Who We Are

Nicole Scott - Personnel Organizer

Hey there! I'm Nicole Scott, Personnel Co-Organizer for the Student Environmental Center. I have been with the SEC since last Winter, when I curiously attended my first General Gathering. Being a brand new transfer student, I was excited to learn about the sustainability movement at UCSC and how I could become involved. I felt like when I first arrived to UCSC, all of the sustainability organizations were kind of daunting to me. The whole network is so huge and tough to get your head around until you have actually broken in and become apart of its inter-workings. I am so happy I did! I am an Environmental Studies and Economics combined major, and working with the SEC has connected me with the bigger sustainability network on campus in so many more ways than the classroom has to offer.
I have met so many great people, both in the SEC and in other organizations. I am so proud of the projects UCSC has to offer that make a change for the good on our campus. It has been great to see all the ways that we can collaborate with other groups on campus to make a difference. Feel free to shoot me an email if you have any questions at njscott@ucsc.edu, or stop by my office hours on Wednesdays from 11:00am-12:30pm at College 8 Office Room 210.

Darya Soofi - Waste Prevention Coordinator

Hi everyone! My name is Darya Soofi and I am the Waste Prevention coordinator for the Student Environmental Center. It has been a quite a journey to get to where I am today within the SEC but i'm so happy to have found my place. The SEC welcomed me into their organization winter quarter of 2011. I was a brand new transfer student that year and wanted to get more involved on campus, specifically within the Environmental dept. I had just recently made the decision to change my major of psychology to a minor and instead major in Environmental Studies so I needed to get a better understanding of what this new major entailed. The SEC was the perfect org for me to join; not only does it incorporate sides of the actual ENVS department, but it allowed me to gain a whole new perspective on the ENVS major that my classes couldn't provide for me. After my first quarter i knew this is what I wanted to be involved in for the rest of my life. SO, that's my journey into the Student Environmental Center. I love my time spent with my organization, but when i do have free time i love to spend it playing soccer, whether it be competitive or just kicking the ball around. And if the mood strikes i'll open up a book or do some free hand sketching. That's me in a nutshell; but if you'd like to know more about the Waste Prevention Campaign or anything having to do with Waste on campus, feel free to hollaaaa (dsoofi@ucsc.edu). Also campaign meetings for Waste Prevention are held at the Kresge i-lounge on Wednesdays from 2-3 pm.

Katie Lippus - Earth Summit and Blueprint Coordinator

Hello! My name is Katherine Rose Lippus, but please, call me Katie. I am a senior Envs and Econ major, and this is my first year with the Student Environmental Center. About halfway through my college career, I realized this experience is all about what you make of it. I then embarked on a quest to conquer all of my biggest fears. I began by defying my fear of heights and going skydiving; followed by leaving the country for the first time and studying abroad in Germany; and finally, I took a huge leap and applied to be the Chancellor's Undergraduate Intern for the SEC...and I got it! I am now the CUIP and the Earth Summit and Blueprint Coordinator. With an $8,200 stipend, a year of leadership building, networking, events planning, and so much more, I am extremely grateful to have earned this position. I'm learning that challenges, fears, and mistakes are all opportunities for growth, and are what keep us going. I enjoy hiking, backpacking, traveling, swimming, playing field hockey, eating sushi until I burst, animals, and having fun! If any of this sparks your interest, or if you'd like to contact me for any reason, my email is klippus@ucsc.edu. Thanks for reading and have a sunny day!

“Life is not about how fast you run, or how high you climb, but how well you bounce.”

Maryna Sedoryk - College Eight Garden Co-Facilitator

Salutations! My name is Maryna Sedoryk and I am currently the College Eight Garden Co-Facilitator. I am a junior Environmental Studies and Biology combined major with an interest in the future health and diversity of freshwater and marine ecosystems. This is my first quarter as a member of the Student Environmental Center and I am truly looking forward to participating in all the wonderful things they do for our campus. My interest in teaching the garden class has its roots in growing up right across the bay in Monterey, where I was constantly surrounded by fresh, local, organic produce. After coming to UCSC, I realized that most people did not have the same food opportunities, and many had no idea where their food comes from or what is requires to get it to their dinner plate. After working in the garden for 2 quarters as a student cultivating my "green thumb", I jumped at the opportunity to become a co-coordinator. This position allows me to share with others the experience of interacting with the environment in a way that has direct benefits to our health - fresh food to eat! If you ever want to chat, please feel free to email me at msedoryk@ucsc.edu, or stop by the College 8 Garden on Wednesdays from 12-1:30pm; I welcome any and all conversation, be it about the garden, unusual deep sea creatures, or random musings on life.

Sophie Barnhorst - Students for Organic Solutions Coordinator

Hello! My name is Sophie Barnhorst and I am the Students for Organic Solutions (SOS) Coordinator. I'm a junior Politics major and my initial goal was to minor in Environmental Studies but since UCSC doesn't offer ENVS as a minor, I felt that the Student Environmental Center was the perfect outlet for me to make connections and broaden my networks within the sustainability community, become more knowledgeable on sustainable practices, and then share that knowledge with the larger UCSC community. I decided to become involved in the SOS campaign mostly because of my love of food. In addition, I wanted to learn more about sustainable farming practices and organic solutions to our twisted food system that is currently in place. When I graduate, I hope to take what I have learned while in school and in the SEC and apply that to Environmental Policy. In my free time I really enjoy cooking and baking, hanging out with my family and friends, walking/running on West Cliff, and doing ballet. If you are interested in the projects SOS is doing or have any questions, please feel free to email me at sbarnhor@ucsc.edu or stop by our SOS campaign meetings which are Tuesdays from 12:30- 1:30pm at the Stevenson Cafe.

Sarah Angulo - Drop Your Own Drip Coordinator

Hey there - I'm Sarah Angulo, your campaign coordinator for Drop Your Own Drip. I am an Environmental Studies major and I've just finished up my first year here at the Student Environmental Center. I first became involved when I was a student in the project's Education for Sustainable Living Program class. I really believed in the project's goals, so I decided to take it on and became coordinator when the project was transferred to the SEC. I have since been amazed at the number of wonderful sustainability initiatives happening on campus. Its truly amazing how hard students are working to make a difference here at UCSC.

I am passionate about water and how we use it - I could talk to you about it for hours! If you are, too, shoot me an email at sangulo@ucsc.edu and we can talk about internships or getting training to become campaign coordinator for next year!