UC Riverside’s Bonnie Reiss Leading on Climate fellows are making strides in sustainability, with two CHASS undergraduate students at the forefront of efforts to reduce food waste, engage students, and influence university climate policies. Funded by the UC President’s Global Climate Leadership Council, the fellowship program supports student projects on advancing climate action and sustainable agricultural practices, according to the UC Office of the President’s website.

The UCR Leading on Climate fellowships are administered by the Department of Society, Environment, and Health Equity within CHASS. Fellows receive a $5,000 stipend and mentorship from UCR staff to guide their initiatives and measure impact in areas such as planning, decarbonization, sustainable food and agriculture, and student engagement.

Meet the CHASS Leading on Climate Fellows

Victoria Podakova - Climate Action Student Engagement Fellow

As a third-year political science student, one of Victoria Podakova’s main passions is environmental advocacy. Podakova was motivated to pursue the fellowship opportunity because of her experience as an outreach director at Sustainable UCR, a student-led organization focusing on on-campus sustainability initiatives, and her role as a marketing director at Green Campus Action Plan (GCAP), an undergraduate student committee aiming to educate UCR students about sustainable practices.

“I am extremely dedicated to advocating for environmental sustainability and spreading information on campus about various opportunities we have to contribute to the cause,” Podakova said.

As a Climate Action Student Engagement Fellow, Podakova will engage students and build community awareness of UCR's climate action goals while collaborating with the Office of Sustainability, GCAP, and Sustainable UCR. In addition to the $5000 stipend, Podakova received a $1000 programming budget to conduct her work. 

“I feel incredibly grateful to receive this opportunity, and the recognition for my impact on campus for environmental sustainability awareness,” she said. “My main goals are spreading awareness and creating connections between clubs and students on campus on issues of climate action and environmental sustainability.”

Podakova intends to utilize her experience from campus organizations to develop awareness surrounding UCR’s climate action goals. She will also use funding to host events on campus to vocalize sustainability efforts, practices, and ideas.

“I plan to educate students on environmental decisions and changes we can all make in our daily lives that are more sustainable alternatives,” she said. Activities and events include thrift markets that help students declutter and repurpose items from their homes.

Podakova anticipates a few roadblocks in spreading sustainability awareness during her time as a fellow. One main challenge includes engaging students who may not initially be interested in learning about UCR’s climate action goals, according to Podakova. To overcome this, she plans to make sustainability relatable by drawing on her personal experiences. 

“I began to be interested in sustainable practices through a Parson Paris fashion program… [which] challenged students to research the history of the fashion industry and how it has impacted our environment,” Podakova said. “I learned about what sustainability is and how I can incorporate it into my life to help sustain our environment and the planet.”

“I hope I learn more about how students feel about environmental sustainability, and how I can help them find a personal connection to the cause to help make a difference,” she said.

Looking ahead, Podakova aims to continue fostering engagement in climate action and sustainability at a larger scale.

“My long-term goal is to go into policy making for environmental sustainability,” she said. “This fellowship will help grant me the support and opportunities I need to succeed post-graduation.”

Danielle Ma - Sustainable Food and Agriculture Fellow

Danielle Ma, a third-year student majoring in political science, is dedicated to tackling food sustainability and reducing waste, an interest sparked by taking sustainability courses at UCR. Returning from a summer volunteering at climate activist organizations, becoming a Leading on Climate fellow aligns with Ma’s interest in the fight against climate change.

“I’m super grateful for this opportunity,” Ma said. “I’m looking forward to working with everyone this year.”

As a Sustainable Food and Agriculture fellow, Ma’s work consists of reducing food waste on campus and engaging with the UCR community on sustainable food practices and their environmental benefits. 

Ma will also support the expansion of the UCR Food Recovery Network (FRN), an initiative that collects and redistributes surplus foods on campus while collaborating with the Basic Needs Department and UCR Dining Services.

“My overall goal is to prevent food waste through increasing the productivity of food surplus collection and redistribution on campus,” Ma said. “I’m hoping to utilize FRN’s strategies to redirect this potential waste into meals that could be given to students instead through Basic Needs.”

“My current plan is to turn the UCR FRN chapter into a student organization,” Ma said. As a club, the FRN chapter will be easily accessible to students and result in more engagement and involvement through new student positions and events such as tablings. According to Ma, expanding the chapter will lead to more efficient food waste reduction and redistribution.

“What I ultimately want is to create a long-lasting food waste reduction effort that extends past this fellowship,” she said.

Ma is also motivated to continue her experience in climate action by working with similar organizations following graduation. Ma aspires to work as a policy advisor or analyst in the public sector, conducting research related to environmental justice. She also hopes to eventually contribute to non-governmental organizations through research, helping address climate issues at a grassroots level.

For more information about the fellowship, please visit the UCOP Leading on Climate website.

FEATURED PHOTO. Left to right: Victoria Podakova and Danielle Ma.