Missoula EcoPaws is a capstone research project through the Franke Global Leadership Initiative at the University of Montana. The project focuses on promoting sustainable practices on campus through implementing a rewards program. The goal is to encourage and reward sustainable actions on campus through a point-based system, such as biking or taking the bus to school, using reusable coffee cups, participating in campus climate events, recycling/composting, etc. These points will be redeemable for prizes. The additional goal is to engage with the local community to make a big impact.
Our Mission
Missoula EcoPaws is dedicated to fostering meaningful environmental action by addressing climate inaction through education, incentivization, and community engagement. We aim to combat misinformation and eco-anxiety by providing accessible resources and rewarding sustainable behaviors. By empowering individuals to make climate-positive choices and creating a collaborative culture of sustainability, we strive to transform small, local actions into impactful global change, ensuring a healthier planet for future generations.
Technology Coordinator
Valayna Cannon
Valayna is a senior at UM with extensive experience in the nonprofit sector. She has dedicated her college years to supporting community initiatives and currently works with the Montana Trauma-Informed Early Childhood Coalition. Passionate about early childhood development and advocacy, she brings a commitment to fostering positive change. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting and spending time with her cats.
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Treasurer
Hattie Ransom
Hattie Ransom is a senior at UM majoring in wildlife biology and minoring in climate change studies. She works for Missoula Parks and Rec as a youth mountain bike coach and an after school childcare counselor. In her free time, Hattie enjoys skiing, mountain biking, climbing, and playing ultimate frisbee. She is also a bit of a bird nerd, spending her summers doing bird-related fieldwork and helping run the UM Birding Club. Hattie is passionate about protecting the environment and is excited to share her enthusiasm for sustainability through our EcoPaws project.
Community Outreach Coordinator
Katy McCumber
Katy is a senior at UM studying journalism. Katy is passionate about politics, fashion, and history. When she's not working on articles or news broadcasts, Katy loves to go to yoga classes with her friends and read classic literature. She has also worked in the childcare sector for five years, through nannying, tutoring, and special needs care. Over the 2024 summer, she worked as a reporter in Florence, Italy, expanding her understanding of culture, cuisine, and language. As a journalist, Katy has worked for Montana PBS, the Montana Kaimin, and the Montana Community News Service.
Social Media Manager
Jaymie Sanders
Jaymie is a senior at the University of Montana studying cognitive neuroscience with a minor in psychology. Jaymie is also in the Davidson Honors College. After studying abroad in Athens, Greece, she returned with a broadened global perspective gained from her time at the American College of Greece. This experience ignited her passion for driving long-term change through action, education, and awareness within the Missoula community. In her free time, Jaymie enjoys reading a good book, hiking, and skiing.
Faculty Mentor
Jen Barile
Jen has over 15 years’ experience working as an integrated social work practitioner in the Missoula community. During this time, Jen has worked with youth in foster care, individuals experiencing homelessness, survivors of intimate partner violence, migrant workers, and those with refugee status. Jen possesses a broad range of social work skills and experience including direct service, case management, nonprofit leadership and management, research, grant writing and political advocacy.
