What is the Campus Environmental Center (CEC)?
The Campus Environmental Center (CEC) was started in Fall of 2002 by a group of students led by Corinna Kester. The students founded the CEC as an organization that could effectively build partnerships with UT administrators to improve the campus environment. The CEC officially launched in January 2003 thanks to a grant from the National Wildlife Federation Campus Ecology Program and matching funds from Student Government, the Environmental Science Institute, and the Volunteer Service Learning Center.
The CEC is the largest and oldest student sustainability organization on campus, housing three unique project teams dedicated to helping students find their niche within sustainability. The CEC's vision is to build a center rooted in solidarity and empathy where all are empowered to protect people and the planet.
The CEC completes its vision through its three project teams and administrative team:
- CEC Administration
- Our Co-Directors & Advisor support project teams, manage the organization, and build relationships across campus.
- Our Outreach and Communications team amplifies our work and educates the campus community about the CEC and sustainability.
- Project Teams
- The Microfarm practices organic and sustainable farming techniques through an on-campus community garden.
- The Green Events team provides free zero-waste consulting, recycling, and composting services to student organizations.
- The Trash to Treasure team diverts thousands of pounds of reusable items from going to the landfill through donation drives and sales held throughout the year.
To learn more about the CEC and each project team visit utenvironment.org/
**As of January 1st, 2024- EJC is a Registered Organization and no longer supported by the CEC due to SB 17. The Environmental Justice Collective empowers students to engage with the environmental movement from an intersectional lens through service, community building, and research. Please reach out to them directly if you wish to get involved.
Please contact lillian.young@austin.utexas.edu with any questions.
Application Information
Eligibility and application information can be found on the Application Information page. Applications for the 2025-26 cohort are closed.
2025-26 CEC Leaders
Lola Davis
Role: Internal Director
Majors: Sustainability Studies, Geography
What is your climate dream job? My dream job would be long-term ecological restoration projects and land management!
Charlotte Eades
Role: External Director
Majors: Journalism, Plan II Honors
Minor: Anthropology
What is your climate dream job? My climate dream job is working in the development office for the National Parks Foundation. I am very passion about the intersection of environmentalism and education, and I would love to work towards inspiring others to support public land stewardship.
Eva Asfahani
Role: Community Engagement Chair
Major: Environmental Science, Biology Focus
Minor: Global Sustainability Leadership
Who is your climate hero? My climate hero is Jessi Drummond, who commits herself to being sustainable in many facets of her life. She encourages and inspires those around her to make more conscious choices and lead sustainable lives.
Sora Ahmad
Role: Trash to Treasure Co-Lead
Majors: Textiles and Apparel, Communications and Leadership
Minor: Global Sustainability Leadership
What was your climate "ah-ha" moment? My climate "ah-ha" moment was when I began studying and working in fashion and realized how the industry I aspire my career to be in is the second most polluting industry that is greatly affecting our planet's health. I resolved that my life goals would be to mitigate the catastrophic effects fast fashion has to our environment, and build a more circular world + community for our material items.
Hillary Xu
Role: Microfarm Co-Lead
Majors: Biology, Environmental Science
Minor: Anthropology
What was your climate "ah-ha" moment? Working at the farm throughout the years and witnessing how unpredictable and extreme the weather can be, and the direct effects on our agricultural stability. For example, when we had a heat wave in March of 2023 and all the corn started producing too early for viable crop.
Ciera Kelley
Role: Microfarm Co-Lead
Major: Biology Honors
Who is your climate hero? My mom is my climate hero, because her environmentalist actions when I was younger sowed the seeds of my passion for climate and environmental awareness.
Felix Braun
Role: Green Events Co-Lead
Major: Accounting
Minors: Business, Sports Media
Who is your climate hero? My climate hero is my grandmother who introduced me to the concept of consistently composting at home.
Dawson Marold
Role: Green Events Co-Lead
Majors: Sustainability Studies, Government
Minor: Risk Management
What is your climate dream job? Opening a sustainable cafe where I can share my love for the environment through food and beverages!
Gracie Kirk
Role: CEC Photographer
Major: Communications and Leadership
Certificate: BDP Environment & Sustainability
Who is your climate hero? Steve Irwin! I grew up watching him traveling the world, and sharing his larger than life passion. At a very early age this got me curious about ecosystems, the significance of our climate, and the environment. His activism through an educational lens inspires me to go into this field, and find creative practices that sustainably move us forward. I want to support my drive to protect our natural spaces, and to expand my knowledge in best solutions in order to communicate the importance of sustainability in an increasingly urbanized city.
Axel Reyes
Role: CEC Content Creator
Major: Radio-Television-Film
Minors: Business, Sports Media
What was your climate "ah-ha" moment? My climate "ah-ha!" moment was my rock climbing trip at Zion National Park in Utah after first getting involved in the CEC. Working in sustainability and environmentalism is so rewarding and simultaneously very demanding, but this trip was a reminder of why I pour so much of myself into this space!
Lilly Young
Role: CEC Staff Advisor