Environmental Studies Major Jobs and Graduate School Acceptances 2021

Environmental Studies and Environmental Science

Environmental studies field research.

Ariel Levin-Antila

Majors: environmental studies, psychology
Hometown: Chevy Chase, Maryland
Employer: PULSE Pittsburgh
Job title: fellow

Job Responsibilities

I will be working at a nonprofit organization focusing on sustainability and social services, assisting with running and implementing programming goals and adhering to the mission of the organization. I will also be living in an intentional community with other fellows and completing volunteer and service projects throughout the duration of my fellowship.

How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?

Dickinson has shown me the importance of an interdisciplinary education that transcends political boundaries. Through my coursework, extracurriculars and work experiences, I have used knowledge and skills gained from multiple classes, ranging from conservation biology to the history of linguistics. As someone who entered college knowing exactly what career path I wanted to embark upon, Dickinson has provided me with not only a path to achieving my goals but with the freedom to explore my other passions along the way. The amazing people I have met, the lessons I have learned and the opportunities I have been able to take advantage of as a Dickinson student will stay with me long after I graduate.

What are you most anticipating about your career or post-graduate pursuits?

I am excited to take what I have learned in the classroom and apply it to solving real-world problems. I believe that work needs to be done to ensure a just and inclusive world for everyone, and this generation has the power and tools to pave the way for such a reality. I want to continue learning and growing even though I will no longer be in school, always striving to be the best version of myself. Although I will undoubtedly make mistakes, I will rely on my support network as well as the wisdom I've gained here to see myself through the challenges I face.

What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?

One of my defining moments was completing my independent study junior year with the Department of Psychology, right at the start of the pandemic. I took advantage of the opportunity to delve deep into a topic I am extremely passionate about (integrating behavioral science and climate change planning), and I loved being able to do research and ultimately construct a report as a culmination of my interest in the topic. Of course, another defining moment was studying abroad in Copenhagen, where I was able to broaden my perspective on issues I studied in psychology, sustainability and climate change.

Internship Experience

  • I served as an intern in Washington, D.C., at an organization called Earth Day Network, which plans annual programming and activities for Earth Day. There, I assisted the organization in planning the 50th anniversary celebration of Earth Day by conducting research on international Earth Day initiatives, contributing to press releases about pressing environmental issues and helping to structure grant proposals that would support future programming initiatives.
  • I also interned at Dickinson's own Center for Sustainability Education one summer, where I gained a wide breadth of knowledge on how our sustainability programs are run and the broader role of higher education in reaching sustainability goals. I maintained our living labs (The Hive, The Handlebar and Free Xchange), analyzed our sustainability data for annual reporting purposes and assisted with planning for fall programs, including October 2019's be.Hive conference in partnership with Rare.
  • I also completed a winter externship in January 2020 with the study abroad organization Youth For Understanding in Washington, D.C. Having just returned from my study abroad experience, it was fascinating to observe the effort required to coordinate abroad programs. I helped update their website, brainstormed ideas to name future programs and performed research on international organizations to partner with for funding and scholarship purposes.

Rachael Czerna

Majors: environmental studies, policy management
Hometown: Milford, New Jersey
Employer: Deloitte
Job title: analyst

Job Responsibilities

  • Translating business or design objectives to technical requirements.
  • Using data, analytics assets, statistical methods and technologies to help clients make informed business decisions.
  • Analyzing and providing recommendations to clients on improvement opportunities by combining client data, subject matter experts, and data analytics tools.
  • Helping clients transform their HR functions, through HR strategy and cloud technology solutions.
  • Designing, developing, implementing and maintaining technology applications.

How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?

Critical thinking, global education, communication and increasing my comfort in diverse settings.

What are you most anticipating about your career or post-graduate pursuits?

Going into the office and applying what I have learned at Dickinson to the real world!

What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?

Being a member of the women's golf team! Being a tour guide and meeting perspective students was also a great experience.

Internship Experience

I interned with the Cumberland County Court House as well as with Dining Services. Duties varied, but both locations were in Carlise. I worked primarily with data and understanding existing precedents.

Sooik Son

Majors: biochemistry & molecular biology, environmental studies
Hometown: Andong-si, Republic of Korea
Graduate School: Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
Field of study: environmental health sciences
Employer: Sunovion Pharmaceuticals
Job title: new product planning intern

How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?

Through my experience at Dickinson, I was exposed to many different courses and opportunities in various departments. I met great professors and people during my time at Dickinson, who helped me greatly to prepare for my career and life beyond Dickinson.

What are you most anticipating about your career or post-graduate pursuits?

I will start my summer internship at Sunovion after graduation. I also plan to continue my studies at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health as an MPH candidate through the 4+1 program that I got from Dickinson.

What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?

My summer research experiences and summer study abroad in India. I was able to expand my research skills and experience through these opportunities while also being exposed to different environments.

Internship

I did summer research at the State University of New York Upstate Medical University as an undergraduate research assistant in 2019. Last year, I participated in a summer research fellowship program virtually at Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

Audree Khalishah

Major: environmental studies
Hometown: Jakarta, Indonesia
Employer: Dickinson College Farm
Job title: farm education and outreach coordinator

Job Responsibilities

  • Support the College Farm’s existing youth education programs (Camp D.I.G, SEED & F,C,E)
  • Develop and implement ways for engaging students and the campus community in ways that better connect them to the College Farm.
  • Provide oversight on existing College Farm programming.
  • Serve as Dining Services liaison on farm labelling and marketing.
  • Oversee and promote general campus-based awareness of the College Farm.
  • Support College Farm administrative assistant with social media updates on blog, Instagram and Facebook.
  • Assist College Farm staff with Friday CSA set-up on campus during summer months.
  • Provide hands-on support to College Farm through field work twice per week for half a day.

How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?

It's helped me realize my passion for farming, sustainable agriculture and food sovereignty. Dickinson has given me a space to learn about myself—how I learn and communicate—and a space to connect with the right people.

What are you most anticipating about your career or post-graduate pursuits?

Fully immersing myself in farm activities and talking about food justice more.

What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?

My research with Director of the Dickinson College Farm Jenn Halpin and my agroecology class with Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Maggie Douglas.

Internship Experience

Student research assistant under Jenn Halpin for the College Farm. Responsibilities: conduct research, surveys, manage garden, communicate with gardeners, create a gardening manual, attend meetings.   

The Center for Civic Learning and Action - summer civic action internship. Responsibilities: attend meetings, assist local community partners with projects during COVID.

Espoir DelMain

Majors: environmental studies, dance
Hometown: Saint Paul, Minnesota
Employer: Dickinson College Farm
Job title: apprentice

Job Responsibilities

Full time farming until end of November at the Dickinson College Farm! This means weeding, seeding, planting, harvesting, processing the vegetables and crops we grow. I will also be helping with the market stand and hope to continue my involvement in the Carlisle community.

Internship Experience

The Center for Sustainability Education, Biking@Dickinson intern, spring 2019.

Kara Smith

Majors: English, Spanish, environmental studies
Hometown: Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Employer: Ngenius Tutoring and Test Prep
Job title: Spanish tutor

Job Responsibilities

My primary job right now is teaching and tutoring Spanish grammar, culture, speaking, listening and writing for students K-12. I design lesson plans and homework assignments for some of my students for whom I am their primary or only Spanish teacher. For other students, I am a resource for homework help and aiding in taking their Spanish learning further than they are able to in the classroom. Aside from working directly with my students, I also am responsible for regularly communicating with them and their parents via email and sometimes phone to remind them of appointments, provide follow up information and discuss the students' progress. I occasionally do administrative work for Ngenius Tutoring and Test Prep as well, which involves finding or creating relevant material they can share on their social media pages to engage with parents and students.

What are you most anticipating about your career or post-graduate pursuits?

I hope to be able to go back to school soon. I want to pursue a career in higher education, ideally as a Spanish professor at a school similar to Dickinson. My experience with professors and classes at Dickinson, particularly within the Department of Spanish, was very positive, and I would love to be able to affect future college students in similar ways. Until I'm able to go back to school to earn my Ph.D. in Spanish literature, I hope to be able to continue tutoring and teaching Spanish as much as possible, as I am currently doing.

What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?

I loved my time at Dickinson. In particular, I credit my wonderful professors for fostering environments in which I grew as a person, student, researcher, scholar and future educator. While at Dickinson, I was able to be a research assistant for two of my Spanish professors, Professor of Spanish Elise Bartosik-Vélez and Associate Professor of Spanish Erin Díaz. Both of those research opportunities greatly increased my love of the other half of a professor's responsibilities: personal research projects. I was also told about and coached through a project, based on my Spanish senior thesis, that I submitted for NeMLA's annual Undergraduate Forum and later presented at their conference in Boston. Without the support and belief of my professors in the Department of Spanish, I never would have known about that opportunity and would never have been exposed to the wide range of research projects I encountered at the conference. Working in Dickinson's Multilingual Writing Center is another experience I will carry with me forever. I tutored Spanish writing at the center for multiple years and participated in the first Multilingual Writer's Badge Program offered. I loved tutoring at the Writing Center and learned so much about teaching and second language acquisition that I continue to draw. Working as a peer tutor for Spanish was also an incredibly rewarding experience, as was getting to know OSAs while living in the Romance Languages House my sophomore year. Despite the fact that the house is actively falling apart, I wouldn't trade that year and the friends I made during it for anything.

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Published April 2, 2021