By Michelle La Roche Pietri
With the vast amounts of paths sustainability students can take to engage in climate action, it is easy to become overwhelmed. The interdisciplinary nature of UF’s Sustainability Studies program may ignite many passions, as was the case with alumna Sofía Aviles.
Aviles graduated from UF with a double major in Sustainability Studies and Political Science, as well as minors in Economics and Agricultural and Natural Resource Law.
Her drive to complete all four programs illustrates the enthusiasm she felt towards becoming an expert in climate and energy. However, this enthusiasm didn’t stop at her classes. Aviles acted as co-president of the Sunrise Movement and as a co-founder for UF’s Green New Deal. When asked about these experiences, she emphasized the importance of collaboration, and the role community plays in enhancing environmental projects. She believes that getting involved with these organizations is a great way to learn. She recalls being thrown into it, which she says ended up being perfect, as there is “no gradual way” to get involved.
Aviles took her climate knowledge further out into the Gainesville community by working as a climate intern — and eventually resiliency project coordinator — for the Alachua County Environmental Protection Department, where she helped draft and implement the county’s Climate Action Plan. She used her experience at the EPD as an example of how to overcome obstacles in sustainability everywhere, not just in Gainesville. She advised students to find the balance between directly challenging authority for environmental reform and finding alternatives within the system to navigate the barriers.
Although the challenges can be exhausting, Aviles wants to remind people that giving up on the environment is not an option. She believes sustainability students are privileged with the opportunities presented to them through environmental education. By studying the environment and its hardships, sustainability students have the chance to work towards a better future, especially for those who can’t.
Aviles reflects on the educational opportunities she took through her political science, economic, and sustainability classes at UF. There are so many paths towards sustainability, through science, finance, policy, and more, she said, encouraging students to engage in some form of environmental education to strive for dream environmental careers.
Identifying one’s climate story can be a big motivator for continuing to fight. For Aviles, her climate story culminated with Hurricane Maria in her homeland, Puerto Rico. The substantial power outages that followed the storm propelled her towards wanting to specialize in energy law to help make a transition to renewable energy. To achieve this, Aviles is now an Environmental Mission Scholar in the Vermont Law and Graduate School’s JD/Master’s program in Energy Regulation and Law.
Sustainability students can be the catalysts of change we want to see in the world. By pursing both a master’s and law degree specializing in energy, Aviles will be making a direct impact in the realm of green policy. She stands out as an exemplary UF alumna working towards solutions for complex environmental and social challenges.