Sustainability

Facilities Management

Staff 

Headshot of Sara BartonSara Barton, interim director

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.

Headshot of Lloyd BlakeLloyd 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.

Headshot of Jane HagenJane 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 LongParker 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.

Headshot of Anna MaloneAnna Malone, zero waste program manager

Anna joins VCU with over seven years of experience in sustainability, having worked across nonprofit, consulting and municipal sectors. Her work has spanned national and international contexts — from reducing plastic pollution and supporting community recycling in Central America, to developing zero waste initiatives for major hospitality groups and sports venues in the U.S.

She holds a B.S. in Economics from Clemson University and additional certifications in TRUE Zero Waste (GBCI), Circular Economy (Ellen MacArthur Foundation) and Social Impact Strategy (University of Pennsylvania). 

Anna believes waste is a powerful lens through which to view climate, equity and culture. What and how we throw away tells a story — and opens the door to change. At VCU, she brings a global lens to local environmental challenges, with a particular focus on systems thinking and source reduction.

Outside of work, Anna enjoys spending time with her rescue Frenchie, Moo, practicing her Spanish, getting her hands in the soil and exploring Virginia’s abundant waterways.

Interns

Communications and Engagement Team

Photo of Ayla BramblettAyla Bramblett, communications and engagement intern

Ayla is a junior working towards her B.F.A. in communication arts and a minor in nonprofit management and administration. She is interested in how sustainability can be integrated into everyday life and how it is a facet of other forms of activism, such as climate justice. She’s enthusiastic about becoming a more sustainable person and helping others find on-campus resources.
Outside the office, she volunteers and directs the Chinese Student Association at VCU’s Culture Show. You can find Ayla relaxing with her cat, Guppie, and working on her large painting projects.

Kacy LeeKacy Lee, communications and engagement intern

Kacy is a VCU Mass Communications senior with a concentration in digital journalism. Originally from Northern Virginia, they are interested in how to create more sustainable urban areas and give back to nature in everyday lives. Outside of VCU Sustainability, they also currently serve on campus as the Speaker of the Undergraduate VCU Student Government Association.

In their downtime, Kacy loves playing online video games, dancing, listening to music, and hanging out with their friends (and their cats!). They’ are looking forward to assisting VCU Sustainability in their eco-friendly outreach efforts.

Headshot of McCenzie MurphyMcCenzie Murphy, communications and engagement intern

McCenzie is a graduate student at VCU Brandcenter, where she is studying Advertising and Brand Strategy. She is originally from Texarkana, Texas, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in communications from Prairie View A&M University in 2024. With a passion for innovative storytelling and consumer experiences, McCenzie is particularly interested in the intersection of sustainability and marketing — finding creative ways to inspire conscious living.

Outside of school and work, she loves reading, cooking, listening to music, and spending quality time with friends, family and her puppy.

Alexa RobinsonAlexa Robinson, communications and engagement intern

 Alexa is a senior at VCU studying marketing with a concentration in communications and analytics. Alexa is originally from Chesapeake, VA, and is excited to use some of her knowledge to aid her take on this role with VCU Sustainability. She is excited to learn how to be sustainable, while also sharing information with other VCU students on how they can incorporate sustainability into their day-to-day lives.

Outside of school and work, she enjoys hanging out with friends and family, working out at the gym, and cooking. She is looking forward to interning with VCU Sustainability and learning more about their outreach.

Gardens and Forestry Team

Max Cisneros, gardens and forestry intern

Max is a junior studying biology with a minor in environmental studies. Originally from Fredericksburg, Virginia, Max has an interest in botany and sustainable gardening practices. His studies and research experience drive him towards a focus on preserving the local ecosystem and native species. He looks forward to spending time outside working on our local gardens to make campus greener. 

Outside of the garden, you’ll find Max at the climbing gym, backpacking, cycling or going on walks in The Fan to grab ice cream. 

Aedan ColeAedan Coble, gardens and forestry intern

Aedan is a second year student at VCU. He loves to volunteer for national parks and small construction groups. There he has enjoyed working to get non-native plants out of parks and construct small creeks so that the native plants could have a new source of water. Through his role with VCU Sustainability, Aedan is excited to help bring more native plants to VCU and to also teach students at VCU how to grow natural resources and promote sustainability.

Maggie PletcherMaggie Pletcher, gardens and forestry intern

Maggie is a senior studying environmental studies at VCU with a strong interest in landscape ecology. Maggie is especially passionate about transforming urban areas to support both people and biodiversity. She looks forward to learning more about native gardening and landscaping through this internship experience. 

Outside of school and work, you can often find Maggie on the trail, practicing yoga or wandering through a farmer’s market.

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.

Zero Waste Team

Jordan BurkeJordan Burke, zero waste intern

 Jordan is a junior at the VCU School of the Arts pursuing a double major in fashion merchandising and sustainable innovation, complemented by a minor in marketing. She chose to pursue sustainability after learning more about the fashion industry’s vast environmental impact, including textile waste, water pollution and consumption, and carbon emissions. As a zero waste intern, she looks forward to applying her current industry experience to broader waste management efforts.

In her free time, she likes to hike, browse local thrift stores or enjoy a coffee at her favorite local spot. She’s thrilled about the opportunity to contribute to current initiatives for reducing waste on campus through research and hands-on work.