Ann Kildahl, director of sustainability

Ann joined VCU in July 2021 after more than two decades in Asia, where she worked in higher education and the nonprofit sector. She served as the first Sustainability Manager at the University of Hong Kong, an urban research and teaching university with approximately 30,000 students. At the Asia Society Hong Kong Center, her work included multi-level program development and a landmark historic preservation and adaptive reuse project, now the Society’s permanent home.

Her ambition for VCU is to see sustainability practices and principles integrated into all aspects of campus life.

Originally from New York, Ann is a lifelong learner with degrees from Smith College (BA), Columbia University (MIA), and the University of Hong Kong (PhD). Outside of work, she loves biking and racket sports, learning about Virginia flora and fauna, messing about in boats, and keeping up with family and friends.

Sara Barton, senior manager, sustainability programs and policy

Sara's academic and professional backgrounds in public health, food access and organic agriculture lead her to begin a career in sustainability in 2017. Having lived in Washington, D.C. and New York City before moving to Richmond, she is especially interested in sustainability work in urban settings. Sara's professional and academic interests include sustainable urban food systems, conservation landscaping, bike-friendly urban design and community-engaged climate action. In 2022, she completed the Certificate in Sustainability Planning graduate program at VCU's Wilder School and plans to continue to expand her sustainability knowledge and skill set. When she's not at work, Sara is most likely biking, roller skating, hiking, supporting local producers at the farmers market, vibing at a concert or tending to (including singing to) her 50+ houseplants.

Lloyd Blake, urban gardens and forestry program manager

Lloyd is a lifetime Richmond resident and arrives at VCU having spent the last ten years pursuing various agricultural and horticultural interests in the state of Virginia. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from James Madison University and picked up minors in Environmental Studies and Italian along the way. Lloyd is drawn to the power that agriculture and food have to bring people and communities together and hopes to create that atmosphere in the gardens at VCU.

When not in the garden, Lloyd enjoys cycling, reading fiction and spending time with his family.

Jane Hagen, sustainability data analyst

Jane graduated from VCU in 2021 with a Master of Arts in English, focusing on ecological weird fiction. In this position, she plans to track and analyze sustainability data and help put it to use in the ongoing sustainability work at VCU. She is particularly interested in ways to approach complex, interconnected problems that exist far outside the human scale, like the climate crisis, and hopes to use data to help approach those problems in more informed ways. 

Outside of her work here, Jane can be found swimming, cooking or reading.

Parker Long, manager, sustainability administration and operations 

Parker graduated from VCU in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies. Her journey in sustainability began as an intern with VCU Sustainability, where she discovered a passion for creating positive environmental impact. Since then, Parker has continued to contribute to the field, driven by a commitment to fostering sustainable practices.

Outside of work, Parker enjoys spending time with her two dogs, Jack and Bonnie. She loves exploring the outdoors with them, whether it’s relaxing by the river, hiking, rock climbing, or traveling. Parker also enjoys fussing over house plants, listening to podcasts, and trying and usually abandoning craft projects.

Joe Kilmer, communications and engagement intern

Joe is an Arlington native and a freshman Environmental Studies major, excited for his first semester working with VCU Sustainability! As a Communications and Engagement Intern, Joe helps create videos and other content for VCU Sustainability’s various social media platforms. On Sundays, he manages the video streams for Grace & Holy Trinity Church.

Outside of work, Joe enjoys making short films, watching movies, playing basketball, and chilling.

Cedar Meade, communications and engagement intern

Cedar Grace Meade is a Junior at VCU, studying Communications Arts and minoring in Media Studies. Originally from Reston, Virginia, Cedar grew up appreciating natural retreats amidst urban environments. Their time in Richmond, Virginia has only deepened this passion for nature preservation and individual sustaining action. 

When they’re not completing homework, you can find Cedar Hiking and Kayaking along the James River. They enjoy consuming all forms of media, especially those produced by fellow VCU students through the Media Center. Otherwise, Cedar will be exploring the live music venues found all around RVA. 

With a professional interest in the Arts and Public Relations, they are excited to join the C&E team in accomplishing their Sustainability missions. During their time at VCU Sustainability, Cedar hopes to elevate environmentalist ideas and resources to a wider audience through community engagement.

Tauryn Baptiste, free store intern

Tauryn Baptiste is a senior at VCU majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies, focusing on Marketing Strategy and Product Innovation at the da Vinci Center. Tauryn is also minoring in sales, which she became passionate about while being part of VCU’s sales team. She is also co-captain of the VCU Professional Selling Team, the River City Rainmakers.

Tauryn is extremely excited to bring everything she’s learned at VCU to her role at the Free Store. She can't wait to help increase the variety and flow of donations we receive. When Tauryn’s not busy with school or work, you'll likely find her working out with friends or hanging out with family.

Sruthikaa Vishwanatham, free store intern

Sruthikaa is a senior at VCU studying marketing with a concentration in product and brand management and psychology. She is also pursuing a certificate in product innovation at the VCU da Vinci Center. As a free store intern, she leads day-to-day store operations, manages the inventory and storefront, and strategizes ways to increase donations. In her free time, she enjoys going hiking, playing badminton, and exploring Richmond.

Yelena Sanyer, urban gardens and forestry intern

Yelena is a junior in Environmental Studies from Virginia Beach, VA. Since she was tiny, she has always loved nature for its beauty and complexity: from the woods to the waves! As an Urban Gardens and Forestry intern, she helps bridge the gap between city and nature by caring for VCU’s urban green spaces, growing and harvesting food for the Ram Pantry, and preserving native biodiversity.

As the president of VCU SEEDS (Strategies for Ecology Education, Diversity, and Sustainability), she shares the world of ecology with a wide array of students in order to grow and diversify the field. Off campus, she loves to create art, hunt for organisms to ID, and collect trinkets.

Brianna Wahl, urban gardens and forestry intern

Brianna Wahl is a junior studying Chemical and Life Science Engineering with a minor in Environmental Studies. Her passion for sustainability began with a love for the outdoors, whether it be hiking, biking, or camping. She aims to help protect and advance environmental sustainability on both personal and professional levels. Through her role with VCU Sustainability, Brianna is able to pursue this goal while learning about the intricacies of urban gardening and green infrastructure. Sharing and developing this knowledge with other VCU Sustainability staff, volunteers, and friends is something that she finds both rewarding and exciting.

Adam Lumsden-Cook, free store intern

Adam is a Senior at VCU, Graduating in May of 2025 from the Urban and Regional Studies program. Originally from Richmond, VA, Adam has a passion for giving back to his community and making the area a better place for future generations from a sustainable perspective. 

As a VCU Sustainability Free Store intern, Adam’s goal is to reduce waste from discarded items left behind from college students moving out of the dorms. Adam also plans to help the Free Store organize incoming donations and input them into VCU’s inventory. This is just one way he plans on giving back to the community and to also help protect the environment. This position helps him establish experience in promoting equity, economic growth, and climate protection. 

Outside of school and work, you can find him playing basketball at the gym, playing video games, ultimate frisbee, or shooting pool. Adam is excited to combine his knack for Urban Planning with his love for the environment and community engagement.

Kirsten Ponticelli, zero waste intern

Kirsten Ponticelli is a junior majoring in Bioinformatics with minors in biology and chemistry. Her passion for sustainability began while watching her older sister choose plant-based for a plethora of reasons, including the ecological advantages. As Zero Waste Intern she helps research and communicate solutions to campus-wide waste issues. In addition to school and work Kirsten serves as the Chair of Communications for VCU VegClub, a group focused on sharing the benefits of plant-based eating. Kirsten also founded Love Your Mother Co, an annual charity event that spotlights artists local to her home of Northern Virginia while raising money for environmental non-profit organizations.