Author: Alyssa Dubov
Alyssa Dubov is the Program Coordinator for the MPA in Environmental Science and Policy program as well as the MS in Sustainability Management Program.
Students in the MPA in Environmental Science & Policy program enroll in a year-long, 54-credit program offered at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, in partnership with The Earth Institute. Throughout this 12-month program, students are immersed in courses that combine Columbia University’s hands-on approach to teaching public policy and administration with pioneering thinking about the environment.
Similarly, the 36 credit Master of Science in Sustainability Management program, jointly offered by the Earth Institute and the School of Continuing Education, is designed to meet the growing demand for sustainability managers and train leaders to bridge the gap between the principle of sustainable development and its practice.
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.
Category> General Earth Institute
Tags> education news, MS in Sustainability Management News, student profiles
M.S. in Sustainability Management (MSSM) alum Mark Buczek (’12) utilized the program to supplement his existing career track in the chemical industry as the Co-Chair for the non-profit organization, BizNGO.org, which focuses on helping organizations to understand and manage chemicals and select alternative materials.
Category> General Earth Institute
Tags> alumni profiles, education news, MS in Sustainability Management News
On Wednesday, March 6, students in the Master of Public Administration in Environmental Science and Policy (MPA-ESP) program presented their midterm Workshop briefings for fellow students, staff, and invited guests at Columbia University’s Faculty House. This spring’s Workshop projects, intended for ESP students to gain experience tackling tough environmental problems by working with real-world clients, dealt with topics ranging from climate justice research to tree-based conservation efforts.
Category> General Earth Institute
Tags> education news, MPA in Environmental Science and Policy News, student news
M.S. in Sustainability Management (MSSM) professor Benjamin Cook is an Adjunct Research Scientist at the Earth Institute’s Lamont-Dougherty Earth Observatory. In addition to his position at Lamont, Ben also serves as a Research Physical Scientist at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York where he researches drought, hydroclimate, and interactions between the land surface and climate system. Ben holds a BS degree in Environmental and Forest Biology from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and an MSc and Ph.D. in Environmental Science from the University of Virginia. This semester, Ben is teaching The Earth’s Climate System.
Category> General Earth Institute
Tags> education news, Faculty Profiles, MS in Sustainability Management News
Current MPA in Environmental Science and Policy (MPA-ESP) student Holly Battelle parlayed her undergraduate study of economics into a Fulbright Fellowship in Bangladesh where she explored the economics of solar energy. This field experience prompted her to enroll in the program because she wanted to formally study environmental science and policy and gain the necessary knowledge that she plans to apply to a career in sustainable communities after graduation.
Category> General Earth Institute
Tags> education news, MPA in Environmental Science and Policy News, student profiles
Prior to joining the MPA in Environmental Science and Policy (MPA-ESP) program, class of 2013 member Pablo Antón Díaz combined his management skills background in economics to evaluate the effects of a financial literacy training project in Mexico City. Working on this project gave Pablo an appreciation of how poverty and development issues were closely linked to issues of environmental degradation. Pablo chose to the MPA-ESP program because he felt that the curriculum’s emphasis on both the science and public policy would better prepare him to tackle poverty alleviation within a framework of environmental sustainability.
Category> General Earth Institute
Tags> education news, EI Student Profiles, MPA in Environmental Science and Policy News, student profiles
On Wednesday, February 20, M.S. in Sustainability Management (MSSM) alum Julia Ragragio-Ruiz (’12) joined fellow urban planning professionals Albert Wei of Kohn Pederson Fox, and Lance Jay Brown, of Lance Jay Brown Architecture and Urban Design, at GreenHomeNYC’s monthly Greenbuilding forum. The event, entitled “Building in Flood Zones” discussed Sandy relief efforts and the work being done now in order to improve the city’s ability to withstand another similar weather event.
Category> General Earth Institute
Tags> Alumni News, education news, Hurricane Sandy, MS in Sustainability Management News
Current M.S. in Sustainability Management (MSSM) student Emily Dawson credits her parents and undergraduate studies at Middlebury College with instilling an interest in sustainability and sense of urgency for our warming planet. As a student in the program, Emily hopes to gain the practical skills and managerial training necessary to launch a career in climate science.
Category> General Earth Institute
Tags> education news, MS in Sustainability Management News, student profiles
When MPA in Environmental Science and Policy alum Caroline Fox (’12) joined the program, she was seeking a career change and hoped that wherever she landed next would allow her to work on projects that would have a positive impact on the world. Now, as the Project Manager for the Nigeria Scale-Up Initiative at Columbia’s Earth Institute, she is doing just that. Caroline cites the program’s formal training in financial management and presentation development, as well as informal education from an international cohort, as informing her current work at the Earth Institute.
Category> General Earth Institute
Tags> alumni profiles, education news, MPA in Environmental Science and Policy News
Prior to joining the M.S. in Sustainability Management (MSSM) program, Evan Brown (’12) was not sure where he would fit within the sustainability industry. With a background in environmental consulting, Evan parlayed this experience and existing interest in sustainability into the field of corporate sustainability. As an Energy Analyst for Fortune 300 Company Family Dollar in North Carolina, Evan is pioneering the company’s first efforts to make its more than 7,400 stores and distribution centers more sustainable in their operations.
Category> General Earth Institute
Tags> alumni profiles, education news, MS in Sustainability Management News
