Establishing the Sustainability Discovery Hub: From Funding to Engagement and Everything in Between

Date: September 15, 2026
Time: 3:45 PM – 4:15 PM
Ballroom H

Join the San Mateo County Community College District Sustainability Team in discussing their newly opened Sustainability Discovery Hub. They will walk through the process of opening the space including identifying and securing funding, hiring student employees, and creating experiential learning opportunities. They will also uncover additional student engagement programs such as the Zero Waste Ambassadors, sustainability workshops, and Earth Fest. This will include marketing, planning, and facilitating best practices. Higher education classified employees, faculty, and sustainability managers should attend to learn about methods for student engagement. On campus sustainability thrives when students are involved and this session will explore different pathways of participation.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

By the end of this session, attendees will:

• Discover best practices in student engagement in sustainability topics at the higher education level
• Identify potential funding sources for on campus student activities
• Learn about examples of real life student programs including sustainability themed workshops, on campus climate ambassadors, and Earth Day celebrations
• Explore experiential learning through the Museum of Tomorrow model and hands-on climate exhibits

Speakers:
Jessica Ho, Utility and Sustainability Coordinator, San Mateo County Community College District
Annalise Eder, Utility and Sustainability Specialist, San Mateo County Community College District