SDG Action Alliance
About Us
Director: Dr. Brooke Hansen 
Dr. Brooke Hansen kbhansen@usf.edu
Dr. Brooke Hansen has been working in the field of sustainability for many years on
community projects, sustainable development, and education around sustainability issues.
She founded the SDG Action Alliance at the ßÙßÇÂþ» with Dr. Heather
Rothrock in the SDG class in fall of 2019. Dr. Hansen is the Director of the Sustainable
Tourism M.A. Program. Working in tourism and agriculture, she teaches courses on sustainable
development in these fields and works with a number of organizations on striving for
the SDGs including Turn the Tide for Tarpon, the Tampa Bay Network to End Hunger,
and the US Green Building Council Tampa Bay Governing Council.
Sustainable Materials Project Manager: Sheila Sullivan
Sheila Sullivan
Sheila is pursuing her MA in the Climate Change & Sustainability program at the Patel College of Global Sustainability. Sheila completed a certificate in Sustainable Energy in Spring 2021. Sheila is passionate about developing sustainability strategies to reduce our reliance on products containing fossil fuels for community resiliency and energy security. In her quest to reduce single-use plastic in the region, Sheila intends to investigate the efficacy of biodegradable single-use compostable plastics in a typical backyard compost. The bioplastic demonstration project at the Rosebud Continuum will experiment with compostable single-use utensils, bio bags, and straws to research how these items break down in backyard compost. The goal is to provide consumers with product recommendations on what to buy, raise awareness that bioplastics require Industrial Composting Facilities to decompose, and encourage choosing sustainable, reusable alternatives. In addition, Sheila hopes to inform, inspire, and create adaptative solutions to eliminate single-use plastic through a system thinking nexus approach aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Social Media and Youth Coordinator: Courtney Wright
Courtney Wright
courtneyannw@usf.edu
Courtney Wright is currently enrolled in the M.A. Program in Global Sustainability at the Patel College of Global Sustainability with a concentration in Sustainability Policy. She aspires to work with the United Nations to help create policies to combat climate change and help educate others on sustainability needs. While working with the SDG Action Alliance she hopes to reach out to the youth in the local community to familiarize them with the SDGs by educating and creating hands-on opportunities for them to understand the implementation of the SDGs.
Social Media and Plastics Solutions Project Coordinator: Tim Penoyer
Tim is a former Army Medic currently enrolled in the M.A. Program in Global Sustainability at the Patel College of Global Sustainability with a concentration in Sustainability Policy. Upon graduation, his goal is to work for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as an Environmental Protection Specialist. His ultimate dream is to eventually transition into environmental lobbying and creating his own non-profit organization. While working with the SDG Action Alliance, he hopes to gain valuable and fulfilling experience through helping to make a lasting impact in the local community.
Digital Interpretation & Virtual Product Coordinator: Sophia Annis
Sophia is a M.A. candidate in the Sustainable Tourism program at the Patel College of Global Sustainability. From her time in the program, she has been trained in innovative tourism interpretation technologies like the Matterport 360 3D Camera. Some of her projects have included promoting and preserving Egmont Key and other local initiatives to align and implement the SDGs within Tampa Bay. Sophia's goal is to apply her collective knowledge from her internships to fight single-use plastics with Oceana, encourage Agritourism with Fat Beet Farm, and help the SDG Action Alliance to connect the hearts and minds of Tampa Bay residents and visitors with the SDGs
Digital Interpretation & Virtual Product Coordinator: Samantha Vorce
Samantha Vorce is a MA candidate in the Sustainable Tourism program at the Patel College of Global Sustainability (PCGS). She also has a certificate in Food Sustainability and Security from PCGS. Samantha hopes to work in environmental injustice in the tourism industry and in food insecure communities. She has worked with The Coalition of Community Gardens of Tampa Bay, Rosebud Continuum (an agriculture education center), and the Egmont Key Alliance. She has experience in social media planning, Matterport digital technology, Intuiface Software, and interpretation training. Through Samantha’s work with the SDG Action Alliance she will continue to use Matterport virtualization technologies to interpret natural and cultural assets at Egmont Key and beyond.
Cultural Heritage Coordinator: Alison Farr
Alison is a MA candidate at the Patel College of Global Sustainability, concentrating her studies on Sustainable Tourism. She is a trained Anthropologist and is passionate about the preservation and protection of cultural heritage sites, with a special interest in Indigenous heritage. During her time at PCGS, she has received training in 3-D imaging technology and is incorporating this into multiple tourism projects, with the hope of engaging local and global communities in educational experiences that will help to shift the tourism industry into more sustainable practices. As the Cultural Heritage Coordinator for the SDG Action Alliance, she is committed to exploring and promoting opportunities for tourism operators and participants to align with the UN's SDGs, with a deep focus on social responsibilities in the tourism sector.
Sustainable Tourism Consulting Coordinator: Jesse Coates
Jesse Coates is currently enrolled at the Patel College of Global Sustainability pursuing an M.A. in Global Sustainability in the Sustainable Tourism concentration with a certificate in Food Sustainability and Security. She joined the SDG Alliance due to her interest in the interconnectedness of the SDGs and tourism. She plans to continue her ongoing collaborative work with the Egmont Key Alliance to bring more cultural interpretation to the island and raise awareness of current issues and possibilities for preservation at the key. During her time at Patel College, she has been trained in various interpretation and video technologies including Matterport 360. In the future, she hopes to continue work related to tourism consulting, cultural heritage monitoring and interpretation.
Cities and the SDGs Project Coordinator: Brittney Glennon
Brittney is a graduate student at the Patel College of Global Sustainability with a concentration in policy. She currently works at the Environmental Protection Commissions for Hillsborough County in the Waste Division. Her goal in the SDG Action Alliance is to create a project that will highlight how the City of Tampa is accomplishing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and increase local knowledge of sustainability in Tampa and how people can help.
Sustainable Business Planning and Project Coordinator: Luke Westlake
Luke Westlake is currently enrolled in the M.A program in Global Sustainability with a concentration in Sustainable Business at the Patel College of Global Sustainability. Luke’s passion is to promote sustainable practices within businesses and government entities. He has assisted several local businesses in Tampa complete the B Impact Assessment to become a Certified B Corporation. While working with the SDG Action Alliance he hopes to support local businesses and governments to help them align their goals with the 17 SDG’s.
Steering Committee: Coming soon! Please let us know if you are interested in serving kbhansen@usf.edu
Contact and Social Media:
Email: sdgactionalliance@gmail.com
Facebook:
Twitter: @SdgUsf
Linkedin: