Can you tell us about what you’re up to now in your career?
Absolutely! After I graduated in May 2022, I spent a year in Cleveland, Ohio as a Land Trust Alliance Scholar. I worked at the Western Reserve Land Conservancy, where we worked to create and enhance community gardens, urban farms, public gathering, and public art spaces. In August 2023, I started law school at Duke University. These days I’m mostly “up to” reading, studying, and preparing for finals.
What did you enjoy most about your work?
At the Land Conservancy, I loved the diversity of my work. Some days we would be at Cleveland City Hall, meeting with city planners and talking about the built environment. Other days, we would get out into rural Ohio and walk preserved properties to ensure conservation easements are being complied with. I also loved being in Cleveland. The city is right on Lake Erie, has old unique architecture, and has exciting cultural events and festivals happening all the time.
As a student, my favorite thing about law school is working on pro-bono volunteer projects. The projects are a reminder of why I chose to pursue a law degree - to have a career that is positive, meaningful, and consequential. This semester I prepared an asylum application, helped folks at the local senior center create wills, and created petitions to restore drivers’ licenses and expunge criminal records. While ultimately I want to pursue a career in environmental law, these projects are an opportunity to serve direct legal needs and support principles of justice and fairness.
How did your experiences in the Environmental Science & Policy Program help you with your career aspirations?
The ENSP program is the reason I chose to pursue a legal career. It was through the Environmental Law, International Environmental Law, and Environmental Justice courses that I started to consider law school. In these courses, we learned how the law is a powerful tool for environmental and public health advocates. Papers I wrote and courses I took prepared me for internships with the Environmental Law Institute, Our Children’s Trust, and the DOJ’s Environmental Crimes Section.
Do you have any advice for students trying to get into your line of work?
To the extent that you can, try everything and anything that interests you. Clubs are a great way to experiment with new career ideas and meet students with similar interests. I learned a lot about my interests, strengths and weaknesses while being involved with the Community Learning Garden, MaryPIRG, and the SGA Sustainability Committee. For students interested in a government, policy, or law career, the Federal and Global Fellows Program is a great way to get tailored career, resume, and cover letter guidance.
Specifically for students interested in a legal career, I highly recommend the Intro to Environmental Law, Intro to Agricultural Law, and Environmental Justice courses. You can use those courses to get a taste for how the legal and environmental fields intersect.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself!
My partner and I raised a puppy for Terps Raising Pups while at UMD. He did work as a seeing-eye-dog for a few months but he was retired early. He now lives with us in North Carolina, with our roommate, and our roommate’s tortoise.
