Congratulations to Ella Filston for being selected as PADP’s February MPA Student of the Month!

Ella is a part-time MPA student, originally from Winston-Salem, NC. She graduated from Wake Forest University (‘20) with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and minors in Environmental Studies, Latin American Studies, and Biology. She now works full-time in the UGA Office of Sustainability as the Waste Reduction Coordinator while pursuing her MPA. She also volunteers at her church in Athens. In her free time, Ella enjoys spending time outdoors backpacking and mountain biking.

Ella strives to excel academically and professionally. Through effective communication, relationship-building, and project management skills, she makes meaningful contributions to a thriving university and community life. In her professional role, Ella is responsible for coordinating waste reduction education and infrastructure improvements across campus with a focus on recycling and compost. She works closely with frontline staff, student interns, and key administrative staff to reduce waste from procurement to disposal and achieve a more circular economy. Thanks to the team of interns Ella supervises, you can check out the compost bin next time you’re near Baldwin 204A!

Having spent several months studying in Chile, Argentina, Peru, and Spain during college, Ella is proficient in Spanish and hopes to use her language skills and cultural competence to build empathetic relationships and effective policies at the local level. Ella will graduate in Fall 2024 and continue to work in the UGA Office of Sustainability. Wherever her next steps take her, Ella hopes to become a valuable public servant focused on the intersection of environmental and social justice.