Rachel Harvey

Sustainability Program Manager, Student Housing

Rachel Harvey is the Sustainability Program Manager for Student Housing at the University of California, Irvine. Student Housing makes important contributions toward campus goals in areas of energy efficiency, green building, green cleaning, water conservation, waste reduction, sustainable food options, and student engagement. Rachel coordinates the EarthReps Ambassador Program and is co-facilitator for the Student Leadership Institute for Climate Resilience in partnership with the UCI Sustainability Resource Center. She also leads Housing’s community engaged service and learning trips such as the UCI Costa Rica Program in Global Sustainability and Cultural Immersion.

Bringing an appreciation of place, culture, and social issues, Rachel has several years of experience in non-profit outreach, event coordination, volunteer training, and sustainability consulting. This work includes legislative campaigns, environmental education curriculum planning, public and private partnership relations, and workforce development. Before coming to UCI, Rachel served as program manager for Plastic Free Hawai‘i, a program of the Kōkua Hawai‘i Foundation. Her work helped Hawai‘i become the first state to ban plastic grocery bags in all counties.

Rachel holds a Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Florida, an MA in anthropology from the George Washington University, and a BA from Wofford College. Rachel’s academic pursuits concerned community-based, cultural heritage tourism and urban development, including fieldwork in South Africa. She previously taught classes on anthropology, tourism, and African studies for the University of Florida and the University of Hawai‘i system.