Caroline Pennington didn’t know much about native plants heading into her McKinney Climate Fellows (MCF) placement with Newfields. That hasn’t stopped the rising senior from peppering co-workers with questions.
“I’m like, ‘What’s this plant? What’s this plant? What’s this plant?’ I’m just trying to soak in as much knowledge as I can,” she said.
This summer, Pennington, who is on track to earn a degree in economic consulting at the IU Bloomington Kelley School of Business in 2026, is learning about more than just plants. She’s helping conduct a waste audit on the 152-acre campus, which includes the Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA), two historic homes, performance spaces, gardens, and a nature preserve.
Pennington is one of 35 students working with sustainability-minded organizations in Indiana through McKinney Climate Fellows this year. Administered by the IU Environmental Resilience Institute, the program connects students from any IU campus to career experiences in climate, sustainability, and community resilience.
“When applying for internships, I knew that I wanted something more out-of-the-ordinary for business students, but something that still meant a lot to me,” Pennington said. “When one of my professors told me about the MCF program, I jumped at the chance to apply. When I told my friends about the fellowship, they all said, ‘That's so you!’”
For the first stage of the audit, Pennington and her team sorted trash into categories such as “recyclable,” “compostable,” and “waste” over the course of a week. Then they installed new signage to better inform visitors about what materials can actually be recycled or composted versus thrown away. Weeks later, they gauged whether the signage cut down on the amount of waste being sent to the landfill.
For the last three summers, McKinney Climate Fellows have been contributing to Newfields’ progress on sustainability goals. Last year, MCF alum Will Breeden led an energy audit and set up a utility dashboard to help the organization identify strategies to reduce energy usage and costs. Newfields’ Natural Resources Director Lisa Milton said Breeden’s findings and recommendations are being considered in the development of a 20-year master plan for the IMA that aims to improve energy efficiency.
In addition to the waste audit, Pennington is working with Newfields’ natural resources department to remove invasive species and plant more native species throughout the grounds. She relishes the walk from the museum to the natural resources department building that leads her down a forested path, with views of the botanical gardens and fountains.
Recently, Pennington learned to recognize spigelia, a genus of flowering plants known for their striking red and yellow tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
“It’s just a beautiful place to be,” Pennington said. “Even when I’m having a stressful day, I just go on a walk and then I feel better.”
For Pennington, working with people who share her passion for sustainability has allowed her to focus on what matters: carrying out impactful environmental work.
“I have to focus on the positives,” Pennington said, “surround myself with people who feel the same way as me — and it’s a really good environment for that here.”
About the Environmental Resilience Institute
Indiana University’s Environmental Resilience Institute connects a broad coalition of government, business, nonprofit, and community leaders to help Indiana and the Midwest better prepare for the challenges of environmental change. Together, we integrate research, education, and community to create environmental resilience and climate solutions—building a more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous future. Learn more at eri.iu.edu.
