Our Team
Teaching Assistants
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Colette KaniaClass of 2023 Double Major in Economics and Educational Policy with a minor in Spanish
Superhero power: Super Empathy
Social Entrepreneur you most admire:
Stealth sustainability practice: biking and walking instead of driving!
Favorite thing about living in greater-Gainesville: the local restaurants and roller blading at the Hawthorne Trail!
Future aspirations: I hope to improve the education system through education reform.
Favorite quote: do it with love
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Kiara Thompson
Graduation Year/ Major or Minor: c/o 2022, African American Studies Major
Superhero Power: Connecting with people
Social Entrepreneur you most admire: Dr. Hillard Nunn, founder of The Powerful Elder Organization and Sisters of my MAAT in Gainesville
Stealth sustainability practice: always brings own water-bottle and reusable shopping bag
Favorite thing about living in greater-Gainesville: Walks on the different nature trails on UF campus, and meeting new people
Future aspirations: To start & run a nonprofit corporation, in my hometown Miami, geared towards addressing community insecurities like homelessness, violence, and lack of access to quality education just to name a few.
Favorite quote: “People who work hard often work too hard… may we learn to honor the Hammock, the Siesta, the Nap and the Pause in all its forms.” (Alice Walker)
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Kaitlin Arnold
Graduation Year & Major(s)/Minor(s) and/or degrees earned/in-progress: c/o 2022 – Advertising Major & Entrepreneurship Minor
Superhero power: Deep-seated drive to go beyond the standard curriculum and learn concepts through multiple avenues.
Social Entrepreneur you most admire: Blake Mycoskie, founder of TOMS Shoes
Stealth sustainability practice: Always bringing a reusable water-bottle wherever I go.
Favorite thing about living in greater-Gainesville: Walking around UF’s campus early in the morning.
Future aspirations: Work for an education-based B Corporation or non-profit.
Favorite quote: “The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” (Steve Jobs)
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Kassie Leao
Graduation Year & Major(s)/Minor(s) and/or degrees earned/in-progress: Double Gator! Earned a Bachelor’s of Arts in Business Administration with a Minor in French and Francophone Studies from UF. Currently working on a Master of International Business degree – c/o 2021.
Superhero power: Adaptability and being flexible in any situation
Social Entrepreneur you most admire: Jeffrey Hollender and Alan Newman, co-founders of Seventh Generation.
Stealth sustainability practice: Avoiding disposable items, being vegetarian, walking and longboarding instead of driving whenever possible, and supporting sustainable companies.
Favorite thing about living in greater-Gainesville: Visiting all of the nature trails including Loblolly Woods, Sweetwater Preserve, Bivens Arm, and La Chua Trail!
Future aspirations: Work for a sustainability-driven and people-centered company, domestically or abroad.
Favorite quote: “Be the change you wish to see in the world” (Gandhi)
Student Assistants
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Claire Patterson
Graduation year: Spring 2022
Degree programs: Master of International Business combination degree, and undergraduate triple major in Business Administration, Economics, & Sustainability Studies
Superhero power: Making delicious and healthy smoothie bowls
Social entrepreneur I most admire: Blake Mycoskie, founder of TOMS shoes and creator of the company’s One for One initiative
Stealth sustainability practice: I always keep at least one fold-up reusable shopping bag in my backpack/purse so I’m always prepared for a spontaneous shopping trip, and I also avoid single-use plastics as much as possible
Favorite thing about living in Gainesville: So. Many. Trees!
Future aspirations: My dream job is serving as the Chief Sustainability Officer for a large firm and helping to promote social responsibility and sustainability in the corporate sphere
Favorite quote: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” (Nelson Mandela)
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Raquel Cholodofsky
Graduation Year & Major(s)/Minor(s) and/or degrees earned/in-progress: c/o Fall 2020- Business Administration Major, Minors in Sustainability Studies & Entrepreneurship, c/o 2021 Master in International Business
Superhero power: viewing setbacks and failures as opportunities for growth
Social Entrepreneur you most admire: Jay Coen Gilbert, founder of B Lab
Stealth sustainability practice: only using a reusable water bottle and shopping with reusable bags
Favorite thing about living in greater-Gainesville: sunrises at Paines Prairie and the local farmers markets
Future aspirations: Work for or with a certified B Corporation(s) to tackle global issues and advance in the direction of achieving UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
Favorite quote: In a gentle way, you can shake the world. (Mahatma Gandhi)
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Sarah Tran
Graduation Year & Major(s)/Minor(s) and/or degrees earned/in-progress: Marketing Major with an Entrepreneurship Minor
Superhero power: Time control – I would be able to go into the past, present, and future. This way, I could learn from past mistakes, get insight from the future, and do good in the present.
Social Entrepreneur you most admire: Shiza Shahid, co-founder and former CEO of the Malala Fund, which is an organization that empowers and provides education to women and girls.
Stealth sustainability practice: I usually bring a reusable shopping bag when I go grocery shopping. If I forget to bring my reusable bag, I ask if they have paper bags and will recycle the paper bags after I use it. If they don’t have paper bags, I will reuse the plastic bags as mini trash cans for my room and bathroom.
Favorite thing about living in greater-Gainesville: I love going on picnics at Depot Park and hikes at Sweetwater Wetlands Park!
Future aspirations: To work for or create my own B-certified corporation or non-profit that addresses gender equality, sustainability, and equal access to healthcare.
Favorite quote: “That old law about ‘an eye for an eye’ leaves everybody blind. The time is always right to do the right thing.” (Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)
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Sydney Murphy
Graduation Year & Major(s)/Minor(s) and/or degrees earned/in-progress: Spring 2021 graduation and a double major in English and Astronomy
Superhero power: Teleportation
Social Entrepreneur you most admire: Elon Musk because of SpaceX’s contribution to the space industry and collaborations with NASA.
Stealth sustainability practice: Reusable water bottles always! Also using the reusable cups instead of plastic K-cups for coffee.
Favorite thing about living in greater-Gainesville: I love the hiking trails around Paynes Prairie!
Future aspirations: Work as a science journalist to educate people about the advancements in the space frontier.
Favorite quote: “Life before death, strength before weakness, journey before destination”
