2025 Staff Sustainability Leadership Award Winners
The Sustainability Leadership Awards were launched in the 2025 by the President's Commission on Sustainability to recognize and celebrate members of our Beach community who are leading the way toward a more just and ecologically vibrant world. Staff nominees were evaluated for their sustainability efforts in leadership, collaboration, student engagement, and impact to campus/department.
Changemaker Award: Kimberly Cruz
Title/Department: Special Projects and Sustainability Manager, ASI
Nominator: Mack Anderson, Sustain U Lead
Summary of Leadership Accomplishments & Characteristics:
- Leadership: As the Sustainability Manager in ASI, Kimberly has led the transformation of Grow Beach and Sustain U into a dynamic, student-driven initiative that serves as a resource hub and a platform for student empowerment. She fosters inclusion by amplifying student voices and equipping them with critical sustainability and leadership skills.
Student Engagement: Kimberly has created spaces where Sustain U team members design and lead programs like Compost Happens, Trash Talkers, and Grow Beach Garden events. These events engage over 200 students during Sustainability and Earth Month.
Collaboration: Kimberly鈥檚 collaborative spirit has strengthened partnerships across campus and with community organizations, expanding the reach and depth of sustainability education.
" Beyond the expectations of her role, Kim鈥檚 leadership has set the standard for how sustainability can be integrated across campus. Kim ensures that sustainability programming remains inclusive, accessible, and collaborative, aligning with the PCS鈥檚 mission to embed sustainability into the fabric of campus life." --Mack Anderson
Read the full text of the nomination submitted on Kimberly's behalf.
Honorary Award: Pedro Ramirez Godoy
Title/Department: Assistant Manager of Grounds & Landscape Services
Nominator: Josh Cichuniec, Director of Facilities Management, Beach Building Services
Summary of Leadership Accomplishments & Characteristics:
- Impact on campus: In the past few months, Pedro and his team have planted over 110 new trees across campus鈥攅xpanding our tree canopy and creating more welcoming outdoor spaces for our students. His thoughtful selection of native and adaptive species supports biodiversity and helps reduce the urban heat island effect, making our campus more resilient in the face of climate change.
- Leadership: He has led significant water conservation efforts by upgrading irrigation systems with low-water-use sprinkler heads鈥攔educing runoff, conserving resources, and ensuring our landscapes remain vibrant and efficient.
- Collaboration: Pedro collaborates across departments to divert recyclable and compostable materials from landfills by coordinating office cleanouts to recover reusable items and partners with Residential Housing and organizations like the Salvation Army to collect donations during student move-out.
鈥淧edro鈥檚 鈥渂oots on the ground鈥 leadership style sets a powerful example鈥攏ot only for his team but for our entire campus community. His work reflects a deep commitment to environmental stewardship and operational sustainability.鈥 --Josh Cichuniec
Read the full text of the nomination submitted on Pedro's behalf.
