Just DePaul is a community-driven department focused on our collective commitment to advance the agenda of social and environmental justice in each one of us, at DePaul University, and in the many communities we partner with locally and globally.
Mission: We advocate for sustainable institutional transformation by seeking environmentally just practices and educating the DePaul community on actionable steps that can spark meaningful change.
Vision: We envision a future where sustainability is the central pillar underlying the work done at DePaul and beyond.
Values: Collaboration, Intersectionality, Transparency, Respect, Justice, Sustainability
Motto: A more just and sustainable future for all.
Commitment: We value research that makes connections between “social justice issues” and student learning and achievement.
Meet the Team:
Rubén Alvarez
Director
As double Demon, Rubén (he/him) has been involved in DePaul’s community engagement efforts as a student, staff, and adjunct faculty for the last twenty-five years locally, nationally, and internationally. Currently, Rubén serves as the Director for Just DePaul, an institution-wide initiative, hosted in The Division of Mission and Ministry, to advance the agenda of social and environmental justice central to furthering sustainability at DePaul University.
Amar Pattabiraman
Graphic Designer
Amar (he/they) is a UX Design student at DePaul and the Graphic Designer here at JSTDP! They love to create visual materials like stickers, notebooks, and other graphics that promote the Just DePaul mission of sustainability, as well as social and environmental justice.
Tanisi Chand
Communications Coordinator
Tanisi (she/her) is a soon-to-graduate Information Systems major at DePaul. She is working at Just DePaul as a Social Media Coordinator, where she manages content and helps update the website. Working with Just DePaul has been awesome for her, coming from Nepal, she’s seen how vital sustainable solutions are, both locally and globally, and she’s proud to contribute to that mission.
Zayn Ibrahim
Sustainability Coordinator
Zayn (they/he) is Just DePaul’s Sustainability Coordinator! They graduated with their Bachelor’s from DePaul University in Environmental Studies in 2025 and he is advancing his education by pursuing a MS degree in Environmental Science. His research interests include environmental education, urban agriculture and, of course, sustainability! Outside of their work, Zayn can be found painting/drawing, traveling or rocking out at a music festival.
Genesis Suggs
Communications Coordinator
Genesis (she/her) is the the Communications Coordinator for Just DePaul. She helps spread awareness about initiatives by Just DePaul and promotes sustainability on campus. She is a undergraduate student studying Political Science and Climate Change Science and Policy and she is passionate about housing justice, sustainability, and social justice!
Evelyn Ashburner
Student Coordinator
Evy (she/her) is the Student Coordinator for Just DePaul. She helps connect students to sustainability initiatives around DePaul. She is also the leader of our Student Sustainability Committee (SSC), a committee built to bring students together to talk about sustainability efforts on campus and plan how to get those efforts passed on to the SGA and administration.
Just DePaul News & Stories
First Newsletter Coming August 2025, stay tuned!
Photo Gallery:
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Page Designer
Rhianna Fields is a master’s graduate at DePaul University in the Writing and Publishing program. She helped build, design, and edit the website and our shiny new Just DePaul page. She spent two years with the Just DePaul team working in sustainability and social justice. She is a copywriter/editor, event-planner, and website curator.