Alumni Pay It Forward in New UNH Sustainability Mentorship Program

SHARE
by Alexis Dwyer, Community Engaged Education Manager, Sustainability Institute

On October first, seniors and UNH alumni gathered on campus in Nesmith Hall to celebrate the launch of the new UNH Sustainability Mentorship program. Mentors and Mentees mixed and mingled as they bonded over a shared love for UNH, people, and planet. Seeing the students and alumni being in community felt like seeing the fruits of a fall harvest. What had been carefully cultivated over time, with patience, past experiences shared by others (thank you, Cayce Jones and Stephanie Whitney), and interest from both students and alumni, has come to fruition. 

group of people standing together outside in front of a building

To kick off our inaugural year, seniors who have participated in Sustainability Institute programs were invited to sign up as mentees, while UNH Sustainability alumni quickly stepped forward for a chance to give back to their fellow Wildcats.  

For seniors, the chance to have a mentor offers a glimpse into the kind of impact they can make once they leave the familiar sidewalks of Durham. For alumni, it is a chance to offer guidance and serve as a sounding board for the next generation of changemakers who will soon be joining them in making a difference in their communities and beyond. 

We couldn’t kick off and celebrate this program without the incredible UNH sustainability network. This special network is incredibly generous and quick to say yes, to take part, and to give back in ways that will shape the future of our students. With 15 mentor-mentee matches, this program is already shining. We look forward to hearing what they all learn on their journeys, mentees and mentors alike, and to support the seniors as they begin the next chapter of their journey. 
 

Meet the Inaugural UNH Sustainability Mentorship Program Cohort


Isabella Dee ’26, Environmental Engineering, Sustainability dual major
Grace Rau ’24, Climate Resiliency Planner, Weston & Sampson

Riley Bishop ’26, Business Administration: International Business and Economics, Sustainability dual major
Elizabeth Cain ’21, Sustainability Program Manager, G360

Ella Longacre ’26, Business Administration: Information Systems & Business Analytics, Sustainability dual major
Rachel Rymaszewski ’20, Mission-Aligned Research Analyst, Prime Buchholz

Erin Classey ’26, Environmental Science and Sustainability dual major
Jacky Kinson ’18, Mechanical Engineer/Climate Resilience Discipline Leader - MEP + Energy, CDM Smith

Ian Watt ’26, Environmental Science
Caitlin Brooke ’07G, Director of Customer and Community Marketing, ReVision Energy

Rachel Hazelwood ’26, Human Development and Family Studies, Sustainability dual major
Sawyer Rogers ’22, Political Science PhD Student, UMass Amherst; Summer Faculty, Phillips Exeter Academy

Dija Haq ’26, Applied Mathematics: Economics
Emily Lawrence ’03, Deputy Head, Sustainable Investing, Northern Trust Asset Management

Phoebe Green ’26, Economics, Sustainability dual major
Corey Johnson ’11, Director, Aviation Sustainability, C&S Companies

Justin Wentworth ’26, Environmental Science, Sustainability dual major
Nate Maybach ‘25G, Home Energy Rebates Program Coordinator, Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources

Katie Kaufhold ’26, Environmental Conservation and Sustainability
Jess Seibel ’24, Business Development Representative, Klaviyo

Louis Arinello ’26, Spanish, Sustainability dual major
Jesse Ross ’17G, Coordinator, Innovation Landscapes Network, US Navy

Alex Soucy ’26, Business Administration: Management, Sustainability dual major
Michelle Veasey ’04G, Director of Advocacy (Executive Director for 13 years), NH Businesses for Social Responsibility

Axanthic Sommese ’26, Business Administration, Sustainability dual major
Mikey Pasciuto ’21, Chief Sustainability Officer, Scrapp

Madeleine Diaz ’26, Wildlife and Conservation Biology
Sarah Sullivan, 2014 UNH Sustainability Fellow, Project Manager, Wetland Scientist, Permitting Lead, FB Environmental Associates

Jordan Stanley ’26, Sociology, Natural Resources Conservation
Cole Burnham ’23, EDF Climate Corps Fellow, Environmental Defense Fund/Connecticut Green Bank

Interested in taking part as a Mentor in the future? Reach out to Alexis at AlexisDwyer@unh.edu.