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
4/11/22
Student Spotlight: Q&A with Sustainability Management Student Hezekiah Williams
Sustainability Management M.S. student Hezekiah Williams has been on a mission to build community among his peers at the School of Professional Studies. A native of Edwards, Mississippi, and graduate of Jackson State University, Williams is a Columbia HBCU Fellow, an officer in the SPS Student Government (SPSSG), and an SPSSG Ambassador to the school’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Committee. He was most recently named the recipient of the Student Dean’s Excellence Award as well as the Campbell Award in recognition of his academic excellence, professional promise, and commitment to building University community and pride. After Columbia, Williams will begin a doctoral program in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science at the University of Notre Dame. He spoke to us about how he aims to contribute to a more inclusive environment through his work with the DEIA Committee.
Student Spotlights
10/23/14
Student Advocates for Sustainable Fashion
After working at the University of Arizona's Laboratory of Tree Ring Research, Master of Science in Sustainability Management alum Ruth Penniston joined the program with the intention of helping to bridge the gap between scientists and the rest of the world. She now serves as the VP of Growth at Hungryroot.
9/18/14
Student Prepares for Career as Corporate Sustainability Strategist
Master of Science in Sustainability Management alum Ame Igharo is new to the field of sustainability, but in her time at Columbia she developed a deeper understanding of the subject and the skills necessary for her to succeed in her goal of becoming a corporate sustainability strategist.
5/1/14
Sustainability Management Student Explores Energy Efficiency
Master of Science in Sustainability Management graduate Lillian Cheng has long been interested in energy efficiency and climate change, but it is her time at Columbia that has instilled in her the necessary quantitative, financial, and project management skills necessary to succeed in the sustainability industry.
4/1/14
Student Makes the Case for a More Sustainable Future
Prior to joining the M.S. in Sustainability Management program, current student Mikael Amar was working for the corporate culture reform and strategic business development efforts for the Abdul Latif Jameel Group, the largest independent distributor of Toyota in the world. While working for ALJ, Mikael witnessed how the economic climate can negatively affect people's willingness to focus resources on sustainability. Mikael chose the MSSM program because he believed that its focus on quantitative, scientific, and managerial skills would allow him to achieve his ultimate goal which is to increase the awareness and endorsement of sustainability and long-term planning in organizations.
1/10/14
SUMA Student Sails into Sustainability
M.S. in Sustainability Management alum Martin Garcia Urtiaga first became interested in sustainability five years ago as a passenger on a transatlantic sailboat voyage. After his voyage and utilizing his construction background, Martin went on to work for Starbucks under the Architectural Standards and Sustainable Construction team, where he supported the Starbucks LEED Volume Build Certification program for the Latin America market.