Alumni
Alumni Wanted!
Are you an Environmental Sustainability alum? We want to hear from you! We're looking to update our alumni profiles to show potential students what they can do with a degree in Environmental Sustainability. Contact our Communications Coordinator, Jake Keister, using the button below to let us know where your education has taken you!
While we wait to hear from you, see what some of our alumni have done since graduation!
Samuel James, Solutions Engineer at Axim Geospatial
See how this ESES graduate turned curiosity, creativity, and community into a role supporting clients around the world—from local governments to international NGOs. Learn how they combine technical skills with real-world problem solving and what advice they have for students just starting out.
Sarah Kater, Conservation Officer, Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Learn how one ESES graduate turned their passion for the environment into a fulfilling career as an Illinois Conservation Police Officer. From snowmobiles to patrol boats, no two days are the same. Discover the journey, the challenges, and the advice they have for students pursuing a future in environmental protection.
Nidhi Shastri, AIR New Voices Scholar 2021 | Business Analyst at Axiom Law | Science Researcher - Underknown | Creator - Model Minority
What does environmental sustainability have to do with podcasting, science communication, and the legal industry? For this ESES graduate, everything. Explore how they built a multifaceted career that blends business development, podcast production, and media research, all while championing underrepresented voices. Their journey shows that there's no one right path, just the one that aligns with your passion.
Joanna Pupa, Lab Technician 2 at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Class of 2017, Double major in Chemistry
From testing water quality to protecting public health, this ESES alum plays a vital role in keeping Chicago’s waterways clean. As a Lab Technician analyzing everything from pH to phosphorus levels, she combines her passion for science with real environmental impact, every single day. Read how her persistence, a key internship, and a love of chemistry helped her land a job where she sees the value of her work in every sample.
Brooke Wallery: JD Candidate, University of Illinois
Class of 2018
What does an Environmental Sustainability degree have to do with a future in law? For this ESE alum, everything. A summer internship sparked an interest in environmental justice, and the flexibility of the ESE major helped her graduate early, explore a wide range of topics, and build the writing and analytical skills essential for law school. Now pursuing a JD, she’s still exploring where her passion for advocacy and community impact will lead.
Interested in giving back?
Want to help support the next generation of environmental leaders? Consider making a gift to the School of Earth, Society & Environment or to the Program in Environmental Sustainability to help fund student opportunities, research, and outreach. You can visit our giving page at the button below or email us at sese-info@illinois.edu.