Meet Lily Primeaux, the Student Leader Growing NYU’s Sustainability Movement

In an Oil Boomtown, a Passion for Sustainability Blooms

Lily grew up in Humble, Texas, the oil boomtown where Exxon was founded. Both her parents were petroleum engineers, like many adults in the area. Despite growing up in a community shaped by the oil industry, Lily developed an early passion for environmental stewardship, sparked by long, pleasant days working in the garden with her grandmother.

Through gardening Lily learned all about composting. As a result, she decided to launch a composting program at her high school. “For the first year, it was just me at the cafeteria every day, cutting up half-eaten carrots and putting them in the compost bin,” she recalls. But over time, other students got involved. And at home, Lily’s parents began implementing their own green changes, inspired by their daughter.

When it came time to start her college search, Lily sought out a school that prioritized sustainability as much as she did. NYU, ranked the third most sustainable university in the United States, felt like an ideal choice.

Leading the Way at NYU

Lily applied for the Sustainability Leaders Fellowship offered by NYU’s Office of Sustainability during her first year. She and her cohort learned from sustainability experts, developed communication and leadership skills, and built relationships with like-minded peers and professionals.

The fellowship led to a job as communications coordinator within the Office of Sustainability during her sophomore year. There, Lily helped spread the word about sustainability initiatives on campus. “I got to help plan communications for the Swap Shop and the Plant-Based Food Festival, which were both really fun campaigns,” she shares. “It was such an amazing experience.”

The following year, Lily’s peers elected her as the chair of the sustainability committee within NYU’s Student Government Assembly. She led biweekly meetings where students could brainstorm ideas, plan events, and voice their concerns. “It was important to let students talk about what they wanted,” Lily says. “You have to see what’s wrong before you can see how to make it right.”

Blending Ecology and Medicine Through Research

Lily’s commitment to environmental issues also informs her research. As a junior she met Dr. Clare Abreu at a gathering for ecology students and faculty. The connection led to a position in Dr. Abreu’s newly established lab, where Lily now studies antimicrobial resistance, a field that bridges ecology and medicine. “It’s basically a micro-ecology lab, which has huge medical applications,” Lily explains.

After graduation, Lily plans to eventually attend medical school and specialize in gynecology. But she’ll always find ways to pursue her dedication to sustainability, as proven through her time at NYU. “I take a lot of pride in the fact that I’m truly doing everything I do for the love of the game,” she says. Even when her commitments don’t perfectly align with her professional goals, her passion fuels her.

A Sustainable Community

Each spring NYU faculty and staff gather for the State of Sustainability, a conference where Office of Sustainability staff share progress and updates. This year Lily was invited to deliver a speech. Addressing a packed room, she talked about her upbringing, how her commitment to sustainability motivates her, and the importance of community for a greener world.

“The community-building aspect of my leadership roles has been so rewarding,” shares Lily. “For example, the Community Agriculture Project has grown exponentially. We have 300 people on our roster. It isn’t even about gardening for many of them—it’s a very healing thing to be a part of.”

Asked what advice she would offer students hoping to live more sustainably, Lily doesn’t start with recycling or reducing waste. “Building community is the most sustainable thing you can do,” she says. “Sharing with one another and being empathetic to one another is the most sustainable option.”