Infographic - My plan for Impact and Effectiveness at my current position (USFSM)

A personal infographic I created:

Welcome to my blog!

**2021 update - I earned my masters in 2017 and have continued onto my doctorate. I'm currently working in a freelance capacity.**

 

Hello everyone! Welcome to my blog. A little about me first (my bio):

Ms. Amber C. Lee is a seasoned technical communicator currently working towards the completion of her Master's degree in Education with a concentration in Instructional Technology. Her career goal is to become a successful Instructional Design Faculty member in an institution of higher education. She earned her Bachelor’s degree at USF in English with a concentration in Professional & Technical Writing.

Previously with Hillsborough Community College, she held the positions of Resource Coordinator, managing all sustainability and training initiatives for the hospitality vendor of HCC, and district Sustainability Specialist, leading HCC to earn the inaugural Green Genome Award from the American Association of Community Colleges in 2012.

In her free time, Amber enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, and learning new things. She was born in Phoenix, Arizona, and has traveled throughout Europe and North America. She believes in excellence and integrity as guiding principles in her life.

And a pretty picture to get us started (that I took out West):

Growing Basil...

My basil has really taken off in the garden and now I'm looking for creative ways to use this delicious herb. I'm growing two types: dark opal basil and the well-known sweet basil type. Their aroma is so strong every time you brush against them or water.

The best use I've found for both basils being grown is to make a pesto. Pesto is made from fresh basil, garlic, parsley, salt, pine nuts (or walnuts), olive oil, and romano (or parmesan) cheese. You can even leave out the cheese and freeze the pesto for a delicious addition or spread anytime. Look at this pesto over mozzarella picture I found:

So simple and so delicious!

Plant City Has New Electric Car Charging Station

Last year, you may recall as one of the first hundred in all of Tampa Bay, a Chargepoint electric car charging station was installed at the Dale Mabry campus of Hillsborough Community College in Tampa Florida by the Science cluster:

Now Plant City has its own electric car charging station from Chargepoint! You'll find the charging station and accompanying green curb parking between the new Plant City Courthouse location and the Department of Children and Families (big white building). Check out this environmentally friendly new charging station that is currently FREE to use:

Go to Chargepoint's website to find other stations or to reserve a charging spot: https://na.chargepoint.com/charge_point

Hillsborough County Animal Shelter Overcrowding & Population Sickness

Sadly, I read a news story today about overcrowding and sickness in Hillsborough County Animal Shelters.. You can read the original article here: http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_hillsborough/hillsborough-county-animal-services-shelter-criticized-for-suffering-pets. The article states that the county shelters are extremely overcrowded, the entire animal population is declining in overall health, and the staff at the shelter are afraid to speak up to upper management. Both my dog and cat are rescues and I'm especially sensitive to populations that don't have a voice in society, such as animals and children.

The article states both sides of the no kill policy in local Animal Services state the entire population of animals including rescues are increasingly seen as diseased and sick. The veterinarian, Dr. Roese, says after 13 years of practice "she remembers days when she did nothing but write prescriptions for antibiotics" and many animals are suffering because of the no kill policy enacted in the last couple years in Hillsborough County Animal Shelters.

This immediately reminds me of the importance of spaying or neutering your pets. If you're not going to breed them, please spay or neuter your pet.. They will be much happier family pets and less prone to roaming. If you want to breed your pet, please consider not breeding them and encouraging rescue adoption. You'll make a lot of animals happy if you get them out of the shelter!

Now the issue of sickness: always take your doctor's recommendations, but consider not taking antibiotics for minor infections that you could get over with a little rest and home remedies. Antibiotics are hard on the body and I personally have gotten over a number of infections in the past few years with out the use of antibiotics. I feel that my immune system and digestive system have been built in the right way by diet to help fend off some of these infections. Just a thought. I also shy away from vaccines as an adult. I support the baby/childhood regular vaccines.

My rescue dog Duke and rescue cat Amorra:

Plant City Campus Beautification Project at HCC

Sun Power with Solar Panels at HCC Brandon Campus

Originally published by Amber C. Lee in Sodexo at HCC's monthly report May 2013:

This month's sustainability focus is all about sun and sun power! Florida, as you probably already know by it's nickname the Sunshine State, has a great resource that is renewable and abundant: solar power. We've discussed how important reducing, reusing, and recycling is to bettering our collective sustainable future and providing better service to our client. Exploring alternative energy sources is important too. HCC has recognized the opportunity of solar power and is already leading Tampa Bay by their example.

Most recently, Plant City campus students installed two solar charging stations as a legacy project so that students, faculty and staff could better enjoy the outdoor spaces on campus and charge their laptops, phones or other electronics using only solar energy.

Last month in May, Sodexo participated in an international event promoting clean energy awareness called “Hands Across the Sand.” As we are all Tampa Bay residents, our bay and ocean are an important resource that continues to be mistreated, misused and polluted. Thousands of concerned citizens joined hands across the beaches of Tampa and the world to represent the need for cleaner energy and visualize our local environment's future, a legacy we all share.

Last year, HCC worked together with TRANE to have a solar panel installed at BR campus that provides less than 1% of the energy used on campus. The solar panel serves as learning tool and visual reminder to all campus visitors of our commitment to cleaner energy. Just last week at the HCC Sustainability Council meeting, TRANE also introduced a online digital energy use monitor to help HCC monitor energy use by campus and by building, making the data more visible and trackable.

HCC also worked previously with Chargepoint to have one of the first 100 electric car charging stations of Tampa Bay installed at Dale Mabry campus (by the Science cluster) and currently does not charge for the energy “fill-up” to electric vehicles. While the energy comes from the regular power grid and not solar, electric cars typically use significantly less energy and give off less pollution from use.

Solar power is an abundant resource that we can be proud HCC has taken a lead in implementing in the Tampa Bay community. What ways can you support alternative energy and how can you reduce your personal consumption? Sometimes it's as easy as turning off the light and opening the blinds.