Meet the New Member of the WholeSum Team: Chelsea Colley

My name is Chelsea Colley, and I am a Junior at the University of Kentucky. I am a Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Studies major with a minor in Environmental and Sustainability Studies. When I started at UK, I knew I wanted to work towards a career path that would involve both my major and minor. In order to gain experience, I applied for an internship with the Office of Sustainability and joined the WholeSum team at the beginning of the Spring semester!

I love to spend my free time hiking, traveling, or trying out local coffee shops. On my weekends off, you can usually find me backpacking in the Gorge or planning the destination for my next road trip. The most interesting place I’ve ever visited is Pikes Peak, Colorado. Although I didn’t hike all the way to the summit of the 14,000-foot peak, spending the night in a tent halfway up the snowy mountain is an experience I’ll never forget!

In some ways, my love of nature is what brought me here to WholeSum, but I also realize the social and economic aspects of sustainability are just as important. The three R’s of WholeSum’s mission- Rapport, Renewal, and Resiliency– encompass an idea of sustainability we should all be searching for. It is a multifaceted idea that can’t be achieved alone. It takes all of us. Although I haven’t been working with WholeSum long, it is clear that the community here is vibrant- deeply committed to building a lasting movement on the foundation of intersectionality. I am so excited to be a part of the group working behind that movement, the WholeSum team.

More than anything, I am looking forward to sharing your stories, your voice, and your projects on this platform. UK students are truly transforming the idea of sustainability, often behind the scenes. I can’t wait to bring these experiences into the spotlight!