Skip to content Skip to main navigation Report an accessibility issue
Full team after meeting.

Staff

Jay Price (he/him)

Sustainability Manager

jayprice@utk.edu

865-974-3480

Contact Jay for questions about:

Jay Price has a B.A. degree in Sociology and an M.S. degree in Bioregional Planning from Utah State University, as well as an MBA from the University of Memphis. Jay began his career at UT in 2007 as the Environmental Coordinator in the Facilities Services Department and as the program grew he was promoted to Recycling Manager in 2013. With the merger of UT Recycling and the Office of Sustainability in 2019, Jay was promoted to Sustainability Manager.

Brad Moats

Recycling Supervisor

mmoats2@utk.edu

Contact Brad for questions about:

Brad Moats was born in Knoxville, TN and has lived here all but 1 year. That year was spent living abroad in Iceland working for Icelandic government researching invasive plants such as lupin. Brad holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business and is currently completing a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, both from Tusculum University. Brad is a pioneer when it comes to sustainability, pairing the interactive green technology with the real-world practical applications that are on-campus. Brad is committed to making UTK the best recycling program in the United States.

Dave Byrne

Interim Compost Supervisor

dbyrne1@utk.edu

Contact Dave for questions about:

  • Compost Facility tours
  • Compost Operations
  • Acceptable compost materials
  • Compost research opportunities

Dave obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Theater from Northern Illinois University. He joined the Sustainability team in May 2017 and has held many roles in recycling and compost operations.

Ella Dohrmann (they/them)

Compost Logistics Coordinator

edohrma1@utk.edu

Contact Ella for questions about:

  • Food waste/organics collection opportunities 
  • Any issues or questions about current food waste/organics collections
  • Free finished compost for UT affiliated projects

Ella moved here from Montana in 2021 to serve with AmeriCorps at the UT Compost Facility after graduating from the University of Montana with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies, a minor in Climate Change and Wilderness studies, and a certificate in Environmental Ethics. They are excited to be here on campus to help expand the compost program into new places and to grow as an individual in a new city and state. In their free time you can probably find them skateboarding, singing karaoke, or hanging out at a brewery with friends.

Aoife Whitaker (she/her)

Outreach Coordinator

awhitak8@utk.edu

Contact Aoife for questions about:
  • Sustainable event planning
  • Volunteer opportunities
  • UT Sustainability social media
  • UT Sustainability newsletter– Greenleaf
  • P.O.W.E.R. Challenge, Biketoberfest, Race to Zero Waste, Earth Month
Aoife is a Tennessee native and UT alumna who is excited to spend this year of service back at her alma mater. She graduated in 2020 with a degree in Political Science and minors in Sustainability and Global Studies before moving into a van to travel America full time. She is looking forward to being back in Knoxville, educating students about sustainability and helping to better the environment in a region she loves dearly.

Daniel Covington (he/him)

Data Analyst and Office Administrator

dcoving5@vols.utk.edu

Contact Daniel for questions about:

  • University greenhouse gas emissions
  • Organizing stream pickups
  • The Residence Hall Composting Pilot
  • The “Green Fee” (Student Environmental Initiatives Committee)
  • The Committee on the Campus Environment (CCE)
Daniel was born in Knoxville but moved to Claiborne County in elementary school. He then moved back to Knoxville to study at UT, graduating in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science. During his undergraduate studies, he majored in Geology and Environmental Studies and minored in German. In his free time, Daniel enjoys knitting, taking his pet tortoise for walks, and 3D modeling.

Kori Myers

Academic Engagement Coordinator

kmyers2@utk.edu

Contact Kori for questions about:

  • Class presentations about the Office of Sustainability
  • Office of Sustainability Internship Program
  • Residence Hall Sustainability Representatives Program
  • Sustainability Ambassador Program
  • Academic presentations
  • Sustainability Symposium
Kori moved back to Knoxville after graduating with her Ph.D. in 20th and 21st Century French and Spanish Peninsular Literatures from the University of Alabama. Her Alma Mater is The Florida State University. She is new to the field of Sustainability, but has always been environmentally conscious and alarmingly concerned about climate change. She enjoys immensely working with the student interns at the Office of Sustainability, as well as conducting presentations to classes across campus to educate students about the importance of the Office of Sustainability. She is an avid pool player and an insatiable reader. She loves her two Pitbulls and three cats beyond measure.

Gianni Tesfaye

Zero Waste Coordinator

gtesfaye@utk.edu

Mak Harmon (they/them)

Social Impact Coordinator

mharmo18@vols.utk.edu

Contact Mak for questions about:

  • All things related to the UTK Free Store, including open hours, pop-ups, donations, and partnerships/collaborations!
  • UTK’s community garden space, the Grow Lab
  • Food recovery operations on campus and expanding current recovery efforts
Mak is long-time East Tennessee resident and UTK alumni with a degree in French and Anti-Colonial Theory and Praxis. In 2021, they joined the Office of Sustainability as the Free Store Student Manager but decided to return in 2022 through CAC AmeriCorps to continue and expand socially sustainable initiatives on campus through the Free Store, Grow Lab, and food recovery. Mak uses their unique educational background as a guiding point for all efforts related to diverting textile and food waste from the landfill; providing campus with access to gardening space and the knowledge to grow their own food; and, most importantly, meeting the campus community members’ basic needs.        

Samantha Daulton (she/her)

Alternative Energy and Transportation Coordinator

Contact Samantha for questions about:
  • Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC)
  • Solar power initiatives
  • Electric vehicles on campus
  • Biketoberfest/National Bike Month
  • Reducing GHG emissions from energy on campus
Samantha graduated from Loyola University Chicago in May 2022 with a Bachelors of Arts in Environmental Policy and minors in Political Science and History. She moved to Knoxville in January 2023 to work with the Office of Sustainability and is looking forward to exploring the city and the nearby national park. In her free time, Samantha enjoys embroidering, water coloring, hiking, and hanging out with her cat, Horseshoe.

David Brown

Recycling Truck Driver

David Brown started at UT in 1968 and became the first full-time dedicated Recycling Truck Driver taking on that role in 2006. He retired from full-time service in 2014 with nearly 46 years of service. He returned as a part-time retiree shortly after retirement and continues driving the recycling truck 3 nights a week.

 

 

 

 

 

Student Assistants

 

Grow Lab Team:

Salah Abdul-Razacq

Emily Kersey

Max Lubelczyk

 

Free Store Team:

Natalia Acuña

Emily Amann

Daria Baker

Mariah Laux

Blake McClurkin

 

Data Team:

Sashan Amarasignhe

 

Outreach Team:

Leah Falin

Abigail Williams

 

Compost Team:

Sean Crooks

Duncan McNamara

Mary McWaters

Wyatt Miner

Sam Taylor

Lauren Williams

 

 

Recycling

Operations Team:

Terry Collette

Jonah Harris

Samuel Long

Brian Robertson

Claire Vanessendelft

 

Academic Engagement Team:

Emma Blanks