The University’s Fashion Society may seem like a fun way to appreciate a passion for fashion, but to Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences student Gabrielle Leach, it’s also a way to promote sustainability and enhance awareness of the impact of fast fashion to consumers.
As the club’s treasurer, Leach is helping to boost the organization’s efforts to incorporate sustainability into its activities and events. The club has featured guest speakers from thrifting companies, held DIY and upcycling events to give old clothes new life, and collaborated with environment-focused campus organizations such as EcoReps to promote sustainability education.
Leach, an undergraduate student enrolled in the environmental resource management major housed in the Institute for Sustainable Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Science, with minors in sustainability leadership and energy business and finance, said her education is closely tied to her passion for sustainability. That intense focus developed at a young age due to her proximity to the ocean and local forests in Millstone Township, N.J.
She said this passion has led her to where she is now: advocating for more sustainability in the fashion industry and striving toward a career in environmental policy or a related field.
“I’m trying to bring a more sustainable lens to the club because fast fashion is one of the major contributors to climate change right now,” Leach said.
She noted that fast fashion may contribute to pollution in waterways, in addition to producing carbon emissions, both of which exacerbate existing climate challenges.
During her time at Penn State, Leach said she has found many opportunities to get help in her journey, with the College of Agricultural Sciences being especially beneficial.
“Our advisers are great, and our professors care about us so much,” Leach said. “I never feel like a number in the classroom. My professors always interact with us and they’re all passionate about what they teach, which I think is wonderful.”
Leach said she also appreciates the breadth and flexibility of the ERM major. These qualities were critical at the beginning of her educational experience because they enabled her to explore options related to sustainability.
This past summer, Leach traveled to Tanzania as part of a class to learn about interactions between human health and the environment. She was surprised by and attracted to the country’s emphasis on sustainability and ecology, which can contribute to health.
To fund her trip, Leach engaged in the Sustainability Scholars Program through Penn State Global. Doing so allowed her to not only ease the financial pressures associated with studying abroad, but also to incorporate sustainability themes into her trip.
She is co-chair of the Student Sustainability Advisory Council, which seeks to advise Penn State’s sustainability planning in conjunction with the Sustainability Institute, Finance and Business, and Student Affairs.
Although she was on the council before her involvement with the Sustainability Scholars Program, her ongoing participation in the council also fulfills one of the requirements of the Sustainability Scholars Program. That program seeks to have participants continue their involvement with sustainability on campus.
Tammy Shannon, academic advising coordinator and environmental resource management course instructor, commended Leach’s commitment to sustainability. She suggests that the ERM major helps students like Leach to gain a foundation in environmental science while pursuing interests in areas such as sustainability and environmental policy.
“Gabrielle has a passion for protecting and advocating for a sustainable world and the environment,” said Shannon, who is Leach’s adviser. “Our conversations focusing on sustainability and the environment have centered on solving real-world problems, student engagement opportunities and pursuing law and policy.”
Through her work with the Student Sustainability Advisory Council, her coursework and other opportunities, Leach hopes to foster an affection for sustainability among other students. She argues that sustainability is a great catalyst to bring people together to better the planet and improve humanity.
“Sustainability is for everyone,” Leach said. “It doesn't matter who you are or what you study. Everyone can apply aspects of sustainability to themselves and use it to connect with people of varying majors and passions.”
Categories: Pennsylvania, General