Alumni Stories

Bennett ’17

By October 16th 2023

Working Forest Champion

“I know that my work, and that of the Foundation, is making a positive difference for forest health and resilience, as well as future generations.”

At Allegheny

Environmental Science, Community & Justice Studies
I learned to make sourdough bread in the Carr Hall kitchen with Eric Pallant, long nights spent with friends in Chris Shaffer’s GIS lab patiently waiting for software to finish computing, and working closely with Kelly Boulton to get students to cut back on their footprint during the October Energy Challenge. I also met my fiance, Jenny Tompkins, and so many other great friends, through the ES department.

At Work

Conservation and Outreach Coordinator, Foundation for Sustainable Forests
The Foundation for Sustainable Forests conserves forested land throughout northwest PA and NY and stewards the woodlands it protects as sustainable working forests. My work includes working with landowners to ensure the legacy of their woodlands through conservation, holding educational programs about sustainable forest management and stewardship, and supporting the local community through sustainably harvested forest products.

Jai ’20

By October 16th 2023

Environmental Topics Translator

“I think as long as you have something to learn in your job and you enjoy the people you work with, then you’ll be successful.”

At Allegheny

Environmental Studies, Spanish
During my senior year in my comp group with Eric Pallant, our class baked cookies and it was such a fun time. Our group had gotten to know each other pretty well and we just had so much fun talking about random things and our futures. Even though at times comping was stressful, I’ll always remember that time and those people very fondly.

At Work

Social Media, The Nature Conservancy
I work for an environmental non-profit. Social media isn’t necessarily directly linked to climate change and sustainability, but since most people spend their time on various platforms, that’s where we have to talk about these very important topics. I see my work as a way to translate information about climate change/biodiversity loss into easier, more digestible information people can understand and take action on.

Leah ’18

By October 16th 2023

Wetland Wonder Woman

“The best part of Allegheny as a whole was the way we could explore the intersections between fields of study. This focus on connections very much lends itself to real world application.”

At Allegheny

Environmental Science, Political Science, German
I’ll always remember the fun times we all had in Colorado with professor Scott Wissinger and the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory crew!

At Work

Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
I work on conservation and restoration on private lands, focusing on wetland habitat restoration, which means that we can make an immediate and substantive impact on the landscape with our work. There are tons of opportunities in the environmental field that focus more on applying good science to management and conservation, which are not always emphasized as much as the purely academic, grad school route. If you want to pursue environmental science, you don’t have to go into research.

Sandra ’10

By October 16th 2023

Science Efficiency Expert

“I take the same approach as my Allegheny professors when I manage undergraduate and graduate students on my team now.”

At Allegheny

Environmental Science, Pipe Organ
The professors in the ES department were life-changing for me, in their support and helping me find a direction. Professor Rich Bowden was my advisor, and I also worked summers in his lab processing root soil samples and collecting data. Rich made a huge impression on me, because he was very kind and very critical. Details were super important, and each person on a project felt valued and supported by him.

At Work

Lab Coordinator, Sustainable Cropping Systems Lab, Cornell University
While my lab is working in sustainable agriculture research, my focus is quite often on the people doing the work. I try to champion that we need to take care of ourselves and help newcomers to the lab feel welcomed. I made a massive online folder of all our lab’s protocols, called the Protocol Compile Pile, which anyone can access anytime when they need to do a sampling method. I listen to students who are frustrated and need a compassionate ear. I encourage questions and create an environment where everyone should feel comfortable asking a question.

Ezra ’17

By October 16th 2023

Food System Whisperer

“My ES course work allowed me to ask the right questions about our food system and where I can be involved in it to make meaningful change.”

At Allegheny

Environmental Studies, Spanish
My fondest Allegheny memory was during my Soil To Plate course work with Eric and Beth. We visited farmers and looked critically at our food system in a way that continues to impact my work today. I wanted to grow food and be a farmer because of this class, and the two of them taught me foundational knowledge about the Farm Bill, SNAP, and how we must redesign our food system to support our farmers and consumers.

At Work

Greenmarket Operations Manager, GrowNYC
I support our Greenmarket operations and programming to reach millions of NYC residents from across the five boroughs by bringing over 200 farmers and food producers from the northeast region.

Ellen ’99

By October 16th 2023

Public Space Designer

“Landscape architecture is probably the least well-known profession that is doing a great deal to address climate change, through forward-thinking design and maintenance of physical spaces.”

At Allegheny

Environmental Science, Art & the Environment
My senior Comp was focused on voluntary simplicity. Most ‘simple living’ literature was targeted at older people who had already reached a certain point in their lives and decided to make changes toward a simpler way of living. My research looked at whether college students could meaningfully engage in this type of consideration in a proactive, rather than reactive, manner. I have great memories of sitting around my off-campus living room with a small group of other ES students discussing what a simple life might look like for us. Twenty-four years later, I think it was a useful exercise at a really formative time in my life. The simplicity circle was some of the most fun research I’ve ever conducted!

At Work

Landscape Architect, City of Rochester, New York
After Allegheny, I learned about landscape architecture while serving as an AmeriCorps volunteer in Appalachia. A few years later, I returned to graduate school to get a master’s degree in landscape architecture. It is a really great fit for me, since it combines sustainability and ecology with urban revitalization and public space design.

Lizzie ’14

By October 16th 2023

Urban Tree Guru

“The coursework I took at Allegheny prepared me well, because I got to take a wide range of classes, from more specific topics like Coastal Ecology to broader scientific exploration and decision making.”

At Allegheny

Environmental Science, Psychology
I worked as a research assistant in Scott Wissinger’s lab, which meant trekking out to Bousson to collect salamanders from pit traps to weigh, measure, and sex them, and then return them. My sophomore year the weather cycled wildly! One day we were in waders in 36 degree sleet walking into vernal pools, and two weeks later it was 75 degrees and humid. Always a mad dash to get the sallies back to the lab on ice on a heavy migration day.

At Work

Urban Forestry Project Manager, Davey Resource Group
I do my work with the goal that urban growth doesn’t have to compromise urban ecology. My career path is at the intersection of quality scientific data management, policy, and politics. As an urban forester, I am a subject matter expert on the biological processes of trees and a greater system network of how trees and humans interact in city environments. I have helped cities write management plans, craft legislation, draft treatment plans for at-risk trees, and teach students how trees protect their drinking water. Every day is different and mostly exciting and I get to spend a lot of time outside.

 

Klancey ’16

By July 18th 2023

Environmental Justice Warrior

“I now do things like grow some of my own food, plant native species in my yard, and am scheming how to get rid of my grass lawn in favor of something more beneficial to the ecosystem of my area.”

At Allegheny

Environmental Science, Economics
Allegheny’s Environmental Science & Sustainability experience not only gave me the tools to get into a meaningful career, but also impacted how I see and interact with the world around me.

At Work

Clean Water Collaborator, West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection
In the past two years, I’ve managed over $151 million dollars across nearly 40 wastewater infrastructure projects providing both upgrades to and new service of wastewater treatment to the citizens of West Virginia. This work has helped bring environmental justice to some of the country’s most impoverished areas, including a brand new facility in the Coalwood area of McDowell County, WV.

Zoie ’14

By July 18th 2023

Ocean Plastic Fighter

“I had a wonderful time in my Coastal Science and Management class, which included a spring break trip to Cape Cod. While the class was challenging for me, it sparked a lifelong interest in marine science.”

At Allegheny

Environmental Science, Philosophy
I can’t say enough about my experience as a double major in environmental science and philosophy, and my associated Senior Comp, which sparked my interest in interdisciplinary research. For my Comp, a professor at the Duke Marine Lab — who I ended up working with during my Ph.D. — mailed marine worms to me at Allegheny. I also had great internship experiences with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and BNY Mellon in environmental sciences.

At Work

Liber Ero Postdoctoral Fellow, Plastic Pollution Researcher, University of Toronto
I recently earned my Ph.D. at Duke University. My research focused on multi sector mitigation of plastic pollution from governments, businesses, and biologists. I’m beginning a Liber Ero Postdoctoral Fellowship, a prestigious Canadian fellowship, at the University of Toronto. I’ll be working in Dr. Chelsea Rochman’s lab, who is a world leader in microplastic research, and with partners at the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Ocean Conservancy.

Kyle ’16

By July 18th 2023

Renewable Energy Harnesser

“I knew that the environment played a role in everyone’s day-to-day life, but my courses gave me a better understanding of just how much it shapes the world we live in. ”

At Allegheny

Environmental Studies, Political Science
I went into college not knowing what GIS was, and after a few classes I knew that I wanted to make it my career. One class that always sticks with me was Eric Pallant’s course on the environment, culture, society, and politics. I had never thought about world political issues through the lens of the environment. I can firmly say that it changed how I view the world today.

At Work

Green Energy Developer, Exus Management Partners
I am currently helping develop projects on the sites of old coal power plants. We are working with a company out of Portugal that builds data centers for long haul fiber optic networks. They want to build on these locations and power them using renewable energy. Our role at my company is to help find and develop these locations and create the plans to build solar and wind farms to power them. Turning a once fossil fuel power plant into a green powered information center.