Ellie Moore: Going Green Not Grey

What year are you and what are you studying? 

I’m a senior majoring in Marketing at the Eller College of Management and minoring in Environmental Science. 

What are you involved in as a student? 

I’ve been a part of the AZ Alpha Pi Beta Phi organization since I was a freshman and I love it! I joined Pi Phi to make life-long friends who have similar values and morals as I do. As a senior, I can definitely say I have met amazing and caring women who I call some of my best friends. I’m on the Leadership and Nominating Committee where we establish the future leaders of our AZ Alpha chapter. I’m also working at the Arizona Institute for Resilience, aka AIR, as the Find Your Environment Student Marketer and it is the best job I’ve ever had! As a part of my job I connect students to the multitude of different environmental opportunities at UArizona. 

What inspired you to study Environmental Science?

Ever since I can remember, I’ve loved and been fascinated by animals, nature, and exploring. Whenever someone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up I’d always answer a marine biologist. When I was old enough to understand the negative effects industrial practices have on the environment, I made it my mission to make a positive change. This is why I chose to study environmental sciences. 

What sustainability issues are you most passionate about?

I’m not sure if I have one specific issue that I am most interested in. However, some things that come to mind are mass consumption, overproduction, and plastic pollution. It makes me sad that the human desire to make things more efficient and easy has led to destroying our planet with toxic pollutants and garbage. I know that there is a way to satisfy these wants and be sustainable at the same time, we just need to put in the effort to make the change. 

What is your favorite part about working as the FIND YOUR ENVIRONMENT Student Marketer?

One of my favorite parts about working for AIR is that I get to connect students with green initiatives in areas that they are passionate about! I think Find Your Environment is such an amazing and useful platform for students who are looking to become more involved in the environmental world. I highly recommend that you check out the Find Your Environment Instagram if you haven’t already! 😊 I also love that I can use what I’ve learned in my major and minor in my role as the AIR Student Marketer. Not to mention I work with intelligent, caring, and down-to-earth people who have been wonderful mentors.

What advice do you have for students trying to go green? 

Start small! We are all college students living off of a budget and newly navigating life as our own individual. Don’t be so hard on yourself if you haven’t reached your sustainable goals yet! Instead make attainable and realistic green goals that you can implement efficiently throughout time. For example, my sustainable New Year resolutions are to not use one plastic water bottle or plastic bag. Each new year I’ll add another sustainable goal and slowly build a more eco-friendly lifestyle.