Marielle Costa-Helmsteadt works to encourage conversations about sustainability at Elon.
Marielle Costa-Helmsteadt is a sophomore at Elon, majoring in environmental & sustainability studies and political science. In addition to working as an Eco-Rep for the Office of Sustainability, Costa-Helmsteadt’s role with SGA helps to incorporate sustainability into broader decisions and initiatives at Elon.
“I work to ensure that when conversations are happening about programming or policy, we as student representatives are also considering the impacts on people, the planet, and prosperity,” Costa-Helmsteadt said
In addition to meeting regularly with other members of Student Government, Costa-Helmsteadt also works with the Environmental Advisory Council at Elon. The council is comprised of faculty, staff and students and serves to raise awareness of environmental issues and sustainable practices.
Through her work as both an Eco-Rep and SGA senator, Marielle has gained a broader understanding of sustainability and emphasized how it can relate to many different aspects of everyday life.
“Through these roles, I’ve learned a lot about the policy side of sustainable work,” Costa-Helmsteadt said. “I’ve also realized that people often think of sustainability as more complicated than it really is. In reality, it can be embedded into everyday choices and systems with intentionality and collective action.”
Finally, Costa-Helmsteadt hopes that through her work she can help show other students at Elon how they can incorporate sustainability into their own lives easily.
“I love being in these positions because they’ve shown me that sustainability doesn’t have to be overwhelming,” she said. “Through my work, I hope to keep demonstrating to Elon’s community that sustainability can be as simple as choosing reusable options at events, being mindful about where funding is directed, or just pausing to consider how a decision impacts people, the planet, and long-term prosperity!”
Visit the SGA website to view the full list of representatives from each academic and undergraduate college. For more information on sustainability initiatives and events at Elon, visit the Office of Sustainability’s website.