Sustainability at Eastern with Katherine

Transcript

Katherine is a philosophy and political science double major with minors in pre-law and history from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Katherine has merged her academic interests and passion for the environment, landing a prestigious summer internship at Yale, very impressive. Tell us all about it, Katherine.

– Thanks, Alex. Hi, everyone. I’m a proud first-generation college student. Being the first in my family to navigate the college process was hard, but it taught me to embrace opportunities and possibilities. That’s why when TheDream.US gave me a full scholarship to attend Eastern, I knew I had to seize the opportunity. Leaving my home state, my family, and my friends was hard, but I was ready to get out there, explore the world, and get my education. Early in my journey, I realized that Eastern Connecticut State University wasn’t just a place to pursue my existing interest. I could explore new passions, like sustainability. A turning point for me was taking a geography of food class, which introduced me to the connections between philosophy, policy, and sustainability. Sustainability is woven into Eastern’s curriculum and campus culture. Several student-led initiatives provide opportunities to learn and develop skills, like Shawn’s Cupboard, a student-run food pantry that combats food insecurity, where I volunteered for years. Another is our free thrift shop, which encourages students to donate clothes for reuse, reducing waste. It was this exposure to sustainability and climate issues that gave me the confidence to apply to the Yale Conservation Scholar Program. Eastern’s incredible faculty mentors were instrumental in supporting my application. Their mentorship didn’t stop there. With faculty guidance, I embarked on my own independent sustainability research, exploring how artificial intelligence could be used to analyze high-speed rail policy in the United States. My faculty mentors not only encouraged this work but also urged me to present my findings at conferences across the nation, including one in Puerto Rico. Looking forward, I’m very excited to explore graduate school programs that combine my passion for sustainability with my interest in public policy. That’s my story. Back to you, Alex.

– Katherine, it is so cool to see how you are combining your research interests with your commitment to a green economy. We are impressed with the fact so much of what Eastern is doing for the environment starts with students. You are truly leaders on campus, well done.