Sierra Apple Flanigan

What sustains you? This question sets the tone for my life and work. My name is Sierra and I am the Director of Campus Services for a California-based company called EcoMotion. I began my career as a student at Wheaton College when I pioneered a number of green initiatives on campus and broke ground for the Murphy Apple Orchard on Earth Day, 2009 in the President's back yard. We dedicated the orchard to a beloved Professor who had recently passed away, partnered with a dozen departments on campus, and formed a handful of new student jobs through an educational program called SEEDS. This creative solution, the unforeseen benefits and lessons learned highlighted the power and potential of schools to lead by example for society. Now I work with New England schools to develop and advance campus sustainability programs of all kinds. In addition to my hands on work with campus communities, I also present a talk called Sustainable Horizons on how to strengthen green initiatives, empower the community, and frame local challenges as global opportunities. Currently, I am on faculty for the Boston Architecture College's instructing the BAC's first Sustainability Gateway project and with working with Bryant University in Rhode Island to earn higher green ratings and secure a foundation for susatinability. When I am not on campus, networking or in the field, I am working at the Cambridge Innovation Center. Essentially, sustainability is about connection and relationships - which I love. I am passionate about bringing people together, making sustainability relevant, and working with groups and individuals to chart long-term triple win solutions for the betterment of humanity and the world.