About

My journey with sustainability began when I lived in Russia - I studied Russian language and history in college and taught English on a Fulbright fellowship after graduating. Many families had summer cottages where they grew their own produce, and I spent summer weekends gardening, which was something entirely new to me. This experience sparked my interest in local food systems.

After returning to the U.S., I joined a nonprofit that supported civil rights organizations around the world. I focused on their Eurasia portfolio, which kept me connected to Russian culture while building skills in project management and financial operations. At the same time, I remained drawn to sustainability, homegrown food, and reducing food waste.

To transition into working on the issues I was most interested in, I took a job on a farm for six months, which led me to a role managing outreach and communications at a solid waste district in Vermont. I was drawn to this opportunity largely due to Vermont’s food waste ban, and I worked with businesses to reduce waste, improve recycling, and keep food scraps out of landfills. Through this work, I witnessed the operational challenges involved in making sustainability goals a reality. I also realized that I enjoyed the behind-the-scenes problem-solving and operational side of sustainability. This led me to enroll in BU’s online Applied Business Analytics program.

BU Highlights

I’m the Project Manager for BU’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) 1.2. In 2017, the university released its first Climate Action Plan, a roadmap to reduce emissions and consider BU’s broader environmental and community impact. It set important long-term goals, like achieving net-zero direct emissions by 2040, and led to the development of a Zero Waste Plan. With CAP 1.2, we are digging deeper into how to operationalize these goals, particularly around decarbonizing our existing buildings.

I support this work by collecting data on individual buildings' energy usage and emissions and communicating with a cross-functional team to understand what efficiency measures or upgrades are feasible. I coordinate regular meetings with our team to assess options, perform cost-benefit analyses, and think through the logistical realities of building upgrades. I also engage with external experts in campus decarbonization, utilities, emerging technologies, and urban planning to help us better understand what is possible today.

Excitement

I’m excited to be part of an institution that is deeply committed to reaching ambitious climate goals that will benefit not just the BU community, but Boston and the world.

Advice for BU Students

Stay curious and be open to new ideas. There are so many ways to learn about any topic you’re interested in, and the sustainability space is full of people who are eager to share their knowledge. You don’t need a technical background to contribute meaningfully - there’s room for everyone. Seek out courses taught by professors working on climate and environmental issues and find ways to apply what you’ve learned.

The BU Sustainability team is incredibly welcoming, and they’re doing great work across many areas of campus life. If you’re looking for a professional development opportunity related to sustainability, I’d recommend checking them out. The Campus Climate Lab is another great resource - it supports student-led projects that help BU meet its climate goals and gives you the opportunity to work directly on real campus solutions.