State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

alumni profiles8

  • Sustainability Management Alum Works to Bring Electric Vehicles to NYC

    Sustainability Management Alum Works to Bring Electric Vehicles to NYC

    Master of Science in Sustainability Management alumnus Stephen Marlin (’12) has always been a “car guy.” Now, as the Senior Business Development Manager in the East Region for BYD Motors, he works to bring electric vehicles into New York City livery services. He credits the MSSM program’s integrated approach to sustainability with allowing him to…

  • MS Alum Applies Technical Skills to Renewable Energy

    MS Alum Applies Technical Skills to Renewable Energy

    Prior to joining the Master of Science in Sustainability Management program in the fall of 2011, Katrina Prutzman (’14) worked as a manufacturing process engineer for 3M Purification, Inc. where she implemented manufacturing improvements and developed new production processes in the making of a variety of filtration products. While a student in the program, Katrina…

  • MPA Alum Focuses on Disaster Response and Recovery

    MPA Alum Focuses on Disaster Response and Recovery

    MPA in Environmental Science and Policy alum Maham Ahmed (’13) is combining her undergraduate degree in Environmental Science with her new MPA degree while serving as a Presidential Management Fellow at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in Washington D.C. Maham hopes to bring change to disaster response and recovery for future generations.

  • MS Alum Transitions to Sustainable Healthcare

    MS Alum Transitions to Sustainable Healthcare

    Lindsey Clark originally joined the Master of Science in Sustainability Management program with the intention of going into sustainability consulting after graduation, but an internship with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center led to an unexpected opportunity.

  • ESP Alum Leads Sandy Relief Efforts

    ESP Alum Leads Sandy Relief Efforts

    MPA in Environmental Science and Policy (MPA-ESP) alumnus Todd Miner (’10) has always been heavily involved in work at post-conflict and disaster areas, both abroad and in the United States. He puts the management and planning skills he acquired from the MPA-ESP program to good use in his current role as director of Friends of…

  • ESP Alum Focuses Career on Clean Energy Solutions

    ESP Alum Focuses Career on Clean Energy Solutions

    MPA in Environmental Science and Policy alumnus James Vener (‘07) entered the program with the intention of transitioning his career from environmental engineering to environmental policy, but was surprised to discover an interest in clean energy.

  • ESP Alum Pursues Career in Environmental Law

    ESP Alum Pursues Career in Environmental Law

    MPA in Environmental Science and Policy alum Haydée Rodríguez (’12) has always wanted to work in environmental law. Having started the program with a law degree and prior work experience as a program associate for the Fresh Water Action Network in Costa Rica, Haydée’s current job as an environmental advisor for the Inter-American Association for…

  • Sustainability Management Alum Works to Implement Rio+20 Promises

    Sustainability Management Alum Works to Implement Rio+20 Promises

    “We are hoping to gain recognition for the need to re-think traditional UN approaches for global action toward addressing the challenges of climate change and sustainable development. It is quite an ambitious undertaking, but NRDC’s work in this realm involves a wide range of campaigns and projects that are making huge strides, and it’s an…

  • ESP Alum Pursues Career in International Sustainable Development

    ESP Alum Pursues Career in International Sustainable Development

    Since graduating from the MPA in Environmental Science and Policy (MPA ESP) program in 2007, Carolina Jaramillo has forged a path in international sustainable development through the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and most recently, through the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI). Currently, as a Green Growth Program Manager for…

Photo of the Earth from space with the text "Lamont at AGU25" on top.

AGU25, the premier Earth and space science conference, takes place December 15-19, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. This year’s theme—Where Science Connects Us—puts in focus how science depends on connection, from the lab to the field to the ballot box. Once again, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and Columbia Climate School scientists, experts, students, and educators are playing an active role, sharing our research and helping shape the future of our planet. #AGU25 Learn More

  • Sustainability Management Alum Works to Bring Electric Vehicles to NYC

    Sustainability Management Alum Works to Bring Electric Vehicles to NYC

    Master of Science in Sustainability Management alumnus Stephen Marlin (’12) has always been a “car guy.” Now, as the Senior Business Development Manager in the East Region for BYD Motors, he works to bring electric vehicles into New York City livery services. He credits the MSSM program’s integrated approach to sustainability with allowing him to…

  • MS Alum Applies Technical Skills to Renewable Energy

    MS Alum Applies Technical Skills to Renewable Energy

    Prior to joining the Master of Science in Sustainability Management program in the fall of 2011, Katrina Prutzman (’14) worked as a manufacturing process engineer for 3M Purification, Inc. where she implemented manufacturing improvements and developed new production processes in the making of a variety of filtration products. While a student in the program, Katrina…

  • MPA Alum Focuses on Disaster Response and Recovery

    MPA Alum Focuses on Disaster Response and Recovery

    MPA in Environmental Science and Policy alum Maham Ahmed (’13) is combining her undergraduate degree in Environmental Science with her new MPA degree while serving as a Presidential Management Fellow at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in Washington D.C. Maham hopes to bring change to disaster response and recovery for future generations.

  • MS Alum Transitions to Sustainable Healthcare

    MS Alum Transitions to Sustainable Healthcare

    Lindsey Clark originally joined the Master of Science in Sustainability Management program with the intention of going into sustainability consulting after graduation, but an internship with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center led to an unexpected opportunity.

  • ESP Alum Leads Sandy Relief Efforts

    ESP Alum Leads Sandy Relief Efforts

    MPA in Environmental Science and Policy (MPA-ESP) alumnus Todd Miner (’10) has always been heavily involved in work at post-conflict and disaster areas, both abroad and in the United States. He puts the management and planning skills he acquired from the MPA-ESP program to good use in his current role as director of Friends of…

  • ESP Alum Focuses Career on Clean Energy Solutions

    ESP Alum Focuses Career on Clean Energy Solutions

    MPA in Environmental Science and Policy alumnus James Vener (‘07) entered the program with the intention of transitioning his career from environmental engineering to environmental policy, but was surprised to discover an interest in clean energy.

  • ESP Alum Pursues Career in Environmental Law

    ESP Alum Pursues Career in Environmental Law

    MPA in Environmental Science and Policy alum Haydée Rodríguez (’12) has always wanted to work in environmental law. Having started the program with a law degree and prior work experience as a program associate for the Fresh Water Action Network in Costa Rica, Haydée’s current job as an environmental advisor for the Inter-American Association for…

  • Sustainability Management Alum Works to Implement Rio+20 Promises

    Sustainability Management Alum Works to Implement Rio+20 Promises

    “We are hoping to gain recognition for the need to re-think traditional UN approaches for global action toward addressing the challenges of climate change and sustainable development. It is quite an ambitious undertaking, but NRDC’s work in this realm involves a wide range of campaigns and projects that are making huge strides, and it’s an…

  • ESP Alum Pursues Career in International Sustainable Development

    ESP Alum Pursues Career in International Sustainable Development

    Since graduating from the MPA in Environmental Science and Policy (MPA ESP) program in 2007, Carolina Jaramillo has forged a path in international sustainable development through the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and most recently, through the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI). Currently, as a Green Growth Program Manager for…