Our Missionoffice logo in color

In 2012, MSU students saw a need for sustainability advocacy on campus and set the groundwork for the Office of Sustainabilty.  Since then, our office has strived to be the voice for progress and stewardship—for our land grant university, for our students, and for the betterment of our community. We work with students, employees, and our community to develop, coordinate, and promote campus sustainability. Our office supports students in pushing our university to excel.

MSU's Sustainability Goals

Steward

use of student and the University's resources, ensuring these funds contribute effectively to campus sustainability efforts and engage students, faculty and staff in a meaningful way. 

Provide

employment, volunteer, and internship opportunities to students who wish to contribute to sustainability efforts at MSU. 

Build

programs that engage the campus in dialogue and action. 

Link

students, faculty and staff to information, campus resources, and decision-makers with regard to campus sustainability.

Leverage

student activism by building partnerships with MSU administration and departments to provide program continuity year to year. 

Advocate

for increased institutional commitment to sustainable policies and practices.

 

Sustainability is a pluralistic approach to ensuring human and ecological health, social justice, secure livelihoods, and a better world for all generations. At a university, this requires that every aspect of campus operation contribute to improving the institution’s environmental, social, and economic performance.

The MSU Sustainabilty Plan

Employees

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Kristin Blackler

Director

she/her/hers

Kristin Blackler has served as the Director of the Office of Sustainability at Montana State University for the past 5 years. Kristin has 10 years of experience advancing sustainability in higher education and is also an adjunct professor in the School of Arts and Architecture.  The only thing she loves more than skiing and playing in rivers are her students. She received a BA in Environmental Studies with a special concentration in Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Contact:

Available by appointment or via phone/email

(406) 994-6822

sustainability@montana.edu

Paul Edlund

Paul Edlund

Program Manager he/him/his

Paul Edlund joined the Office of Sustainability as Project Coordinator during the Fall of 2019. A graduate from down the road, he began his career collaborating to create the University of Montana’s second STARS report and completed a holistic analysis of waste streams and environmental reporting at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula. At Montana State University, Paul is most excited to collaborate with equally motivated and determined students to improve MSU’s environmental impact by way of Sustainability Reporting and meaningful programs. His spare time is filled with exploring the Gallatin’s beautiful wilderness areas. Come say hello at SUB 284!

Contact:

Available 8 A.M. - 5 P.M., Monday - Friday, SUB 284

paul.edlund@montana.edu

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Garrett Wright 

Zero Waste Coordinator  he/him/his

Garrett Wright is from Indianapolis, Indiana as been an active memeber in the Bozeman Community since he moved here in 2020. Garrett graduated from Montana State Univerity in the Spring of 2024 with a B.A in Political Science. Garrett is an avid skiier, biker, river enjoyer, and loves to take in every moment he can. In the Office of Sustainability, Garrett's role is to help postivelty impact MSU's Sustainability Framework goal of Zero Waste by 2035. He does this through working to increase landfill diverison, reduce contamination, and spread additional enagement & outreach material about how campus as a whole can reduce it's waste. 

Contact:

Available 8 A.M. - 5 P.M., Monday - Friday, SUB 284

garrett.wright1@montana.edu

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Rosamarie Roccisano

Green Cats Coordinator she/her/hers

Rosamarie Roccisano grew up just two hours down the road in Billings, Montana. Growing up in Montana, she has always loved spending time in the mountains no matter the season. Rosa came to MSU for its incredible access to the outdoors and to major in Biological Engineering. She is passionate about making sustainability feel accessible to everyone. At the Office of Sustainability, Rosa works as a Green Cats Coordinator.