This story is part of Georgetown Faces, a storytelling series that celebrates the beloved figures, unsung heroes and dedicated Hoyas who make our campus special.
Priscila Báez knows what it takes to make a great party.
And for good reason: the associate director of events and outreach at Georgetown’s Earth Commons Institute has grown the Institute’s gatherings from a handful of collaborations into a bustling calendar of festivals, film screenings, weekly science seminars and socials.
Since joining the Earth Commons (ECo) in 2023, Báez has helped lead more than 125 events that have brought thousands of people together to learn, celebrate and take action for the planet.
Báez was born and raised in Ecuador, where her family celebrations inspired her love of event planning. After graduating from Universidad San Francisco de Quito, she worked with international students and managed a study abroad program in the Galápagos Islands for her alma mater. She became interested in attending Georgetown after meeting a group of Hoyas her program hosted abroad. After taking a few virtual courses herself, she moved to DC to earn her master’s in project management from the School of Continuing Studies.
After graduating, Báez began working for ECo, where she honed the skills to juggle every detail of event life, from hosting renowned speakers to composting food waste after a gathering. Her goal: to build experiences that spark curiosity and community in equal measure.
“Growing up surrounded by some of the world’s most diverse and inspiring environments made me appreciate what nature has to offer and our impact on it,” she said. “Every event is an opportunity to inspire that same sense of connection and care.”
Báez’s events are as intentional as they are joyful.
“Planning for big events can be unpredictable,” she said. “I always plan in advance, create backup paths, and stay flexible — but I never forget to have fun. Seeing an idea come to life is the best part.”
That mindset has helped turn the Earth Commons’ fall and spring festivals into beloved campus traditions.
“When students tell us they’re already looking forward to next year, that’s when I know the work is meaningful,” she says. “Whether in the Galápagos or at Georgetown, what connects it all is people. When we create spaces where people feel inspired and connected to nature and each other, we spark action.”
Get to know Baez and her love for hosting events, and learn a few tips from the event planner on how to host unforgettable holiday parties while caring for the planet.
How I developed a love for event planning: Family is a very important aspect of my culture. Every small gathering becomes a special event in which every detail is considered, from food, decorations, dress code, invitations, to music and gifts. My mom hosts the most detailed and beautiful events that have inspired me to apply that level of planning and intention to my work.
My favorite family events: All my birthday parties growing up had a theme, and everything was carefully chosen to match it. Christmas is huge back home; it is my favorite holiday. We have the whole month of celebrations and so many curated menus and decorations. I bring the same amount of thought and effort with each ECo event, from the event invite to the decoration and feeling of the event. For me, hosting an event means we care for each other, and I also believe you should celebrate the smallest things in life. (That is what life is all about!)
Where I get my inspiration: At home, my mom taught me that even a casual dinner can be made special; my brother, an acoustics engineer, taught me the power of sound and space; and my dad taught me that good stories bring people together. I also get inspired by traveling — seeing how other cultures celebrate gives me so many new ideas to bring back to Georgetown. I use a lot of this to help create events that feel like an experience. When guests can do something — paint, plant, share a story or taste something new — they become part of the celebration instead of just watching it. It turns an event into a shared memory, and that’s what stays with people.
Why decorating is the best part of any party: One of my favorite parts of planning an event is the challenge of transforming an event space using only natural and reusable materials and sustainable décor. At the Earth Commons, we’ve decorated with flowers, recycled paper and even produce from the Hoya Harvest Garden. My favorite transformation was turning a campus corner into a pumpkin patch for our Fall Festival. In the Galápagos, I once decorated a farewell dinner with origami birds that had been used at a colleague’s wedding. Staying environmentally conscious means thinking out of the box. It will take more time than plastic decor but it is so worth it.
Why I prefer to buy local: In Ecuador, I saw how every purchase could directly support a family and that perspective has stayed with me. Here in DC, I try to bring that same mindset working with small businesses, local farms and artists who care about their impact. At this point, our vendors know us, they’re our friends, and that’s a meaningful relationship to me.
One of the biggest planning challenges: Events bring people together, but even a ‘green event’ can create a lot of waste — especially the food. I’ve learned how important it is to plan menus that use what’s in season, work with local vendors who minimize packaging, donate leftovers whenever possible and even sort out trash from compost from recyclables with the help of guests and volunteers. It’s a team effort, and it’s not glamorous, but it wouldn’t be an ECo event if we didn’t care about this part!
What I take away from a gathering: Of course, memories are the most important factor to me, but growing up in Ecuador, party favors always made me so excited as a kid. It’s that feeling that the host is grateful to have you there. I’ve carried that tradition into my work. Besides creating an experience during our events, I believe that giving our attendees something tangible builds a stronger connection. It’s been so fun for me to send people home with biodegradable or reusable items, like pumpkins from our Hoya Harvest Garden, mason jars we’ve decorated together at parties or even postcards printed on seed paper.
