Jen Kleindienst, Sustainability Director

284 High Street, Room 104
Middletown, CT 06457
jkleindienst@wesleyan.edu
860-685-3242

Meet the Sustainability Office

Launched in 2012, the Wesleyan Sustainability Office demonstrates the University's commitment to promoting holistic sustainability.  Meet past Office employees on the alumni page.

Sustainability Office Students January 2024

Sustainability Director

  • Jen Kleindienst

    Sustainability Director

    284 High Street Room 104

    860-685-3242

    jkleindienst@wesleyan.edu

    Jen Kleindienst began as Wesleyan's first Sustainability Coordinator in 2012 and became Sustainability Director in 2015. Jen is passionate about building a more sustainable world and loves putting ideas into action with Wesleyan and Middletown communities. She works to coordinate sustainability efforts between students, faculty, staff, and administrators, and create new programs to foster sustainable thinking and acting. Before coming to Wesleyan, Jen worked in the sustainability offices at Tufts University, St. Michael's College, and MIT. Jen holds an M.S. in Environmental Studies from Antioch University New England and a B.A. from Hamilton College.

Eco Facilitators Coordinators

Two Eco Facilitators (EF) Coordinators lead fellow students in this minimum three-semester program.  They manage rising EF apprentices in their first semester and manage EFs and their projects in the second and third semesters.

  • Lydia Brutvan '25

  • B Frankenstein '25

    WesThrift Coordinator

  • Matthew Gilbert '25

    WesThrift Coordinator

Eco Facilitators

Eco Facilitators (EFs) are a group of students who provide students with the tools, education, and encouragement necessary to develop sustainable living practices, as well to encourage a sense of environmental consciousness and social responsibility.   Working as an Eco Facilitator is a great opportunity to gain leadership skills and take part in building a more sustainable, equitable, and inclusive campus community.  To learn more, email ecofacilitators@wesleyan.edu. 

  • Catherine Auerbach '26

  • Lara Barzenji '26

  • Aviva Branoff '26

  • Nell Brayton '27

  • Lydia Brutvan '25

  • Akram Elkouraichi '27

  • Margery Fang '26

  • Angela Han '26

  • Brynn Heller '27

  • Maxwell Maveus '26

  • Lyah Muktavaram '26

  • Vivian Orthwein '27

  • Aishlinn Parrinello '27

  • Lily Robbins '26

  • Matar Rocker '26

  • Sage Saada Saar '26

  • Lucy Schwalbe '26

  • Sadie Woodruff '26

  • Thalia Witkovsky '27

Sustainability Coordinators

The Sustainability Coordinators, along with the Waste Not Coordinator, run the Waste Not collection each May and tag sale each fall.  The SCs also collaborate with program houses, woodframes, and campus-wide, managing individual and collective projects that promote sustainability.

  • Jazmin Alvarez '26

  • Aurora Guecia '25

  • Felicity Guevara '24

  • Lily Krug '24

Compost Interns

Compost Interns manage Wesleyan's residential composting program and food waste reduction programs in dining halls and residences.

  • Bella Barocas '24

  • Olivia Benton '25

  • Ethan Lee '26

  • Matar Rocker '26

  • Devin Sturtevant '25

    Abroad Spring 2024

  • Dane Thompson '24

Sustainable Middletown Interns

The Sustainable Middletown Interns coordinate with City of Middletown employees and volunteers to identify and implement projects to support Middletown's sustainability efforts.

  • Tamira Le '26

  • Serena Levingston '24

Sew What Coordinators

The WesThrift free thrift store is run entirely by students, offering shopping hours each week, as well as free tailoring and tailoring workshops. 

  • River Isleib '27

  • Julia Noriega '24

  • Eden Porter '27

Sustainability Strategic Plan Ambassadors

Student Sustainability Strategic Plan (SSP) Ambassadors work on education, outreach, and support efforts relating to a particular aspect of the SSP. 

  • Nell Brayton '27

    Focus area: reusable containers

  • Dylan Campos '24

    Focus area: publicity

  • Isaac Moss '25

    Focus area: invasive plant mapping

  • Gad NKurunziza '27

    Focus area: education and outreach

  • Tamiraa Sanjaajav '27

    Focus area: career center sustainability webpage

  • Elanora Smith '27

    Focus area: invasive plant mapping

  • Ava Symons '26

    Focus area: transportation

  • Thalia Witkovsky '27

    Focus areas: purchasing & education

Sustainability Office Coordinators

The Office Coordinators work on a variety of projects including those related to strategic planning, marketing, and general office assistance.

  • Debbra Goh '24

  • Annie Volker '24

  • Brynn Heller

    Summer Sustainability Coordinator

Data Analysts

Data Analysts Collect and analyze Office data for accountability and marketing and develop graphics and other ways of sharing data publicly.

  • Ishani Dave '24

  • Angela Han '26