Recent M.S. in Sustainability Management graduate Adiel Gavish (’13) thinks that we’ve all got something to learn from nature. As the vibrant Founder of BiomimicryNYC, the thirty-two year old is leading the charge to change the way that people design solutions through biomimicry – the science and ethos that studies designs and patterns in the natural world and applies them to solve human problems.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
