By Riley Harper
Those of us who work in the realm of sustainability know there isn’t always much to celebrate, but we would be wrong to not pause our efforts and recognize the joyful moments in life. Cameron Delgado commemorated her graduation from UF this past summer when she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sustainability Studies. She is now a candidate for the Master of Science in Environmental and Sustainability Management program (MS-ESM) at Georgetown University. As the previous editor for this newsletter, she is very familiar with the interview process and was enthusiastic about getting involved. One of her favorite parts of being the sole editor for 2 years, besides creative freedom, was getting in contact with alumni and professors. She held the position of Coordinator for the Sustainability Studies Alumni Network on LinkedIn, aiming to connect current students and alumni with job opportunities, news updates and sustainable career and lifestyle advice. Delgado posted job offerings, news updates and the Sustainability Studies Newsletter editions as they were published to reconnect students and alumni in their career aspirations.
Growing up surrounded by nature and green spaces helped Delgado learn to appreciate the environment around her and pushed her to study how to help it. She grew up in Florida and North Carolina, hiking and frequenting the local beaches and springs, immersing herself in the natural world. She states that as she grew up and “noticed all the changes that are happening, it makes me want to pursue sustainability even more so I can try and help in some small way.” The daunting task of climate mitigation can seem overwhelming, but Delgado emphasizes the importance of individual action through sustainable lifestyles. She has been a vegetarian since her senior year of high school, and attending graduate school in Washington D.C. allows her to rely fully on public transportation, walking or biking to travel.
Pursuing graduate studies was the perfect way for Delgado to round out her studies. While majoring in Sustainability Studies at UF, she also earned minors in Public Relations, Communication Studies and Environmental Justice and Policy, knowing that she wanted to go into environmental management and hospitality. The MS-ESM program at Georgetown integrates business with sustainability, pairing perfectly with her environmental science and policy background. She says that because the nature of her undergraduate major was broad, she wanted to go to graduate school to hone her passions and pursuits.
Delgado entered UF as a freshman majoring in Sustainability Studies and immediately recognized the value of the major. Its interdisciplinary nature allows students to pursue several minors or majors that match their career goals alongside it. She reflects that there are plenty of opportunities to get involved with sustainability at UF but worries that the closure of the Office of Sustainability may impact how students perceive the university’s priorities. She recommended some actionable items that students should consider, such as staying educated on local and global environmental and political issues, voting and joining organizations focused on sustainability. She stresses that students should try to “garner attention for bringing back the office and its services, as well as getting non-sustainability-focused students on board as well. The administration listens to students, so reaching out to professors, the student government… is a great way to bring more attention to the closing and what that really means.” Delgado’s story is inspiring – it helps us see how the amalgamation of education and advocacy can shape the future of sustainability.