Campus Sustainability Leaders Celebrated at Annual Appreciation Event
The Sustainability Leaders’ Appreciation Event was held at the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden on October 23rd to celebrate and recognize the diverse contributions of the faculty, staff, and students who make up our campus sustainability community.
Invited guests included members of the President’s Commission on Sustainability (PCS), employees in the Sustainability Champions program, the current cohorts of students in the Sustainability Fellows program and CPaCE’s sustainability-focused graduate program, and faculty who have taken steps to integrate sustainability and climate literacy into their courses.
Wall of Wow
These leaders and others were highlighted on the “Wall of Wow,” a 50-foot-long visual display showcasing the individuals, groups, and departments who are engaged in moving the university's vision of a more just and sustainable world forward in various ways.
“All together, about 650 people are represented on the Wall of Wow, which is a true testament to how much sustainability is a community value here and how it truly takes a village to move our goals forward,” said Holli Fajack, sustainability manager and PCS co-chair.
Inaugural Sustainability Leadership Awards
Another highlight of the event was the presentation of the Sustainability Leadership Awards to the first group of faculty and staff recipients. This awards program was launched in 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 through their advocacy, activism, engagement, and research both on and off campus. The first-ever student recipients were selected during the spring 2025 semester and received their awards at the Green Generation Showcase in April but the faculty and staff awards were intentionally postponed until the fall so that the winners could be recognized during the October event.
Faculty Awardees
Three distinguished faculty received awards this year for exemplary achievement in two or more of the areas of teaching, research, service and/or leadership. Dr. Elaine Villanueva Bernal of the Chemistry and Biochemistry department and Kent Hayward from Cinematic Arts received the Changemaker Award and Nataliya Acc-Nikmehr received the Honorary Award.
Dr. Elaine Villanueva Bernal was recognized for sustainability leadership demonstrated through their innovative teaching, community engagement, and institutional collaboration. Over nearly 20 years of chemistry instruction, Dr. Bernal has designed impactful and creative assignments that connect science to environmental justice, prompting students to explore the health and ecological effects of everyday products. Additionally, Dr. Bernal’s role as Co-Principal Investigator for the SEED Project showcases their commitment to expanding sustainability education through STEAM initiatives, supporting educators and youth in designing climate-resilient solutions for their neighborhoods. “This award is an opportunity to be creative about chemistry and really showcase what interdisciplinary work means in promoting sustainability across all disciplines,” Dr. Bernal stated.
Kent Hayward is leading a transformative movement in sustainable filmmaking. Through his approach to teaching current courses as well as his newly designed course called CINE 313: Sustainability and Film, Hayward integrates environmental responsibility into film production. He recently published a book entitled Green Filmmaking: A Guide to Sustainable Movie Production, and is a co-founder of the Green Film School Alliance (GFSA), which now boasts over 50 member schools across six countries. GFSA promotes sustainable practices in film education, while CSULB’s student-led chapter has secured microgrants to develop Green Film Kits for campus filmmakers. “This year, I saw my students start a club on campus related to sustainability in filmmaking,” commented Hayward. “It’s great to see something happening and that it’s not just me.”
Nataliya Acc-Nikmehr is driving transformative change in environmental education and leadership through a business lens. She developed the MGMT 459 Sustainable Business Management course and has been a core instructor in the MS in Sustainability Management & Policy program, consistently updating curriculum to reflect real-world challenges. Her latest initiative—a proposed Sustainable Business Minor—aims to expand sustainability education across disciplines. “It’s great to be awarded and acknowledged for something that you’re passionate about,” said Acc-Nikmehr. “This commitment increases sustainability awareness and enforces more implementations of sustainable practice for our students, guiding them in the right direction.”
Read more about the faculty award winners and other impressive nominees.
Staff Awardees
Two employees were selected to receive the Staff Sustainability Leadership Award based on their achievements related to two or more of the areas of student engagement, collaboration, leadership, and/or campus/department impact. Special Projects and Sustainability Manager for ASI Kimberly Cruz received the Changemaker Award and Pedro Ramirez Godoy, Assistant Manager of Landscaping and Grounds Services received the Honorary Award.
Kimberly Cruz is the driving force behind Sustain U, ASI’s student lead sustainability program. According to the students who nominated her for the award, Sustain U has evolved under her leadership into a dynamic, student-powered initiative that bridges classroom learning with real-world impact through events like Compost Happens, Trash Talkers, and Grow Beach Garden workshops. Her mentorship fosters leadership, professional development, and a deep commitment to ecological and social responsibility. Cruz’s collaborative approach, inclusive programming, and strategic partnerships have amplified sustainability efforts across campus, making her a standout leader whose work not only reduces CSULB’s environmental footprint but also cultivates the next generation of sustainability champions. "Receiving this award affirms my ability to lead with impact—fostering growth, transformation, and inspiring others such as students, faculty, staff, and community at large to become leaders themselves," said Cruz. "I've helped create a culture of growth and self-leadership, encouraging students to embrace change and take ownership of their development."
Pedro Ramirez Godoy is quietly driving sustainable operations and campus greening efforts that often go unrecognized by the larger campus community. In just three months, his team in the Grounds department has planted over 110 native and adaptive trees, enhancing biodiversity, reducing the heat island effect, and creating healthier outdoor spaces. He has also led water conservation efforts by upgrading irrigation systems to reduce waste and operating costs. Additionally, Pedro oversees waste hauling operations, collaborating across departments to divert recyclables and compostables from landfills, and coordinating donation drives during student move-ins and move-outs. His proactive, collaborative approach exemplifies environmental stewardship and sets a high standard for sustainable campus operations.
To learn more about ways to get involved with campus sustainability initiatives or nominate a student, staff, or faculty member for the 2026 awards, visit www.csulb.edu/sustainability.
