Beginning in 2025-26, Sustain Penn State is offering programming specifically targeted at students to help them succeed by helping them explore sustainability-related careers. Programs will include webinars where they can learn from Penn State alumni about their career trajectories in different realms of sustainability, as well as partnerships with Penn State colleges to offer career fairs and other in-person gatherings. Check back frequently as we update our 2025-26 schedule of career-related events! If you have ideas for events, or would be interested in being featured in our programming, contact our Career and Alumni Programming Intern, Evelyn Wu (yi-wu@psu.edu).

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For Fall 2025, we plan to host three webinars profiling different careers in sustainability (all programs subject to change and additional details about specific speakers still forthcoming; pre-registration required for all events):

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Starting Your Sustainability Career: Turning Passion Into Profession

Monday, September 22, 12:15-1 p.m. (EDT), Online

Interested in a sustainability job but not sure how to get your foot on the first rung of that career ladder? We heard from five recent Penn State alumni who took their passion for sustainability during their time as a student and are starting out to take charge of their sustainability careers after graduation:

  • Ashley Currey, ’25, B.S. Entrepreneurship; Job searching
  • Isabella Briseño Elalfi, ’23, B.S. Environmental Resource Management; Associate, Converge Strategies
  • Benjamin Lyman, ’20, B.S. Environmental Biology; Client Relations Manager, RoadRunner Recycling
  • Marisela Sotelo Tornero, ’25, M.P.P. Public Policy Analysis; Doctoral student in Health Policy
  • Nora Van Horn, ’21, B.S. Philosophy, Global Studies, and Chinese; NY Assistant Attorney General for Consumer Protection

Participants heard about the choices they made, resources they have found, and suggestions for how they could get started with their career.

Careers in Sustainability, Labor, and Organizing

Wednesday, October 22, 7-8 p.m. (EDT), Online

For October, Sustain Penn State partnered with The LABOR School at Penn State for a discussion with practitioners working in careers at the intersections of labor rights and sustainability from both the union and political organizing perspective. This evening event was part of the LABOR School’s regular fall programming. Our speakers:

  • Reneisha Knight, Organizer, SEIU Local 668
  • Allie Petonic, Strategic Researcher, United Steelworkers
  • Alex Tomasko, Legislative Director, Pennsylvania AFL-CIO

Careers in Agriculture, Food Systems, and Sustainability

Tuesday, November 18, 12:15-1 p.m. (EST), Online

Food is a basic human need. Food systems fundamentally transform the planet. Looking for an impactful sustainability-related career? As we head into Thanksgiving, let’s give thanks for Penn State alumni who are making the world better through food systems, whether in agriculture, supply chain management, food preparation, or nutrition. Join us to learn more about possible career trajectories in this realm that reaches all people. Speakers for this event were:

  • Jessica Chou, Programs Director, Greener Partners
  • Rachel Hoh, Director of Double Up Food Bucks Michigan program, Fair Food Network
  • Eric Rosenbaum, Owner and Senior Agronomist, Rosetree Consulting, LLC
  • Rachel Vanlandingham, R&D External Strategy, PepsiCo

Our Sustainability Career Programming would not be possible without the support of the University Park Student Fee Board.

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