About Us | Sustainability | SIU

Our mission

The Sustainability Office at Southern Illinois University Carbondale is committed to empowering a culture of sustainability through collaborative campus-based solutions across academics, operations, research, and campus life.

Meet the team behind the sustainability initiatives at Southern Illinois University!

Aimee Lemrise, Director of Sustainability

Aimee Lemrise is the director of Sustainability. She has an extensive background in academics and student affairs in higher education and has earned a Master of Science in Geography & Environmental Resources. Her graduate studies focused on research in food systems, and undergraduate research about the Ivory Billed Woodpecker habitat in southern Illinois. Her academic achievements allowed her the opportunity to be selected as an Illinois Governor’s Environmental Corp EPA intern. After college, Lemrise quickly became involved in community grassroots environmental efforts. Her career later focused on opportunities in advising and teaching college students.

Lemrise’s agriculture experience started growing up in a large agriculture community in north central Illinois at the confluence of the Vermillion and Illinois Rivers. Her food systems research connected her to a local ecological farm where she was and intern and later became a farm aide. In her personal life she has owned old, blighted property and renovated it into new reclaimed spaces. This education, training, and experience has been put to practice and extremely useful in her sustainability role.

Outside of work, Lemrise loves exploring, gardening, and anything that will get her outdoors when she can find time. Aimee also enjoys being creative with art and music, traveling and learning about different cultures, anything related to food, working with the youth, and loves to make memories with her family. Lemrise is a recent inductee of Rotary Club of Carbondale Breakfast. Her role as the director of Sustainability has opened her up too many environmental and social issues which has fed her drive to communicate the urgency to the public that we must make changes now to improve the future opportunities for the next generation. As she continues to sharpen her philanthropy in sustainability, she is currently working to connect with the external community and align similar goals to better our society.

• At SIU, Lemrise’s leadership skills begin with staffing a team to support the university’s sustainability goals.
• She manages the SIU Sustainability Council in awarding grants and overseeing the SIU Green Fund. These grants are aimed at enhancing campus sustainability through various innovative projects
• Organize highly successful Earth Month celebrations one featuring keynote speaker Wanjiku “Wawa” Gatheru, who is an environmental justice advocate, Rhodes Scholar and founder of Black Girl Environmentalist. This event raised awareness and inspired action on environmental justice issues.
• Give Before You Go program: Coordinates this program to reduce waste when students move at the end of the school year in collaboration with university housing, rotary and campus ministries.
• Organized and led participation in the National Wildlife Federation national competition Campus Race to Zero Waste. SIU won first place in the Green Events category for its operation of a zero-waste station at the annual International Food Festival.

Sustainability Graduate Assistant: Pukar Bhandari, Summer 2023

Pukar is a PhD student in the School of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering. He completed his Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Kathmandu University, Nepal in 2018. After graduating, he worked as a Program Officer in Sustainable Solutions for Energy and Environment for a year and then as a Software Engineer in Studio Matrix Private Limited for 3 years before moving to the USA to pursue his graduate studies. He presently holds the position of President within the Nepalese Student Society (NSS) at SIU. He is also a part of the youth social organization - International Leo Club where he served as the President of Kathmandu Mount Makalu Leo Club. He has organized numerous social work programs with a focus on sustainability. Pukar believes that change starts from yourself, so he encourages everyone to follow the 5R practices (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle) as much as they can because it can significantly reduce the amount of waste an individual produces each day. In his free time, Pukar loves playing soccer, hiking, traveling, playing guitar, and hanging out with friends.

Sustainability Graduate Assistant: Bharathi Bhumireddy, Summer 2023

Bharathi Bhumireddy is a graduate student at the school of computing. She contributed passionately in her UG's sustainable solutions for environment and agriculture council. She worked in a clean India mission for 3 years. Bharathi is confident that what we do now will have an impact on the future. This concept of creating the future is something we live by and a principle that guides our actions and decisions every day. She believes regenerative farming techniques and reduced food consumption can enhance soil health, crop yields, the quality of produced food, and the long-term value of agricultural resources.

Sustainability Graduate Assistant: Shadia Afrin, Spring 2024

Shadia Afrin is a graduate student in the school of Earth Systems and Sustainability. Currently pursuing her Master of Science in the department of Geography and Environmental Resources. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Geography and Environment from Pabna University of Science and Technology, Bangladesh. She excels in map projection, GIS, sustainability, land cover mapping, and quantitative techniques. After completing her graduation, she worked as a Human Resource and Environmental Officer, where she contributed to building environmental strategies and environmental resources management. Shadia's academic achievements include a thesis on effectiveness of Telemedicine during Covid-19. Shadia developed the Environmental Club at Pabna University of Science and Technology, showcasing her commitment to environmental awareness. Shadia visited the largest mangrove forest Sundarbans and longest natural sea beach in the world located in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh to explore the biodiversity and natural resources in that particular region. Her leadership extends to involvement in SIUC international festivals, seminars, and organizing workshops on environmental resource management. Shadia loves fishing, gardening, travelling, and spending time with friends and family.

Sustainability Graduate Assistant: Bharath Kumar Chintada, Spring 2024

Bharath Kumar Chintada is currently pursuing his Master's degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC). He obtained his Bachelor's degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering in Hyderabad, India. His passion lies in renewable energy sources, particularly in advancing the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) to mitigate the environmental impact of combustion vehicles. He has demonstrated his commitment to this cause through several innovative projects aimed at enhancing the efficiency and accessibility of Electric Vehicle.

One notable project led by him is the development of Dynamic Wireless Charging in Electric Vehicles. This technology enables electric cars to charge while in motion on the road through wireless power transmission. By harnessing renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power, His solution not only reduces reliance on fossil fuels but also promotes sustainable transportation.

Additionally, He is committed to promoting widespread awareness and implementation of renewable energy resources. He believes that educating individuals about the benefits of renewable energy and empowering them to utilize these resources is essential for creating a more sustainable future. Through his advocacy and outreach efforts, Bharath aims to inspire others to embrace renewable energy technologies and adopt sustainable practices in their daily lives. He seeks to contribute to a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable world for future generations.

Sustainability Graduate Assistant: Md. Rezoan Ferdous, Summer 2023

Rezoan is an MS student in Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering and a passionate advocate for environmental conservation. During his undergraduate studies in Bangladesh, he participated in several sustainable project showcase competitions, idea competitions and won several awards. He also worked as a mentor for the innovation club to guide students regarding sustainable projects and ideas. Rezoan believes in the power of individual action and encourages conscious choices like energy conservation, waste reduction, and support for eco-friendly businesses. By sharing knowledge and inspiring others, he aims to make a significant positive impact on the environment and create a legacy of sustainability. Rezoan loves playing cricket, biking, hiking, traveling, photography, movies, and spending time with friends and family.

Sustainability Graduate Assistant: Deena Vanga, Summer 2023

I have completed my bachelor’s degree at St. Martins engineering college. During my under graduation, I have been a part of various NGO's. I was a part of Green peace India and street cause eforce. I think that it’s our duty to make more sustainable choices in order to maintain our earths ecosystem. I believe that educating people is important because we do what we learn and inspiring one person can make a real change.