public identity through social media and the Resilient Advocate newsletter. A fun fact is that she loves gardening and volunteers with the Charleston Parks Conservancy!
Abby Malloy (she/her)
Staff Engagement Lead
Abby is a junior Environmental & Sustinability Studies major at the College. As Staff Engagement Lead at the Center for Sustainable Development, she works with staff and faculty on their participation and awareness in sustainability efforts on campus through the Green Office Certification Program and the continuation of integrating sustainability into academics. A fun fact is that she is trying to go to every coffee shop on the peninsula before graduation!
Katie Villandry (she/her)
Free Store Manager
Katie is a junior Communications student at the College. She is the manager of the Cougar Free Store and Reuse Lead. The Free Store consists of donations from the campus community and is an accessible resource for students, faculty, and staff to have gently used items like school supplies, clothing, and more. With her position she aims to reduce waste from landfills, while encouraging a circular economy by providing a space for reuse on campus. A fun fact about her is that she sings in our on-campus a acapella group, The Charleston Vibes!
Tom Wilson (he/him)
Cougar Changemaker Chair
Tom is a senior at the College majoring in Economics. He works as the Chairperson for the Cougar Changemaker Committee, a student project fund that brings innovative sustainable projects to life. As chairperson, he manages the application process, presides over the committee, and work with staff at the Center to ensure successful implentation of projects. A fun fact is that he love traveling and is planning a trip our west next summer!
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CSD Rotation Interns
Hayleigh Ebel
Cameron Duffy
Cameron Duffy is a sophomore majoring in Environmental and Sustainability Studies. She is from Verona, New Jersey, is passionate about sustainability and loves nature. A fun fact is she is a member of the Outdoors Club and loves going on camping and hiking trips whenever she can!
Julia Ridenhour
Sally Peyrebrune
Sally is a freshman majoring in Environmental and Sustainability Studies and Biology. She is from Takoma Park, Maryland and is very excited to learn about sustainability in Charleston. One fun fact about her is that she likes to compete in triathlons.
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Living Labs Program Participants
Chloe Ayo
Chloe is an Environmental Sustainability Studies major with an Urban Studies minor. Outside of school, she enjoys camping, hiking, thrifting, and exploring Charleston's green spaces! A fun fact is that she has a part time job, as a barista, at Bakehouse, Charleston.
Community Partner Site: SC Aquarium.
Mya Beasenburg
Community Partner Site: Coastal Conservation League.
Hannah Escalante
Hannah is a sophomore at the College of Charleston majoring in Biology and minoring in Spanish and Chemistry. Her goal is to explore the field of environmental chemistry and sustainability to possibly pursue a masters/career after college. A fun fact is that she absolutely adores otters!
Community Partner Site: The MARSH Project
Morgan Pounds
Morgan is currently a sophomore at the College of Charleston majoring in Environmental and Sustainability Studies B.S. and minoring in Biology. She is originally from Clemson South Carolina and her favorite activities include surfing, hiking, and hanging out with friends. A fun fact is that she listens to over 110 unique music genres!
Community Partner Site: The Sustainability Institute
Haleigh Shell
Haleigh is a junior attending the College of Charleston's Honors College, pursuing a B.A. in Environmental Science and Sustainability, with a minor in Urban Studies. She is excited to be a part of the Living Labs Program. A fun fact is that she used to be the captain of her high school dance team!
Community Partner Site: GrowFood Carolina
Delany Volz
Delany is currently a junior majoring in Environemntal Sustainability Studies and minoring in History. She is originally from Hilton Head Island and her favorite activities include tennis, photography, and hanging out with friends. A fun fact is that she enjoys going to the beach, traveling, and being in nature.
Community Partner Site: Lowcountry Land Trust