STUDENT COMMUNITY
The M.S. in Sustainability Management program’s students represent a cross-section of the industries and organizations currently incorporating sustainable initiatives into their day-to-day operations as well as those who are looking to make a career switch. The program’s students are dedicated not only to mastering the theory and science of sustainability, they are passionate about putting their education into practice.
Student Groups
Fellow and Scholar Spotlights
6/1/25
Reagan Russell | Columbia HBCU Fellow 2025 | Howard University
Reagan Russell is a recent graduate from Howard University, where she majored in environmental studies and minored in English. She is currently pursuing an M.S. in Sustainability Management at Columbia University, where she has been selected as a 2025 HBCU fellow. Her passion for sustainability is focused on environmental justice initiatives in low-income and minority communities. Her past internships are vast and span both the government and nonprofit sectors. She has worked at Appalachian Voices, a local environmental justice nonprofit; USAFacts, an organization focused on making government data more accessible; and the Solar Energy Industries Association, a national trade association. Most recently, she has authored a research paper exploring how the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America (CHIPS) Act can be leveraged to create opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals in the emerging green energy workforce. Reagan was born and raised in Nassau, Bahamas, and she credits her upbringing for instilling in her a justice-oriented outlook on environmental issues.
6/1/25
Kailynn Williams | Columbia HBCU Fellow 2025 | Southern University and A&M College
Kailynn Williams is a proud Southern belle whose journey has taken her across the United States, though Louisiana and Texas will always be home. A graduate of Southern University and A&M College with a bachelor’s degree in Urban Forestry, Environment, and Natural Resources, she is now pursuing her master’s in Sustainability Management at Columbia University, where she is also a member of the HBCU Fellowship Program.
1/28/25
Columbia SPS CUNY Fellow Leads the Charge for Environmental Justice in Her Community and Beyond
Marileidy Pimentel Paniagua is a Columbia SPS CUNY Fellow, M.S. in Sustainability Management student, and bilingual community organizer at WE ACT for Environmental Justice. A proud CUNY graduate, she earned her B.S. in earth and atmospheric sciences from CCNY after beginning at Bronx Community College. Now, through the inaugural SPS CUNY Fellowship—which provides full tuition for high-achieving CUNY grads—she’s building skills to amplify her advocacy for environmental justice and sustainable change. In this interview, Pimentel shares what drives her passion and commitment to grassroots climate action.
Student Spotlights
4/26/24
From Fission to Fusion: A Sustainability Student’s Quest for a Greener Future
Brian Kim, a health physicist at Columbia University, is pursuing a Master’s in Sustainability Management to focus on climate solutions. With a background in nuclear engineering from Oregon State, he engages with groups like RESCUE and Build It Green. Inspired by natural disasters, Kim aims to graduate in spring 2025, enhancing his work on safe radioactive material use.
3/21/24
Sustainability Management Student Addresses Gender Disparity in the COP29 Climate Committee
Sanaya Kriplani, a Master’s student in Sustainability Management, highlights the gender disparity in the COP29 climate committee, initially with 28 men and no women, later adjusted to 29 men and 12 women. She stresses that the absence of women in key roles undermines COP29’s legitimacy, as gender diversity is crucial for effective climate policy.
3/8/24
Sustainability Management Student Receives Social Justice Mini-Grant
Kristen Dillard, a Sustainability Management (SUMA) student at the School of Professional Studies, was recently named one of 12 recipients of the annual Social Justice Mini-Grant. She plans to use the mini-grant to acquire production tools and gain skills for her sustainability advocacy podcast, "GreenCoast: Uniting Sustainability and Environmental Justice from East to West".
11/27/23
Frank Agwuncha Is Working, Teaching, and Wrapping Up a Master's in Sustainability
Working as a geologist and in project management at Shell, ignited Frank Agwuncha's passion for sustainability, energy, and climate issues. His attraction to the MS in Sustainability Management (SUMA) program at Columbia SPS stems from its holistic curriculum, which integrates business, science, and environmental studies. He hopes to utilise his degree to re-enter the workforce as a sustainability practitioner and course associate in Cost Benefit Analysis.
11/18/23
Enviroally's Board Games: Gamifying Climate Education for Action
Jiangnan Shen, a student in Columbia University's Sustainability Management program and co-founder of Enviroally, introduced their latest board game, Planet-E, at the COP27 summit. Shen discussed the importance of using board games for climate education, emphasizing their accessibility and effectiveness in engaging players. With games like Pacific Climate Adventures and Planet-E, Enviroally aims to inspire climate awareness and foster collaboration. Both digital and physical versions of the games will be available soon.