Green Energy Fund
Overview
The Student Green Energy Fund (SGEF) is used to assist USF in investing in alternative energy, improving energy efficiency, reducing waste and improving conservation on campus. The fund directly involves students with sustainability initiatives and alternative energy projects that benefit the campus and the community.
Fund History
The fund was initiated as a student-led campaign in 2007. With support from the University of South Florida Tampa’s Office of Sustainability, faculty, staff and various student organizations, the SGEF proposition was championed through the USF Board of Trustees and the Florida Board of Governors.
SGEF is financed through a nominal student fee of $1.00 per credit hour. Students vote via a student body referendum every three years to approve initiation of the fee and affirm any subsequent modifications. The last SGEF referendum was passed in 2026 with an 84% acceptance by the USF student body.
- SGEF Project Database (.xls)
Fund Administration
The Student Energy Green Fund (SGEF) is collectively administered by the SGEF Council, which consists of 12 voting members (four members from each campus comprised of students, faculty and staff) and one Chair.
The SGEF Chair convenes the Council, oversees procedural matters, and may cast a tie-breaking vote. A simple majority of voting members (seven) is required to vote on SGEF proposals and amend the SGEF By-laws.
Documents
SGEF Bylaws are the governing rules by which the committee operates.
Committee Members
The Student Green Energy Fund Council is responsible for selecting feasible proposals for funding and implementation across USF. The SGEF Organization consists of students that work to enhance sustainability on campus via events, outreach efforts and marketing campaigns.
Members for Academic Year 2025 - 2026
Chair – Julianna Parisi – juliannaparisi@usf.edu
Vice Chair – Oliver Laczko – laczko@usf.edu
Proposal Advisor – Audrey Everett – audreyeverett@usf.edu
Proposal Advisor – Siddarth Bahl – srbahl@usf.edu
Green Funds Manager – Gabriel Ramahlo – gramahlo@usf.edu
Director of Events – Taylor Yerbic – taylory10@usf.edu
Director of Marketing – Adelia Lombardi – adelialombardi@usf.edu
Staff Advisor – Matt Cimitile – mcimitile@usf.edu
Faculty Advisor – Dr. James Ivey – jivey@usf.edu
Faculty Advisor – Dr. John Osegovic – josegovi@usf.edu
Staff Advisor – Theresa Burress – tburress@usf.edu
Consolidated SGEF Council 2025-2026
Chair – James "Jay" Souza –
St. Petersburg Student Representative – Julianna Parisi
St. Petersburg Student Representative – Oliver Laczko
St. Petersburg Staff Representative – Matt Cimitile
St. Petersburg Faculty Representative – Dr. Heather O'Leary
Tampa Student Representative – Leno Planincheck
Tampa Student Representative – Guilherme Dourado Dias De Carvalho
Tampa Faculty Representative – George Philippidis
Tampa Faculty Representative – Kebreab Ghebremichael
Sarasota-Manatee Student Representative – Natalia Chersia De Leon
Sarasota-Manatee Student Representative – Dennis Kukharenko
Sarasota-Manatee Staff Representative – Teeranai Ovathanasin
Sarasota-Manatee Staff Representative – Corey Curran
Alternate Voting Staff Member – Mark Bralick
Alternate Voting Staff Member – Chaddy Hanwisai
Alternate Voting Student Member – Audrey Everett
Members for Academic Year 2024 - 2025
| Title / Position | Name | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Chair | Oliver Laczko | |
| Vice Chair | Julianna Parisi | |
| Proposal Advisor | Audrey Everett | |
| Green Funds Manager | Liv Doura | |
| Director of Marketing and Communications | Tori Usrey | |
| Director of Events | Taylor Yerbic | |
| Staff Advisor | Matt Cimitile | |
| Staff Advisor | Kyonna Henry | |
| Faculty Advisor | Dr. James Ivey | |
| Faculty Advisor | Dr. John Osegovic | |
| Faculty Advisor | Theresa Burress | |
| Voting Member | Emma Bridegam | |
| Voting Member | K’yana Edwards | |
| Voting Member | Marza Hiatt | |
| Voting Member | Violet Adams | adams535@usf.edu |
Members for Academic Year 2023 - 2024
| Title / Position | Name | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Chair | Iris van der Veen | irisvanderveen@usf.edu |
| Vice Chair | Jesse Roguska | jroguska@usf.edu |
| Green Fund Manager | Oliver Laczko | laczko@usf.edu |
| Proposal Advisor | K'yana Edwards | edwards150@usf.edu |
| Marketing/Events Officer | Tori Usrey | usreyv@usf.edu |
| Staff Advisor | Matthew Cimitile | mcimitile@usf.edu |
| Staff Advisor | Kyonna Henry | henryk2@usf.edu |
| Faculty Advisor | Jim Ivey | jivey@usf.edu |
| Faculty Advisor | John Osegovic | josegovi@usf.edu |
| Voting Member | Taylor Herman | herman21@usf.edu |
| Voting Member | Violet Adams | adams535@usf.edu |
| Voting Member | Yazmin Ramos Gonzalez | yazminr@usf.edu |
| Voting Member | Marza Hiatt | ehiatt@usf.edu |
| Voting Member | Jennifer Juarez | jenniferjuarez@usf.edu |
Members for Academic Year 2022 - 2023
| Title / Position | Name | Status | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chair | Nathan Poinsette | Student | npoinsette@usf.edu |
| Vice Chair | Iris Van Der Veen | Student | irisvanderveen@usf.edu |
| Proposal Advisor | Caitlin Rivera | Student | caitlinrivera@usf.edu |
| Marketing/Events Officer | Jennifer Juarez | Student | jenniferjuarez@usf.edu |
| Green Fund Manager | Vacant | Student | |
| Voting Member | Mathew Cimitile | Staff | mcimitile@usf.edu |
| Voting Member | James Ivey | Faculty | jivey@usf.edu |
| Voting Member | John Osegovic | Faculty | josegovi@usf.edu |
| Voting Member | Winnie Mulamba | Faculty | wmulamba@usf.edu |
| Voting Member | Vacant | Student | |
| Voting Member | Vacant | Student | |
| Voting Member | Vacant | Staff/Faculty | |
| Voting Member | Vacant | Staff/Faculty |
Members for Academic Year 2021 - 2022
| Title / Position | Name | Status | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chair | Brianna Douglas | Student | douglasb1@usf.edu |
|
Vice Chair |
Elliot Tuchfeld | Student | etuchfeld@usf.edu |
| Proposal Advisor | Logan Hill | Student | loganhill@usf.edu |
| Marketing/Events Officer | Jennifer Juarez | Student | jenniferjuarez@usf.edu |
| Green Fund Manager | Vacant | Student | |
| Voting Member | Edward Lewis | Staff | edwardlewis@usf.edu |
| Voting Member | Winnie Mulamba | Staff | wmulamba@usf.edu |
| Voting Member | Matt Cimitile | Staff | mcimitile@usf.edu |
| Voting Member | James Ivey | Faculty | jivey@usf.edu |
| Voting Member | John Osegovic | Faculty | josegovi@usf.edu |
| Voting Member | Vacant | student | |
| Voting Member | Vacant | Student | |
| Voting Member | Vacant | Faculty/Satff |
Members for Academic Year 2020 - 2021
| Name | Title / Position | Status | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jewel “Min Min” Kelly | Chair | Student | jxk@usf.edu |
| Brianna Douglas | Vice Chair | Student | douglasb1@usf.edu |
| Jackson “Jacks” Andrew | Green Fund Manager | Student | jfandrew@usf.edu |
| Nisuka Williams | Marketing/Events Officer | Student | nisuka@usf.edu |
| Emma Jacobs | Proposal Advisor | Student | emmajacobs@usf.edu |
| Edward Lewis | Construction Manager | Staff | edwardlewis@usf.edu |
| Winnie Mulamba | Sustainability Planner | Staff | wmulamba@usf.edu |
| Matt Cimitile | Marketing & Comm. Officer | Staff | mcimitile@usf.edu |
| James Ivey | Voting Member | Faculty | jivey@usf.edu |
| John Osegovic | Voting Member | Faculty | josegovi@usf.edu |
| Andrea Rodriguez Campos | Voting Member | Student | rodriguezcam@usf.edu |
| Madison Delgado | Voting Member | Student | madison55@usf.edu |
| Vacant | Voting Member | Faculty/Satff |
Join SGEF
Students and non-students (faculty or staff) can become participating members in the SGEF Organization. They are then voted on by voting members of the group. After attending 5 meetings as a participating member, they can nominate themselves to become a newly elected voting member. Voting members must be confirmed through Student Government Campus Council before voting in SGEF Committee.
To get updates via GroupMe