The Planet Blue Ambassador (PBA) program educates students, staff, and faculty members about sustainability initiatives at the University of Michigan and inspires them to get engaged and lead through personal action. One of the program’s many activities is coordinating Planet Blue’s presence at New Student Orientation and the many Welcome to Michigan events. The individual selected for this role will be involved in all aspects of planning, implementing, and assessing Planet Blue’s engagement of new students through these activities in 2025.

Responsibilities:

• Staff all New Student Orientation events May through August (20-30 days, some weekend work on July 12, August 2, and August 23).

• Develop and implement tabling activities for orientation days related to university sustainability.

• Coordinate between multiple university sustainability units when planning orientation activities. 

• Staff additional orientation events and programs specific to various schools, colleges, and identities. 

• Staff the Planet Blue table at Welcome events including Festifall and the Go North Block Party. 

• Staff a compost station at the Zero Waste Post-Convocation Picnic. 

• Assist distributing sustainability resources to off-campus students through Beyond the Diag canvassing.

• Assist in creating sustainability-related material for “Ask-Me Info” stations during Welcome. 

• Develop and lead 1 to 3 smaller-scale sustainability events for during Welcome, such as a nature walk through the Arb, a drop in Planet Blue Ambassador training, or a Self-Care and sustainability workshop.

• Staff the Planet Blue Ambassador table at Earthfest. 

• Advertise and present the PBA training to groups of students, focusing on RAs and Residence Hall groups in the first month of school. 

• Additional tasks as needed.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement: 

At the Graham Sustainability Institute, our dedication to academic excellence for the public good is inseparable from our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our mission of engaging, empowering, and supporting faculty, staff, and students to foster sustainability solutions includes ensuring that each member of our community thrives. We believe that diversity is key to empowerment, and the advancement of sustainability knowledge, learning, and leadership.

To Apply: Submit your cover letter and resume on the U-M Student Employment website. Resumes should be no longer than a page. Cover letters should address your past experience and interest specific to this role. 

Hours: 20-30 hours per week over the Summer, 10-15 hours per week during the Fall Term.

Deadline to Apply: February 14 for priority consideration

*A cover letter that addresses your past experience and interest specific to this role is required to apply.*

• Enthusiastic about public speaking and engaging with new people.

• Strong understanding of the first year experience at U-M. 

• Experience as an RA, camp counselor, or similar.

• Past courses in education, behavior change, or communication strategies. 

• Basic understanding of sustainability best practices and the links between sustainability, well-being, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

• Excitement to learn and try new things. 

• Ability to thrive in self-directed work.

• Consistently professional with regard to communication, punctuality, and reliability.

• Familiarity with Canvas and Canva.

• Planet Blue Ambassador strongly preferred.