Meet members of our UVA community–students, faculty, engineers, facilities staff, and medical professionals–who are making impactful changes toward our ten bold sustainability goals. "Faces of Sustainability" aims to get to know them and inspire you with the stories of these change-makers’ efforts happening right here on Grounds, both large and small! Below meet Sathish, Tabatha, Alicia, and Jordan.
Meet Sathish Anabathula!
What is your role at UVA?
I am the Associate Director of Power and Light. I am responsible for power distribution, exterior lighting, and PV solar on Grounds, and I have been at UVA for more than 14 years.
What is your hometown?
Khammam, India
What are some things you are doing to support UVA’s 2030 Sustainability Plan?
I am always looking for opportunities to increase the solar footprint at UVA. I have been part of recent solar installations and EV charging on Grounds, and I am constantly working on energy efficiency and energy reduction opportunities.
Where can we find you on Grounds?
Leake building lower-level office, on a solar rooftop giving students a tour, or at new construction sites figuring out service to new buildings.
What tip do you have for people who want to take action?
No act is too small. Just take some action! Don’t wait for someone to tell you how to save you energy.
What are some fun facts about you?
I am an engineer, I am not much fun 😊 I spend my free time on small home construction, helping my kids with robotics, fixing cars, or mountain biking.
Meet Tabatha Gilbert and Alicia White, two nurses at UVA Health System!
Tabatha Gilbert
What is your role at UVA?
I am a pre-op nurse at the Outpatient Surgery Center (OPSC). I have worked at UVA since 2015, when my husband and I moved here from Ohio. I initially worked in the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) but have since transitioned to OPSC, where I have had roles as both a pre-op and a PACU nurse.
What is your hometown?
Lebanon, Ohio
What are some things you are doing to support UVA’s 2030 Sustainability Plan?
We had the opportunity to attend the International Collaboration of Perianesthesia Nurses (ICPAN) conference in Amsterdam in September 2023 and acknowledged the great work that is being done at various hospitals around the world. One of the projects that inspired us the most included strategies to encourage recycling practices and reduce waste. My colleague Alicia White and I recognized the overuse of the green plastic personal belongings bags and have a goal to replace them with reusable bins or alternatives to support the reduce initiative.
Where can we find you on Grounds?
In the basement of the Battle Building cultivating patient relationships and fostering trust and comfort as I prepare patients for their surgical procedures.
What tip do you have for people who want to take action?
Don’t hesitate to ask “why” to understand deeper motivations, make meaningful connections with others, and focus on tackling easily achievable tasks to initiate change effectively.
What are some fun facts about you?
In my free time, I love to organize, declutter, and clean (whenever my 3- and 5-year old kids let me!)
What is your most used emoji?
😂
What is your proudest accomplishment (personal or professional)?
When we had the amazing opportunity to present at the ICPAN conference in Amsterdam in September 2023. The trip was so great and the best part was being able to share it with my colleagues and friends.
What’s your favorite place on Earth?
The beach, any beach!
Alicia White
What is your role at UVA?
I have been a RN for 18 years and have worked at UVA since 2011. Since being here at UVA, I have worked at The Women’s Place - Labor and Delivery and am currently a Clinician 4 in pre-op at the Outpatient Surgery Center.
What is your hometown?
Charlottesville, Virginia
What are some things you are doing to support UVA’s 2030 Sustainability Plan?
Currently, we are working on a project that encourages recycling efforts and reduction of plastic waste. My colleague and I recognized the overuse of the green plastic personal belongings bags in the hospital, and we are implementing the use of reusable bins to support the Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle initiative. We both recognized the environmental issues posed by green plastic belongings bags and are committed to addressing this issue head on. Incorporating strategies such as this helps to support the strategic plan in regard to being responsible stewards of resources and alignment with clinical and academic research.
Where can we find you on Grounds?
Somewhere having a meeting or participating in a WebEx discussing innovative ways to decrease plastic waste to improve recycling efforts! Or, having in-the-moment conversations with colleagues sharing why practicing reduce, reuse, and recycle habits benefits one’s health and helps to safeguard the environment.
What tip do you have for people who want to take action?
Just make the decision to do whatever it is that you are seeking to accomplish and be committed to the process. Always have a positive mindset, be solution driven, and keep your attention on the results that you want to achieve even during difficult moments.
What are some fun facts about you?
I love to laugh and enjoy telling jokes, I usually choose restaurants based on their dessert menu, and I have never met a stranger.
What is your most used emoji?
😊
What is your proudest accomplishment (personal or professional)?
Our podium presentation in Amsterdam this past September for the International Collaboration of Perianesthesia Nurses (ICPAN) conference to present our multimodal educational approach on the management of Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity (LAST).
What’s your favorite place on Earth?
The beach. I absolutely love the sound of the ocean and it’s very relaxing to watch the beach waves.
Meet Jordan Perez!
What is your role at UVA?
I am a second-year student here at UVA. I am a Civil Engineering student in the Engineering School.
What is your hometown?
Harrisonburg, Virginia
What are some things you are doing to support UVA’s 2030 Sustainability Plan?
I am currently working on restarting the first-year dorm energy race for students to participate in later this spring. The energy race is a competition between dorms to see who can reduce their energy usage the most! The hope is to make being sustainable a fun competition and get students thinking more about how their actions impact the environment. I am currently working with the Office of Sustainability to make this a reality.
Where can we find you on Grounds?
You can always find me at Green Games, sorting trash with the Office of Sustainability!
What tip do you have for people who want to take action?
Don’t bite off more than you can chew! Everyone is super busy in their lives all the time, and trying to change everything in your life to be more sustainable will just lead to burnout. Start super small and try to mix your sustainability goals with your other goals. Say you want to save money: turn down the heat during the winter by just a couple of degrees. You’ll save money and help the environment!
What are some fun facts about you?
I have been a vegetarian my whole life, and I love playing ukulele!
What is your most used emoji?
😎
What’s your favorite place on Earth?
The Great Barrier Reef in Australia!