Interview with Riley Harper
What was your favorite Sustainability Studies class and why?
My favorite class I took at UF was Psychology of Sustainability with Dr. Ron Chandler. I feel like I have mentioned it a thousand times, but I can’t emphasize enough how much that class really changed my outlook on sustainability and how I perceive myself. It helped me look within myself and understand where my inclination for sustainability originated, and how I can continue to foster it by leading with compassion in my personal and professional life. I had to think back to my experiences in nature as a child; hiking around the Space Coast where I grew up really made me appreciate the beauty of the world around me, and witnessing the negative change rapidly encroaching on the environment urged me to try and help. A very close second is Dr. Xin Zhao’s Principles of Organic and Sustainable Crop Production class, which involved a lot of hands-on gardening that really helped me connect to sustainable agriculture and cultivate my passion for it.
What was it like working with Paige, Michelle, and Dr. Billesbach on the newsletter, and what did you learn from that collaboration?
Joining the Sustainability Studies Newsletter was one of the best decisions I ever made during my time at UF. I was only there my last year, but writing with Paige and Michelle was such a pleasurable experience. Both of them are extremely hardworking and passionate, and they inspire me endlessly. Dr. Billesbach was an amazing professor and mentor during my senior year, as he allowed so much freedom and creativity within our writing process but was always willing to lend a helping hand. Being a newsletter editor revived my love for journalism and reminded me that one of the most magical feelings in the world is interviewing someone and watching their eyes light up as they speak about what they are passionate about. I am so grateful for everything the newsletter taught me: collaboration between editors and an appreciation for everyone at UF and in Alachua County that is fostering positive proenvironmental change.
Can you tell us about “Reading with Riley” (how it began, what inspired it, and what the project means to you)?
Reading with Riley was a very cool opportunity that Dr. Billesbach suggested after I said I wanted to write a book review for the newsletter. The Lynx Books in Downtown Gainesville allowed me to utilize their patio as a meeting space to talk about Diana Beresford-Kroeger’s book, Our Green Heart: The Soul and Science of Forests. It ended up only being my friends that came to the book club meetings, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t still an amazing experience. They asked for my thoughts and notes on the book, and a lot of them who aren’t in an environmental science field learned about the intersection between Druidic culture and the biochemistry of forests can help mitigate climate change, the main message of the book. It was a great bonding experience with my friends, and I am really grateful for their support.
Do you have a favorite newsletter story, issue, or behind-the-scenes memory from your time as an editor?
There are so many amazing memories I have with the newsletter, but some of my favorite times were just meeting with Paige and Michelle in Dr. Billesbach’s office, working out the logistics of each edition. Each of them are such wonderful human beings, and it satisfied a part of my soul to be able to work with them. They all had amazing ideas, and no matter how my day had been going, talking with them about the newsletter helped brighten my mood. I also just loved the entire stepwise process of writing an article: researching your subject, writing questions, conducting the interview, and writing the full piece. I had the opportunity to meet wonderfully kind and intelligent people that taught me something new every interview.
How has earning your degree in sustainability shaped the work you hope to pursue?
I majored in both Sustainability Studies and Biology at UF, and the combination of both of those fields has provided me with an invaluable foundation for my career. I would like to become a professor studying plant ecology, and the Sustainability Studies Program is so interdisciplinary that I could pursue classes that helped solidify my research interests and ones I just wanted to take for fun. I began UF as a pre-med microbiology student, but I did not enjoy my coursework, the clinical setting, or the competitive environment in my classes. In my junior year I switched to Sustainability Studies, and I could not have been any happier. My classmates were so kind, and I learned so much from them, almost as much as my professors.
What will you be studying in your PhD program at Florida Institute of Technology, and what are you most excited about as you begin this fall?
In August, I will begin my PhD program in Environmental Science at Florida Institute of Technology! I am really excited and very grateful for the opportunity. I will start out by taking classes and conducting research on the ecology of seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon in my advisor’s lab, as I figure out my specific research topic. I am looking forward to learning more about sustainable aquaculture and making new friends in my field!
You mentioned that your grandmother has been one of your biggest inspirations. What role has your grandmother played in shaping the person and scholar you are today?
My Nana is who I aspire to be. She is the most compassionate, selfless, and hardworking person I have ever met, and she has inspired me my entire life. I lived with her for around five years as a child and used to garden with her, so I think I tried to mimic her personality and interests in my formative years. She has supported me endlessly, and everything I do is to make her proud. She makes me try to be a better person and pursue a field where I could try to make the world around me better, just like her. She helps settle my mind and always reminds me to take everything one day at a time.
Any advice, big or small, for SS majors and minors?
My advice is to follow your heart. Ignore ego, prestige, and surface-level pursuits. Really dig deep within yourself and prioritize your passions. Meanwhile, spend time in nature. Connecting with this beautiful Earth will help provide peace of mind, trust in yourself, and positive relationships with others.
