In a career that has already spanned the roles of farmer and corporate sustainability professional with ARAMARK; current MPA in Environmental Science and Policy (MPA-ESP) student Kendall Singleton knows that her niche in the sustainability sector lies in designing and implementing sustainable food systems. As her time in the MPA-ESP program comes to a close, Kendall will apply her project management experience and her quantitative and analytical skills to whatever role lies in store.
On Wednesday, May 1, students in the Master of Public Administration in Environmental Science and Policy (MPA-ESP) program presented their final Workshop briefings for fellow students, staff, and invited guests at the Faculty House of Columbia University. This spring’s Workshop projects allowed ESP students to gain experience tackling tough environmental problems by working with real-world clients including the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the New York City Department of Education (DOE).
On Tuesday, April 30, students in the Master of Science in Sustainability Management program presented their final Capstone Workshop presentations for fellow students, program faculty, and colleagues at Rennert Hall at Columbia University. This spring’s workshop projects allowed MSSM students to gain experience tackling tough sustainability problems by working with real-world clients, including the New Jersey Audubon and the Chilean Federation of Tourism Enterprises, FEDETUR.
Current M.S. in Sustainability Management student Megan Farrell works in the Sustainable Business Solutions division at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) where she focuses on developing strategic solutions to best address the challenges facing her clients, including those related to social, environmental, and economic factors.
M.S. in Sustainability Management (MSSM) student Andrea Tenorio joined the program because she was interested in a career that aligned with her values of social responsibility, recognized her affinity for efficiency and conservation, and was technically challenging. Currently, Andrea works at CDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project), where she manages a program that provides companies with access to environmental information so that they can build internal expertise with regard to managing climate change issues.
On Wednesday, April 10, the Earth Institute’s Women & Sustainability group hosted a panel on Sustainable Investing. The panel showcased three speakers: Sarah Bostwick, Manager of Communication on Progress at the United Nations Global Compact; Danielle Chesebrough, Manager of Investor Engagements with United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI); and Lori Choi, Wealth Manager and CFA Charterholder at Veris Wealth Partners.
Current M.S. in Sustainability Management (MSSM) student Henry Gordon-Smith began his studies at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Soon thereafter he studied at Ryerson University in Toronto, where he specialized in Food Security and Urban Agriculture. When a job opportunity led him to New York, he ended up deciding to join the MSSM program to expand on his undergraduate studies of sustainability. Gordon-Smith has continued to focus on sustainable food production and alternative modes of agriculture through his internship at Sky Vegetables, and also through his popular blog AGRITECTURE: Buildings That Grow Food.
As a “career-changer,” M.S. in Sustainability Management (MSSM) student Laura Humphrey felt that she could not consider herself successful until her daily work reflected her core values. Currently, Laura works as a Senior Associate at ICF International in the Energy Efficiency division. Laura believes that her graduate studies have informed her work at ICF because of the team-oriented nature of many projects she has worked on as a student in the MSSM program.
When MPA in Environmental Science and Policy (MPA-ESP) alum Matthew Gray (’05) joined the program, he was interested in pursuing a career in energy and climate change at the national and international level. After graduating, Matt went on to do just that – first, as a Presidential Management Fellowship recipient with the U.S. Department of Energy, and then as a researcher of climate adaptation governance on the island of Mauritius through the U.S. Fulbright Program. Currently, Matt is the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability for the City of Cleveland, where he helps to green the City’s municipal operations and convenes the larger community through the Sustainable Cleveland Initiative.
Current M.S. in Sustainability Management (MSSM) student Pamela Alabaster joined the program after a corporate sustainability appointment at L’Oréal USA with the express purpose of honing her skills in the corporate social responsibility field. Through meaningful lectures and applicable project-based coursework, Pamela has acquired the practical knowledge and understanding in the field and has been recognized by the industry for her innovative work in CSR. Currently, Pamela is the Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications, Sustainable Development & Public Affairs for L’Oréal USA.
State of the Planet is a forum for discussion on varying viewpoints. The opinions expressed by the authors and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Earth Institute or Columbia University.
