Our Team

Teaching Assistants

  • Colette Kania
    Colette Kania

    Class 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

  • Kiara Thompson
    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)

  • Kaitlin Arnole
    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)

  • Kassie Leao
    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

  • Claire Patterson
    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)

  • Raquel Cholodofsky
    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)

  • Sarah Tran
    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.)

  • Sydney Murphy
    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”