Gabrielle Choate is the Sustainability Manager in the Office of Campus Sustainability.

What is your role at the University?

As the Sustainability Manager, I collaborate with students, staff, and faculty to implement sustainability solutions across the University. My priorities include reducing waste on campus by increasing composting and recycling access and developing resources for community members to increase sustainability in their offices, buildings, and residence halls. Stay up to date with Sustainability’s activities by reading our monthly newsletter!

What most excites you in your role?

The most exciting part about working in sustainability is that there are endless opportunities to find more sustainable solutions to everyday situations. Everyday I learn something new about the Catholic University community and I enjoy identifying and implementing ways to collaborate with everyone on campus. Sustainability is a team effort and I am excited to be a part of the Catholic U team!

How have your past experiences helped prepare you for this role?

Prior to starting at Catholic University, I worked in sustainability consulting and in a sustainability office at a federal agency. I also have a Master’s in Environmental Science and Policy from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor’s in Environmental Studies from American University. My education and entire career thus far have been focused on sustainability, so I have been exposed to a wide range of creative sustainability ideas and solutions that I look forward to bringing to Catholic U.

What advice do you have for those interested in a green career post-graduation?

My best advice is to start involving yourself. There is a vibrant sustainability community in DC and there are dozens of organizations in the DC area (and beyond!) looking for volunteers, such as Casey Trees, Rock Creek Conservancy, and Anacostia Riverkeeper to name a few. Learn some new skills such as tree planting and identifying and removing invasive plants, while meeting your fellow volunteers. Volunteer events with these types of organizations attract a lot of like-minded people, so can be a valuable (and casual) opportunity to learn about green careers in the DC area and do some networking. It is also refreshing to regularly stay connected with the reason you are interested in sustainability, whether it is preserving natural and green spaces or connecting with and serving the community.

What do you do in your everyday life to encourage environmental stewardship?

I try to be as sustainable as possible in my everyday life. I recycle and compost my waste and I shop at local farmers’ markets and small, independent stores to support the local economy. I do my best to be a conscious consumer and try to fix and repair my existing or thrifted items to avoid purchasing new. Sustainability to me is a way to be creative, learn new skills, be healthier, save money, and help the environment, so I try to be sustainable in everything I do!

What's the easiest habit to implement to live more sustainably?

There are endless easy opportunities to live more sustainably! A few I try to focus on and recommend are:

• Eating all of the food you buy before it spoils; it is always a fun challenge to be creative with leftovers to avoid food waste.
• Using natural sunlight instead of lights as frequently as possible to both decrease energy use and boost your mood.
• Using the stairs rather than elevator if you are able to as it also reduces energy use and is easy exercise.