Michael Cox

I serve on the Board of Directors as a representative of students. I’m currently helping track our operational finances.

SCHOOL: UC Los Angeles, 2006
MAJOR: Political Science, International Relations
OTHER OCCUPATIONS: Special Assistant to the Chairman, Calvert Foundation
HOMETOWN: Hemet, CA
CONNECT: Facebook

About Me

Michael Cox is the Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Calvert Foundation, working to increase equity investment into social enterprises. He serves on the boards of the California Student Sustainability Coalition (CSSC) and his family-company CPS, Inc., which provides teleprompting services. Michael loves home cooking and cacti, was born and raised in Hemet, CA and graduated cum laude from UCLA with College Honors and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, International Relations.

How I Got Involved In CSSC

I became involved with CSSC back in the Fall of 2003 because I was inspired by the success of the “UC Go Solar” Campaign, which established one of the first major green building and clean energy policies in higher education through an effective collaboration with the UC Board of Regents and UC Office of the President. I came in committed to seeing this policy successfully implemented at UCLA, starting the CSSC chapter at UCLA, and catalyzing the Education for Sustainable Living Program (ESLP) on multiple campuses.

The Area of Sustainability That Interests Me Most

Creating and implementing strategies to empower the human ecosystem of change in order to heal the ecosystems of the planet.

The Role of Student Action in Sustainability

Conscience. Catalyst. Convener. Creator. Celebrator.

Sustainability Projects I’ve Worked On

• Co-Founded the Education for Sustainable Living Program (ESLP)
• Co-Founded E3, the UCLA chapter of CSSC
• Co-founded the UCLA Campus Sustainability Committee
• Led the development of the Associated Students of UCLA (ASUCLA) sustainability commitment
• Participated in the development of the UCLA Campus Sustainability Charter
• Participated on the CSSC Organizational Planning Committee
• Led CSSCs participation in the national Campus Climate Challenge as a member of the Energy Action Coalition
• Led student effort to have the UC System adopt the UC Policy on Sustainable Practices, with particular emphasis on the Climate Protection section of the policy
• Secured fiscal sponsorship via the Earth Island Institute
• Served as Interim Executive Director, and led fundraising to hire full-time Executive Director
• Represented and delivered speeches at local, state, national and global gatherings on behalf of CSSC
• Partnered in developing the youth program for the Governors’ Global Climate Summit 1 and 2
• Participated in the launch of the 2020 Climate Leadership Campaign and 2020 Brasil Climate Leadership Campaign on behalf of CSSC
• Participated in the White House Clean Energy Economy Forum on behalf of CSSC
• Development of the CSSC Board of Directors

Related Articles:

1. Michael Carpol, ESLP Statewide Coordinator
2. Lorna Apper
3. Becky Miller, Student Board Member and Responsible Investment Campaign Coordinator
4. Pamela Tuttle, Operating Team Adviser and Mentor
5. Dorothy Kiều Lê, Vice Chair