In January 2015, Deborah Hanson became Sodexo’s Food Service Manager of Sustainability Programs at Colgate University. Her immediate plans include implementation of programs to track local food purchases and measure food waste. She will work with the Colgate community to increase awareness of sustainable dining, enhance purchasing of local food, and minimize waste in campus dining.
Deb Hanson, recently hired Food Service Manager of Sustainability Programs.
Prior to coming to Colgate, Deb was the Director of Sustainability and Housing for Morrisville Auxiliary Corporation at Morrisville State College where she advised the CSTEP (Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program) Sustainability Professionals Group, chaired the campus Sustainability Committee, and was co-coordinator of campus sustainability. Since 2007 she initiated sustainable Dining practices there, including: Styrofoam free dining, tray less dining, weigh-in Wednesdays (food waste awareness), the switch to compostable disposables, and a composting pilot. She led the campus’ end of year salvage event, implemented blue bin recycling in Housing and a campus wide Event Recycling program. Deb formerly worked in campus dining at Mohawk Valley Community College and Colgate University.
Deb is the Central New York, regional representative, for the New York Coalition for Sustainability in Higher Education (NYCSHE) and is a member of New York State Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (NYSAR3).
Deb earned a BA in Sustainability Studies from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and holds a degree in Restaurant Management from Morrisville State College.
In her spare time Deb enjoys scuba diving, sailing and gardening.
Deb can often be found in Frank Dining Hall or reach out to her via email (dhanson@colgate.edu). Be sure to give her a warm Colgate welcome!