MPA Environmental Science and Policy Class of 2006 Graduates

On May 15, 2006, 57 students graduated from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs with a Master of Public Administration (MPA) in Environmental Science and Policy degree. The class included students from several foreign countries, such as Canada, India, Ireland, Japan, Lebanon, Mexico, and Scotland. This now brings the total number of students that have graduated from the program to 196, building a diverse network of alumni trained to be multidisciplinary environmental professionals.

Sponsored jointly by SIPA and The Earth Institute at Columbia University, the program incorporates more science into the curriculum than any other MPA degree presently offered. The aim of the program is not to train students to become scientists, but for them to be able to manage and appreciate the work of scientists in order to transform the implications of those findings into effective policy. Program director, Steve Cohen said, “We are about training policy analysts and managers for public service careers aimed at protecting this planet’s environment.”

During the summer semester, students learn the scientific foundations of environmental problems through science courses which include Hydrology, Chemistry, Toxicology, Ecology, and Climate. The science courses are complimented by two management courses: Workshops in Applied Earth Systems Policy Analysis and Management as well as Earth Systems and Environmental Politics, Policy, and Management. Subsequent fall and spring semesters are centered on environmental policy and management.

Throughout the program students have Workshops in Applied Earth Systems Policy Analysis and Management, which challenge them to apply their theoretical knowledge and functional skills to address real-world environmental policy and management issues. Robin Dejong ’06 said, “The workshops opened my eyes to a different style of management that I had never come across – a more effective and efficient style applicable to any work situation, and even my personal life. Along with management skills, I gained the know-how that will enable me to pursue my dream career as an environmental policy analyst.”

The program’s applied nature means students are able to employ these skills in their future professions. Upon graduation, Kara Harris ’06 began working as a Soil Conservationist in the Office of Energy Project for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The multidisciplinary nature of the program has equipped her with the skills to perform her duties as part of a team consisting of a soil conservationist, archeologist, engineer, geologist and biologist. Harris said, “The program is definitely helpful because I look around at the duties I will have to perform and I realize that everything I learned in the program is so beneficial to making my job better.”

During the academic year, three of the MPA ESP graduates were selected as finalists for the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) program. The PMF is a 2-year rotation program that allows students to work in various government agencies and trains students to play leadership roles in the Federal Government. Matthew Gray, Kristin Heinen, and Nicole Lukehart applied to the program which accepts qualified individuals from a variety of academic backgrounds who are committed to careers in the analysis and management of public policies and programs.

“[The PMF program] is one of the best opportunities to understand how a particular sector of the Federal Government works,” said Heinen. She emphasized the program’s flexibility and varied work possibilities. “If you are committed to civil service, it offers the chance to explore multiple agencies and divisions through multiple rotations over a two-year period.” Gray believes that policy-making at the national level needs a greater environmental perspective. “The PMF represents one of the best avenues for making this goal a reality.” Gray will apply the skills that he has learned throughout the year in his new position at the U.S. Department of Energy in the Federal Energy Management Program. Lukehart will also be working at the federal level at the Environmental Protection Agency in the Department of Solid Waste.

Of the 57 students that graduated in May some are now working in governmental agencies such as the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), private firms including the Architectural Energy Corporation, Malcolm Pirnie, and the Energy & Resources Division at Mitsubishi Corporation, as well as non-profits like The Earth Institute at Columbia University.

More information about the program and the courses can be found online at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/mpaenvironment/. Prospective students are welcome to sit in on classes and talk with students and faculty. For more information please email Louise Rosen at lar46@columbia.edu or call (212) 854-3142.