Office of Sustainability and Community Engagement Staff
Dr. Gretchen LaCombe Vanicor
As the University's first Director of Sustainability, Gretchen works closely with the Office of the President and the President's Council on Sustainability to identify and prioritize areas for campus-wide sustainability efforts, plan and develop strategies to reduce energy and material consumption, and engage university leaders to improve sustainability broadly across campus units. She also serves as the campus spokesperson on sustainability issues. Gretchen earned a bachelor’s degree in management with a double major in marketing from McNeese State University in 2006. She also earned bachelor's and master’s degrees in architecture from UL Lafayette in 2008 and 2010, respectively. Gretchen returned to UL Lafayette in January 2014 after working in the local architecture industry.
Blair Begnaud, LEED AP BD + C
Assistant Director of Sustainability
Office (337) 482-0054
As the Assistant Director of Sustainability Blair supports the Director of Sustainability in communicating the goals and objectives of the Sustainability Strategic Plan and sustainable operations of the University. Blair manages the MS4 Permit and Stormwater Management Plan of University campuses and is involved with the engagement of our campus and community with events/organizations/programs like Fete de la Terre, Bee Campus Committee, Students for Sustainability, and Geaux Bike. She was the office’s Graduate Research Assistant from 2017-2019 while getting her Masters of Architecture at UL Lafayette. Blair returned to UL Lafayette in November 2021 after working as an Architectural Designer/ Sustainability Coordinator at an architecture firm in Fayetteville, AR. Her passions include hiking, kayaking, biking, gardening, going to estate sales, and taking trips to national and state parks.
Jonathan R Brown
As Sustainability Coordinator, Jonathan engages with student groups and campus departments to provide sustainability education, implement sustainable initiatives, manage hazardous waste collection and disposal, coordinates plastic bag and film recycling and the campus Zero Waste campaign. He is also the chair of the Keep UL Lafayette Beautiful, a university affiliate of Keep Louisiana Beautiful. Jonathan has worked for UL Lafayette since Fall 2017. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications from Louisiana State University and a Master of Arts degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Northwestern State University of Louisiana. Jonathan's favorite past time is attending Beyoncé concerts.
Students Employees
Lola Lancaster
Office of Sustainability- Student Worker
Lola started in the Fall of 2022 and is currently pursuing a bachelors degree in Mass Communications. She is a student worker for the Office of Sustainability and runs the electronic waste recycling program. Lola is also a member of the Bee Campus U.S.A committee. She is passionate about gardening and protecting pollinators, as well as studying and creating art.
Ethan Bosch
Office of Sustainability-Graduate Assistant
Ethan started in the Fall of 2024 and is currently a Graduate Student in the School of Architecture and Design. He received his Bachelor of Science in Architectural Design at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in the Spring of 2024. When not in studio, Ethan can be found traveling the world, playing tennis, or hanging out with his roomie Beignet, an 11-year-old mini-Shih Tzu, at the park.
Mona Saleh
Office of Sustainability-Graduate Assistant
Mona started in Spring 2025 and is currently a Graduate Student in the School of Architecture and Design, She is an international student from Egypt. She received her bachelor's degree in architecture engineering from Cairo University faculty of engineering in 2020. After that, Mona worked in an engineering consulting company before she came to Lafayette. Mona loves spending time with her family, relaxing by the sea, snorkeling, and creating handmade crafts.
Mya Andrus
Office of Sustainability-Graduate Assistant
Mya started in Spring 2025 and is currently a Graduate Student in the School of Architecture and Design. She received her Bachelor of Science in Architecture and Design from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in Spring 2024. In her free time, Mya enjoys traveling with family and spending time with her dog, Nova.
President's Council on Sustainability
The President's Council on Sustainability is a campus-wide advisory body that helps guide the university's efforts to integrate environmental sustainability into campus life, including operations, educational programs, research, and community outreach by facilitating awareness of sustainability issues and the promotion of individual responsibility for reducing the University’s impact on the environment.
