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Webinar: Campus Solutions for Low-Waste Celebrations, Encouraging Secondhand & Gift-Giving

June 17 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EDT

Campus events, big and small, make up the fabric of campus life. They bring students together, foster community among departments, and celebrate big successes or achievements. Unfortunately, campus events often unknowingly contribute to waste. And it’s not just the extra trash that’s a problem. All the fossil fuels, trees and other natural resources that go into producing streamers, plastic utensils, single-use decor, and giveaway prizes make these occasions dreary. All that extra consumption–and the resulting waste–can crop up during campus events and holiday celebrations all year round from student org meetings to winter formals, department lunches to Valentine’s Day events and beyond.

Campuses have come up with many different solutions to decrease consumption around events and holiday celebrations without cutting back on the fun. We’ll be showcasing those solutions here. This session will share strategies that have cracked the code on low-waste events with zero waste guides, certification programs, case study examples as well as tips and tricks from the Simplify the Holidays project to promote secondhand gift-giving and sustainable celebrations.

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Presenters

Malia Becker, Organizer, Center for Biological Diversity

Malia Becker leads creative outreach campaigns at the Center for Biological Diversity addressing the intersection of endless growth, reproductive health, inequitable consumption, and the wildlife extinction crisis. She manages two campaigns focused on alternative economies and reproductive rights: Simplify the Holidays and Endangered Species Condoms. Before joining the Center, Malia worked in healthcare patient access and administration. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Macalester College in geography and public health where she was also a student organizer for fossil fuel divestment.

Rochelle Strassner, Sustainability Outreach and Engagement Manager, SUNY ESF

Rochelle is the Sustainability Outreach and Engagement Manager at SUNY ESF. She has been part of the team which has led the AASHE STARS reporting cycle at ESF for two consecutive years of STARS Platinum certifications, including the most recent 2026, 3.0 certification. She holds a B.S. in Environmental Science & Biology as well as Anthropology, and a minor in Chemistry from SUNY Brockport. She received her M.A. in Biology from Miami University where she was part of Project Dragonfly’s Global Field Program. Her work experience before entering the field of sustainability in higher education was in informal conservation and cultural education at Walt Disney World, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Clara Schilder Manning, GreenCorp member, Macalester College

Clara Merlan received a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Macalester College in 2025. For her honors thesis, she conducted empirical research examining the motivations underlying sustainable decision-making. She is passionate about using behavioral research methods to determine the best practices and interventions to encourage people to act more sustainably. In her role as a GreenCorp member, she hopes to apply her training in psychological research to improve community knowledge and engagement in campus zero-waste initiatives.

Rachael Hood, Co-Executive Director, Post Landfill Action Network

Rachael is an organizer from Richmond, VA who has been with the Post Landfill Action Network for 5 Years. They hold a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Oberlin College and a Masters in Geography from West Virginia University. During her time as a student, Rachael focused on student organizing against fossil fuel and petrochemical expansion as well as implementing zero waste systems through Oberlin’s Resource Conservation Team. Rachael’s passion lies in visioning climate justice campaigns with a strong commitment to transformative movements. When not at work, Rachael can be found gardening, playing guitar, and training with various volleyball leagues in the Richmond area.