Meet the 2025 Pitt Sustainability Awardees

The University of Pittsburgh has announced the winners of the 2025 Pitt Sustainability Awards, which honor students, faculty, staff and groups who are making meaningful contributions to campus sustainability.

These awardees exemplify the spirit of sustainability at Pitt, demonstrating how individual actions, academic research and group efforts come together to build a more sustainable campus and region.

Keep reading for the full list of recipients.

Erika Ninos Student Leadership Award

Neeha Kolli, an environmental science major in the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, has championed sustainability since her first year at Pitt. She’s been active with Plant 2 Plate, Greek Life initiatives and Clinicians for Climate Action. As managing student director of the Student Office of Sustainability, Kolli developed a greenhouse gas inventory tool for UPMC hospitals.

Student awardees

Kelly Barko (MED ’22), a PhD student in the School of Medicine, launched a pilot composting program for animal-related waste, with plans to expand to all 10 animal research facilities.

Pitt Med student Neha Devineni (A&S ’23) helped expand food recoveries as business manager of Food Recovery Heroes and president of Students for Sustainability.

Phoebe Esser Katz, a senior in the Swanson School of Engineering, led research and logistics for the PA Rural Solar project.

Staff awardees

Swati Banerjee, lab manager in Pitt Medicine’s Department of Neurobiology, cut energy use and built a strong sustainability culture in the Thathiah Lab.

Ernest Robinson, senior manager of custodial services, has led campuswide waste reduction and diversion efforts.

Faculty awardees

Amanda Artsen, assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, has demonstrated leadership in health care sustainability efforts, co-founding green teams and advancing environmental education.

Associate Professor of Bioengineering Warren Ruder has conducted research on plant-based biomass and sustainability-focused engineering.

Group awardees

Food Recovery Heroes is recovering more food than ever, reducing waste and supporting hunger relief partners.

Heinz Memorial Chapel achieved a “Mighty Oak” Green Office status through creative, small-scale changes.

Caps for a Cause — led by Tara Stakich, senior clinical program manager for the Division of Geriatric Medicine — collected more than 1,100 pounds of plastic caps for reuse as park benches.