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SUSTAINABILITY ENGAGEMENT INCREASING ACROSS THE UNIVERSITY The Mascaro Center serves as a key partner and contributor to sustainability initiatives throughout campus, helping to raise sustainability as a foundational strength for the University. All of our programs and initiatives aim to create a productive and supportive environment that elevates the impact of our efforts within Pitt and the broader community. -
Gena Kovalcik, Co-Director
PITT COLLABORATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS The University of Pittsburgh boasts 16 sustainability-related centers across campus. The Mascaro Center is one of the oldest of these programs and serves as a collaborator and convener for a broad range of sustainability initiatives throughout campus and our community. FIRST YEAR STUDENTS In collaboration with Residence Life, PittServes, and the Office of Sustainability, the Mascaro Center is helping to ensure that first year students understand the University’s deep culture and commitment to sustainability. Initiatives include adding a sustainability module the Pitt First Year Online Orientation for the first time in 2019. In Fall 2019, a sustainability gift was also distributed to all 4,200+ first year students upon their arrival.
MCSI is also leading University efforts to infuse sustainability into undergraduate education. Partnering with PittServes, the Office of Sustainability, and Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, MCSI has trained student volunteers to provide sustainability presentations within first year seminars. Last year, our team of student leaders provided 30 presentations impacting over 900 Pitt first year students. In Fall 2020, Danielle AndrewsBrown (MCSI Len Peters Fellow), also created and taught a new First-Year Programs’ Academic Community entitled Nature / Cities / Humans in Fall 2020. This course was designed to give first-year students an academic orientation on sustainability.
