Alumni Stories

Colleen McCamy, MEDS 2023

Colleen McCamy (MEDS 2023) worked at Silicon Valley Clean Energy before (and during!) her time at Bren but transitioned to her Associate Data Scientist role after graduating and having a conversation about how she could contribute her new MEDS skills.

Allison Horst, PhD 2012

From engineer to environmental scientist, Allison Horst's creative approach to teaching data science to Bren students makes it fun and engaging.

A Career Transforming Sustainability: Q&A with Fahmida Bangert, MESM 2006

Fahmida Bangert, MESM '06, took a leap of faith to change careers in the early days of corporate sustainability, and now her thriving career has come full circle

Jamie Montgomery, MESM 2013

Jamie Montgomery forged new paths in data science, helping to build an open science community. She brought this experience when she returned to Bren as the MEDS program coordinator.

Taylor Heisley-Cook and David Mun, MESM 2019

For their Eco-E Project, three MESM students co-founded The Hurd Co., a company aimed at eliminating hemp waste in the creation of fabrics. UCSB Alumni interviews MESM 2019 grads Taylor Heisley-Cook and David Mun.

Matt Riley, MESM 2003

As Head of Grid-Scale Renewables at ENGIE North America, Matt reviews potential projects with a team that has learned to look at complex problems from many perspectives.

Sunny Sohrabian, MESM 2013

Sunny Sohrabian found her interest in corporate sustainability when she came to Bren. Now she leads efforts to reduce the operational footprint for a multinational corporation.

Mengya Tao, MESM 2014, PhD 2019

As a sustainability researcher at Amazon, Mengya Tao focuses on life cycle assessment and quantifying the environmental impact of products, from raw materials to disposal.

Garrett Goto, MESM 2019

Hired even before he graduated, Garrett Goto is developing global aquaculture strategy at the Center for Oceans at Conservation International.

Karen Askeland-Elliff, MESM 2016

The attraction to protect pristine waterways drives Karen Askeland-Elliff's career as a water resources planner and environmental scientist.

Adam Jorge, MESM 2015

From studying agricultural pollution to working as a coordinator for the Clean Water Act, Adam Jorge talks about the journey to an EPA career.

Natalie Shahbol, MESM 2018

Her group project studying the impact of pesticides on water quality and endangered fish led to a research fellowship with the EPA, and later to a job with the World Wildlife Fund.

Roxanne Diaz, MESM 2018

Roxanne Diaz used the power of networking to land a dream job in the Netherlands working on global freshwater issues with the World Fish Migration Foundation.

Lindsey Peavey Reeves, PhD 2016

With the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, Lindsey conducts research and translates this important information for public education.

Kate Burchenal, MESM 2018

Kate Burchenal turned her passion for the West's unique water management issues into a career in grantmaking for watershed health programs.

Joel Cesare, MESM 2012

An advocate for bold thinking, Joel Cesare makes sustainable building decisions for Google locations around the world.