Alexis Zosel, Recycling and Waste Reduction Intern
Alexis Zosel is a Communication Sciences & Disorders major with minors in Spanish and Psychology from Tupelo, MS. She worked with the office last semester with focuses on Food Day and composting. This semester she is very excited to be focusing on recycling and waste reduction. She has developed a passion for sustainability over the years and has volunteered her time toward various sustainable programs and events. Alexis enjoys plants of all varieties and getting to watch them grow! She also believes in making efficient use of the resources around oneself and wishes to help Ole Miss take the steps to get there. She is also a member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and is a peer educator for Rebels Against Sexual Assault.
Makala McNeil, Student Engagement for Diversity and Inclusion Intern
Makala McNeil is a native Mississippian, born in Grenada, on April 22, 1996, otherwise known as Earth Day. She is currently a senior at the University of Mississippi, double majoring in Integrated Marketing Communications and Sociology, and minoring in Business Administration. Since attending UM, she has served in many leadership capacities through organizations, including Theta Psi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Associated Student Body Senator and executive member of the UM chapter of NAACP. McNeil has been a prominent leader during various student-led anti-racism campaigns, including the successful 2015 #TakeItDown campaign that culminated in the removal of the Mississippi state flag from university campus grounds, and the impromptu #OccupytheLyceum campaign of 2016 aimed at confronting a racist community culture. She hopes that through her efforts in the Office of Sustainability community members will become increasingly conscious of environmental threats and foster a socially responsible institution by making connections between sustainability and social justice.
Tyler Caple, Interdisciplinary Intern
Tyler is a junior majoring in International Studies and Chinese with an Environmental Studies minor. She is from Huntsville, AL and chose Ole Miss in lieu of Alabama or Auburn for the Croft Institute for International Studies and the Chinese Flagship program. Tyler believes that global communities prioritize sustainability once considering how the environment affects citizen’s health and the economy. Thus, her passion for languages and travel intersect with an interest in global health policy and sustainability. This is her first semester as a Green Student Intern, but she has previously been involved with the Eco-Rep Leader and Green Grove Ambassador programs on campus. As a Green Student Intern, Tyler hopes to learn about the varied aspects of sustainability and how to be an advocate for change. She is also a Community Assistant at Residence Hall 3, and in her free time likes to Irish dance and play the ukulele.
Navodit (“Navi”) Paudel, Compost Team Intern
Navodit is a sophomore at Ole Miss majoring in Banking and Finance and minoring in Economics & Mathematics. He is an international student from Kathmandu, Nepal. He believes his journey from a rural village in Nepal to the United States has been really exciting. As a child, he was engaged in farming with his grandfather and learned how to grow crops and recycle things. This made Navodit develop an interest in the environment and sustainability. Upon graduation, Navodit wants to pursue a career as a Financial Analyst. Navodit is fun-loving and enjoys adventure trips. Last summer, he went to Skydiving in Colorado and it was the scariest thing in his life. Navodit is the Secretary of Nepalese Students’ Association at Ole Miss, Project Coordinator at Intercultural Communication, former Vice-president of Ole Miss Table Tennis club and a member of Financiers & Entrepreneur club.
Talgat Brown, Compost Team Intern
Talgat Brown is studying Economics and minoring in Entrepreneurship. He is from Yazoo City, MS, and came to Ole Miss for the business program and overall level of educational opportunity (along with the fact that it is the only university with a Navy ROTC branch). Talgat has had an interest in sustainable efforts since he was 15 and wants to make a positive impact on the environment. After college, Talgat wants to continue with his education and finish his mechanical engineering degree and obtain an MBA. He is involved with the UM Financiers club, Investment club, and Ole Miss Outdoors, and Garden Club. In his free time, Talgat loves to read, go to the gym, and take day trips to various locations and explore. Talgat wanted to work as a Green Student Intern to give back to the community and work in a team-based environment.
Taylor Robertson, Green Week and Active Transportation Intern
Taylor Robertson is senior psychology major from Batesville, Mississippi. She grew up raising cattle and gardening with her family and her passion or sustainability is rooted in her agricultural background. Taylor’s interest in sustainability revolves around the human-nature connection and plans to work as a Horticultural Therapist after she graduates. Taylor loves camping, reading, and gardening.