Meet the Team

Ronnie Souza is the Director of Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) at the University of New England (UNE), where he is responsible for the development, implementation and administration of comprehensive federal and state regulated environmental health and safety programs and policies for the University. Ronnie is also the Radiation, Biological, and Ergonomics Safety Officer for UNE, Chair of the University-wide Safety Committee as well as a member of the IACUC and IBC committees.

Ronnie has over 46 years of EHS management and consulting experience in Nuclear Medicine, Higher Education,  Biotechnology, Healthcare, and Manufacturing industries. As Consulting Services Manager for Triumvirate Environmental Life Science/Biotechnology division, Ronnie provided consulting services for hundreds of the Life Science-Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, Higher Education, Healthcare, and Industrial institutions across New England, the mid-Atlantic, and California. It was in the role of Consulting Services Manager for Triumvirate that Ronnie started working for UNE in 2004. At that time, UNE was looking for someone to fill the vacant Radiation Safety Officer position. Ronnie continued his role as Consulting Radiation Safety Officer until 2011 when he accepted the EHS Directors position at The University of New England.

Alethea Cariddi is the Associate Director of Sustainability at the University of New England, where she is responsible for monitoring and managing greenhouse gas emissions and the university’s Climate Action Plan, the recycling program, the move to a water bottle-less campus, sustainable transportation alternatives and many other environmental initiatives.  Alethea works closely with the Facilities Management team to improve equipment efficiencies, and implement energy savings measures with lighting retrofits and direct digital control upgrades.  She received her Building Operator Certification from Northwest Energy Efficiency Council in May 2012.  Her pragmatism in addressing costs associated with conservation initiatives and finding creative funding and logistical solutions has been an asset in advocating and winning champions for efficiency improvements and emissions reductions.

Alethea received her Masters of Science in Education from Alfred University in 1998 and currently teaches at the University of New England as an adjunct for the Department of Environmental Science.  She works closely with students in other capacities as well; she manages 10 workstudy students in the Eco-Rep program, developing their peer leadership, event and project management skills.

Alethea owns a small farm in Gray, Maine, where you could find her milking goats, making cheese and yogurt, beekeeping, raising laying hens and weeding an organic garden.

Peter Nagle is an Environmental Health & Safety Specialist at UNE whose responsibilities include hazardous, bio-hazardous and universal waste management along with laboratory safety. He began his career 28 years ago at Triumvirate Environmental in Somerville, MA where he worked as a Lab Pack Chemist traveling to various clients throughout New England to package their hazardous wastes for transportation and disposal. UNE was among the many customers he serviced. When a job opportunity opened up at UNE, he immediately jumped at the opportunity to return to the area he grew up in. Now back in Maine he enjoys the more laid-back life style Maine has to offer.

Elizabeth Day is an Environmental Health and Safety Specialist at UNE. She is earning her BA in Environmental Health and Safety with Concentrations in Sustainability Management and Disaster Planning and Management from Unity Environmental University.

I’m a Marine Science major with a Marine Biology concentration and Environmental Science major with an Animal Behavior minor planning to graduate in 2027! This summer I had an internship with the UNE Sustainability Office. I learned about what goes on around campus and expanded my overall knowledge in the environmental field, which was very eye-opening. One of the many things I’ve been able to do this summer was get my hands dirty with revamping the Rain Garden on campus, which is one of my favorite UNE sustainability initiatives. In my free time I love to read or go hiking, but birding is slowing making it’s way onto the list of favorite hobbies!

Hi, I’m Jolie! I am a senior studying Marine Biology, and this is my second year as an Eco-Rep. It has been such a fun position to hold so far. My favorite thing about it has been the sense of community it has built both within the Eco-Rep team and all across campus. I serve as the liaison between our school’s Environmental Council and Undergraduate Student Government, so I get to work with a lot of inspiring and highly motivated people here on campus. I also enjoy working in the SWAP shop! When I am not busy being an Eco-Rep, I enjoy soaking up some sun at the beach, thrifting, and exploring local businesses.

I am Ruth, a sophomore environmental science major and an Eco Rep with the Sustainability Office. I love being able to help with sustainable initiatives around campus, such as recycling, public transportation, and planning fun events for Earth Month! I also love to swim in the ocean, go on bike rides down Hills Beach, and watch movies with friends. I am planning to study abroad next year and I cannot wait for all the new adventures that will bring. Being an Eco Rep is a great experience and I love helping the UNE community and our planet! – Ruth is studying in Iceland this semester!

Hello! My name is Eva and I am a junior Environmental Studies major. This is my first year as an Eco-Rep, and I’m super excited to be part of the team! I’m from Dracut, Massachusetts, and when I’m home I love spending time with my mom and dog, walking in the trails near our house. I became an Eco-Rep this year because I knew I wanted to get more involved on campus, and working with the Sustainability Office sounded like the perfect fit. My favorite part about being an Eco-Rep has been helping with recycling in the dorms and meeting new people around campus. My favorite sustainability initiative on campus has to be the SWAP Shop, because it gives students a place to shop sustainably without leaving campus. In my free time, I love to go to the beach with my friends and look for crabs and shells. I also love to leave campus and explore new places around New England.

Hi, I’m Julia, and I’m a Marine Biology major. I’m from Glennallen, Alaska, and I am a part of the graduating class of 2027. I’m very passionate about sustainability and climate change and love being a part of making the UNE campus more sustainable. My favorite sustainable initiative is the SWAP Shop and the Rain Garden! I love the ocean, crocheting, and looking at little creatures! I also do research looking into how changing environmental factors like climate change affect zooplankton communities.

Hi everyone! My name is Owen and I am a sophomore Environmental Studies major. I started working with the SWAP shop in spring 2024 but have now become more of an ECO Rep/ SWAP shop employee trying to help promote sustainability at UNE. I am from the small town of Plainfield, New Hampshire and even though I didn’t go too far away from my home, I am so thankful to be in Maine, and at UNE, for my college years. In my free time I enjoy reading books, particularly fantasy novels and the occasional cheesy romantic comedy. I tend to obsess over tv shows and movies with my family and friends, and I also enjoy hiking and being outside, rain or shine, any chance I can get. My favorite sustainability initiative on campus is the SWAP Shop because I love being able to keep discarded, but perfectly good, items out of the trash, and helping them find a new home.