Pupil Highlight: Kate Morsink, Future Sustainability Advisor
Kate Morsink is in her remaining semester of the M.S. in Sustainability Administration program and is the director of engagement for Girls & Sustainability, a pupil group devoted to empowering feminine leaders in sustainability.
This previous summer season, Kate was chosen by the Environmental Protection Fund for the Local weather Corps Fellowship to ascertain a sustainable packaging roadmap for Wayfair. Kate’s remaining suggestion centered on eliminating Styrofoam and plastic from Wayfair’s provide chain and shifting to 100% responsibly sourced paper and cardboard.
Earlier than shifting to New York in 2021 for the SUMA program, Kate lived and labored in Canada, the place she attended the Smith Faculty of Enterprise at Queen’s College. Upon commencement, she joined TEALEAVES, a luxurious tea firm that works primarily with main lodge teams. There she labored as a enterprise growth supervisor, touring the globe for shopper consultations and finally founding the corporate’s sustainability program. She reworked their packaging and provide chain away from single-use plastic and linear practices.
Kate will full this system in December, after which she plans to implement her information of sustainability administration at Boston Consulting Group, the place she’s going to work on their local weather and sustainability group as a guide.
What drew you to use and select the SUMA program?
My undergrad diploma is in enterprise, so I needed to review in a grasp’s program that was on the intersection of sustainability and enterprise. I selected the M.S. in Sustainability Administration program for its variety of dialogue and its fame as a platform upon which individuals can construct an impactful function in society. By incomes my grasp’s diploma in Sustainability Administration, I’m constructing a robust basis on local weather change, environmental justice, politics, and company sustainability, via a enterprise lens.
Are you able to share some highlights out of your time within the SUMA Program?
I’ve had an unbelievable time being a SUMA pupil and will probably be very unhappy to graduate on the finish of this semester. A spotlight for me was being on the board for Girls & Sustainability. It’s been such an exquisite expertise to get to plan occasions and growth alternatives for the Columbia group and it has allowed me to fulfill extra college students and college throughout the varsity. This semester, I led the planning for our annual Uplift summit, on November 18, which was a tremendous strategy to cap off the semester! I’ve additionally made lifelong pals from this system with whom I’ve had the pleasure of touring the world with this yr. I stay up for many extra adventures collectively.
What have been a few of your favourite programs or professors?
It’s so laborious to choose! A couple of favourite lessons are Round Economic system with Danielle Azouley, the Earth Institute Practicum with Alison Miller, and Life Cycle Evaluation with Christoph Meinrenken.
You’ve just lately obtained prestigious recognitions and awards. Are you able to inform me about them?
This summer season I had the pleasure of working at Wayfair as an Environmental Protection Fund Local weather Corps Fellow. I facilitated collaboration throughout a number of groups inside the firm to develop a complete roadmap for sustainable packaging and was awarded the Collaboration Award by Local weather Corps for my work! This fall, I used to be honored to have been chosen as an Earth Institute Fellow by SUMA. And earlier this month, I used to be thrilled to have been chosen out of two,000+ candidates for Finduddannelse’s worldwide sustainability scholarship!
What do you assume is subsequent for you?
I will probably be working in New York as a sustainability guide once I graduate. I’m trying ahead to working with companies to inject sustainability into their core enterprise technique.
Do you could have any recommendation for present or incoming college students within the sustainability packages?
The scholars in this system are really superb and likewise such a enjoyable group of individuals! I’d encourage new college students to prioritize attending to know their cohort and to become involved with golf equipment or occasions on campus, in order that they will meet college students from the Local weather Faculty at massive. Additionally, reap the benefits of cross registration alternatives exterior of SPS and throughout Local weather Faculty packages. I’ve loved taking lessons in SIPA and within the Local weather and Society program as its allowed me to fulfill extra college students.
This system is aware of you as a unprecedented pupil with a ardour for sustainability. Exterior of college and internships, the place can we discover you?
I really like music and presently sing within the Columbia Choir! I additionally love attempting vegan eating places round New York and enjoying tennis.
The M.S. in Sustainability Administration program is supplied by Columbia’s Faculty of Skilled Research in partnership with Columbia Local weather Faculty.
