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

Jessica Ho is the Sustainability Coordinator at the San Mateo Community College District (SMCCCD). She focuses on climate action plan implementation and resource conservation. Her passion for engaging the next generation inspired her to spearhead SMCCCD’s Sustainability Discovery Hub, where students explore clean energy through her innovative Museum of Tomorrow model. This playful, action-oriented approach to sustainability emerged from her experience with youth and young adults during her Master’s of Development Practice at the University of California, Berkeley. Jessica’s unique perspective, shaped by her upbringing in California and Taiwan, fuels her creative and innovative approach to sustainability outreach.

Annalise is the Utility and Sustainability Specialist at the San Mateo County Community College District. In her role, she leads and supports zero waste programs, energy efficiency projects, and other sustainability initiatives that reduce the District’s environmental impact. She works collaboratively with staff, students, and faculty to advance sustainability goals across the District’s three campuses. She recently helped establish the District’s Sustainability Discovery Hub, where students and community members can explore sustainability topics through interactive educational exhibits.

Before joining the District, Annalise served as the Green Facilities and Operations Analyst at the San Mateo County Office of Education, where she advised K–12 school districts on waste management, sustainability programs, and environmental regulatory compliance. She also completed a fellowship with the California Climate Action Corps, gaining hands-on experience in urban forestry and community climate resilience.

Annalise is passionate about creating engaging, accessible sustainability programs that inspire environmental stewardship and empower communities to take meaningful climate action.