Mitzner, who graduated from the University in May, will be responsible for helping to implement the initiative's goals of transforming Coastal Carolina University into a more environmentally-friendly university.

She coordinated the University's first move-in day recycling event on Aug. 16, which diverted about three tons of cardboard from the landfill. She is also working on a recycling project for football game days that began Sept. 7 at Brooks Stadium.

"This new position will help put Coastal on the fast track to transforming itself into a more sustainable university," says Dan Abel, director of the Coastal Carolina University Campus and Community Sustainability Initiative that started three years ago. "Ultimately, all university stakeholders from students to Conway residents will benefit from this action. And hiring Marissa Mitzner as the University's first Sustainability Coordinator is a real coup, since she has a passion for this institution and intimate knowledge about how it functions."

Mitzner, who last year won the Ronald Lackey service award as a graduating senior, was also the first student sustainability coordinator. She was president of Students for Environmental Action (SEA) and was awarded the statewide Melba McKenzie Volunteer of the Year Award in 2005, the Emerging Student Leader Award in 2006, the Student Leader of the Year Award last spring and the Recycling Super Star last fall.

Mitzner also manages the EcoReps program of student workers and is developing a plan for making Coastal Carolina University more bike-friendly.