Alumni Spotlight3
-
Alumni Spotlight: Jake Higdon Bridges the Gap Between Science and Policy Action
A master’s degree from the Environmental Science and Policy program provided him with the skills and experience to shape climate policy in the real world.
-
Alumni Spotlight: Brighton Kaoma Supports Young People in Achieving Sustainability Goals
Brighton’s master’s degree from the Environmental Science and Policy program led him to a position as the global youth director for the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network in New York City.
-
Alumni Spotlight: Marly Isler
Marly Isler, who implements socially and environmentally responsible strategies at Johnson & Johnson, shares how her time in the Sustainability Management program has impacted her journey.
-
Students Secure Funding to Prototype Lamppost Charging Stations for Electric Vehicles
A company that grew out of a Sustainability Management class project aims to accelerate EV adoption by making access to chargers more equitable.
-
Alumni Spotlight: Stacia Carrington Takes on the Wildlife Trafficking Crisis
Her degree in Environmental Science and Policy set her up to make a difference in averting illegal wildlife trade.
-
Alumni Spotlight: Sage Solomine Raises Funds for Big Cat Conservation
Sage Solomine leveraged her master’s degree from the Environmental Science and Policy program to achieve her goal of protecting big cats with Panthera.
-
Alumni Spotlight: Mahak Agrawal
An alumna of the MPA-ESP program, Mahak elaborates on her time at Columbia, discusses her career path in sustainability, and provides advice to current students.
-
Alumni Spotlight: Julia Koppman Norton, District Supervisor at California Coastal Commission
The Environmental Science and Policy program gave Norton the tools she needed to become a protector of, and advocate for, California’s beaches.
-
“Tell Us What You Need:” The Essential NGO Mindset
M.S. Sustainability Management alum Wendy Hapgood co-founded the Wild Tomorrow Fund, which is currently rewilding a large tract of land in South Africa.
COP31, the 2026 United Nations Climate Change Conference, aims to advance dialogue, strengthen consensus, and accelerate climate action on a global scale. From November 9–20, 2026 in Antalya, Türkiye, heads of state, ministers, scientists, business leaders, and civil society will gather to advance efforts in emission targets, climate finance, and adaptation and resilience. Once again, our experts, students, and global thought leaders from Columbia Climate School and across Columbia University are contributing to key events, sharing insights, and helping shape the dialogue toward ambitious, science-based solutions. Learn More
