The Undergraduate Program in Sustainable Development is proud to celebrate the hard work and outstanding dedication of its recent graduates. Six students from the class of 2023 earned Departmental Honors, two students received the Stuart Gaffin Award for Leadership and Engagement, and four students were inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. We caught up with them to learn about their post-graduation plans, their understanding of sustainability, and their advice to current students.
Graduating seniors Frederique Fyhr, Sophie Grant, Vida Han, and Bea Urofsky were named to the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. Students are chosen based on the breadth, depth and rigor of their academic achievements, as well as recommendations from faculty members on their intellectual promise, character, and achievement both in and out of the classroom.
Q&A with Frederique Fyhr
What tips do you have for students who wish to complete the sustainable development program?
The Sustainable Development major is very broad and covers a number of topics. I would encourage prospective majors to explore all of their interests early on so that you can learn what niche really interests you and take courses which you enjoy. Also, take advantage of the graduate classes offered by SIPA and the SUMA / SUSCI programs, which can count towards your major requirements and often explore unique topics that undergraduate courses don’t cover.
What are your plans after graduating from the program?
I’ll be joining Barclays’ Investment Bank in the fall working as an analyst in the sustainable and impact banking group.
What drew you to the Sustainable Development major or special concentration?
Like many eager freshmen, I came to Columbia with the plan of following a pre-med track. However, when I realized what that held in store for me, I decided that taking physics again wasn’t something I really wanted to do. I’ve always loved science and the Sustainable Development major would provide me an opportunity to study a science-based curriculum from a humanities perspective. I wanted the opportunity to take classes that focused on current social, political, and environmental concerns.
What was your favorite class in the Sustainable Development program and why?
My favorite class in the Sustainable Development program was “Earth Resources and Sustainable Development,” taught by Peter Kelemen. It was one of the first classes I took in the Sustainable Development department and Professor Kelemen shaped my perspective on a number of sustainability issues. Growing up in Texas, everybody knows someone who works in oil and gas. It’s an industry on which many build their livelihoods. Over the course, Professor Kelemen covered the history of fossil fuels and the future of the clean energy transition, highlighting the potential challenges of renewables which many tend to gloss over. I had the opportunity to write papers on fracking in the Permian Basin and the implications of lithium and cobalt mining from the rise of lithium-ion batteries. I found these papers incredibly enjoyable and informative to write, which made this course my favorite in the program.
What was your biggest accomplishment while at Columbia?
I’d say my biggest accomplishment at Columbia was managing being a student-athlete all four years of college. Being an athlete can be physically and mentally exhausting. Taking 4-5 classes a semester on top of practice / travel commitments was difficult to manage at times. I’m proud of myself for all the work I put in both in the classroom and for the field hockey team. My Columbia experience would not be the same otherwise, and I feel very accomplished for all that I achieved as a student and an athlete.
Q&A with Sophie Grant
What tips do you have for students who wish to complete the Sustainable Development program?
Explore all your interests. Sustainable Development is everywhere!
What are your plans after graduating from the program?
I have received a full scholarship to pursue a Master of Nursing at Emory University.
What drew you to the Sustainable Development major or special concentration?
I wanted to learn about and confront the most pressing issues of our time. The program has taught me how to critically evaluate problems and design equitable solutions.
What was your favorite class in the Sustainable Development program and why?
I loved “Qualitative Research Methods for Sustainable Development” with Lisa Dale, in which I completed my own original research project on the effects of eco-anxiety. It was so fulfilling to present my work at the end of the semester to peers and faculty.
How did the program shape your understanding of sustainability?
I have come to realize that issues of sustainability permeate every aspect of society. In all that I do moving forward, I will bring a sustainable development lens.
Q&A with Vida Han
What tips do you have for students who wish to complete the Sustainable Development program?
- Diversify your skillset through the different classes (i.e. technical vs. nontechnical) you can take — especially if you’re unsure what part of sustainable development you’re interested in.
- Do your best to forge relationships with your professors by scheduling office hours with them. Their guidance and support is meaningful and you can learn a lot from them!
- Seek out additional opportunities to explore and develop your passion for sustainability outside of classes and school. There are tons of opportunities to network and learn from professionals in the field, especially since you’re in NYC!
What are your plans after graduating from the program?
Working at a fintech company and then eventually going back to grad school (at some point).
What drew you to the Sustainable Development major or special concentration?
I grew up surrounded by nature and viewed the changes that rapid urbanization had on that environment, which profoundly impacted my view on the world. I was always drawn to different facets of sustainability, whether environmental, business-related, or regarding development, and the major also seemed like a natural extension of my studies of economics and sociology in France, as part of the Dual BA Program. It was through the SDEV program that I was really able to explore and hone my passion for sustainability and understand the various schools of thought and their application in the real world.
What was your favorite class in the Sustainable Development program and why?
I really enjoyed the senior capstone workshop class because it was an opportunity to apply learning from our curriculum to situations in real life, while also being able to get a taste of what the field relating to sustainable development is like in reality. I also really enjoyed it because as a Dual BA student, I didn’t and wouldn’t have the opportunity to go through the four years of the program and meet more peers, but I was able to do so through this course and work closely with others to develop a fulfilling project. I also enjoyed Energy Law and, thanks to the sheer quantity and applicability of the course content, I was able to grasp a much better understanding of the energy landscape in the US and the world.
What was your biggest accomplishment while at Columbia?
I would say that my biggest accomplishments revolve around transitionary periods within my academic career, and being able to overcome challenges thrown my way. For example, being in the Dual BA Programme with Sciences Po, it was personally very daunting for me to think about the prospects of being thrown into my junior year in a new city, a new country and at a new school. Coupled with having to face some unexpected obstacles and unplanned events just ahead of graduation, I am very grateful for my family, friends, peers and teachers who have supported me throughout tougher times.
Beyond the classroom, what extracurricular activities did you engage in?
I had the opportunity to work at a climate-tech startup that focused on demand response management systems based in NYC in the summer of my junior year. I also previously worked part-time at a UK-based community interest company called Force of Nature that worked at the intersection of mental health and the climate crisis. Through my role there, the company took me to COP26 in Glasgow where I was able to partake in the work of the New York Times Climate Hub alongside my team and speak on various panels alongside business leaders and youth activists on topics concerning the power of youth engagement and community within the climate space.
Q&A with Bea Urofsky
What tips do you have for students who wish to complete the Sustainable Development program?
If you don’t have one already, find a hobby — preferably one that requires you to use your hands. The information you will be learning is harrowing, to say the least. It is frustrating and terrifying. You will be learning about immense wide-spread yet inequitable suffering and mass destruction. I believe finding a way to ground yourself physically and emotionally is as important as any coursework. I also cannot recommend enough that you set boundaries regarding how much time you spend directly interfacing with the work ahead of you, and hold them with all your might. You won’t ever be able to “solve” climate change on your own, and to be an effective team member you must be kind to yourself. Rest is radical.
What are your plans after graduating from the program?
I would like to work in NYC doing GIS and am looking for a position! If anyone who sees this has any job leads, please don’t be shy about reaching out.
What drew you to the Sustainable Development major or special concentration?
I was drawn to the Sustainable Development major by the practicality of the program and its interdisciplinary nature as my goal was to graduate with technical skills and a multidimensional understanding of the climate crisis.
What was your favorite class in the Sustainable Development program and why?
“Environmental Health and Justice” taught out of the public health school by Ana Navas-Acien. Not only is the professor incredible, she brings in experts in each specialty covered in the course so you can learn from people who work in the field. Most importantly, however, this course really expands one’s definition of what the environment actually is. This course changed the way I saw the world around me.
What was your biggest accomplishment while at Columbia?
My biggest accomplishment while at Columbia was learning how to set and hold boundaries concerning labor that prioritize my mental and physical wellbeing over a sense of productivity.
For more information on the program and upcoming events please visit the Undergraduate Program in Sustainable Development website.
