Congratulations to our 2025 graduates!
- Alumni Spotlight- Interview with Sofía Aviles
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.
Continue reading → - Alumni Spotlight: Cameron Delgado
By Riley Harper
BA ’25 Liberal Arts and Sciences (Major: Sustainability Studies)
Cameron Delgado graduated from UF in Summer 2025 where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sustainability Studies. She is currently a candidate for the Master of Science in Environmental and Sustainability Management program at Georgetown University. In her interview, she speaks about her experience being the previous newsletter editor, along with her opinions on the importance of implementing sustainability in careers, lifestyles and educational institutions.
Read more here!
Continue reading → - Alumni Spotlight: Maria Martinez
BA ’13 Liberal Arts and Sciences (Majors: Sustainability Studies and Political Science)
Maria leads Breakthro
ugh Energy’s clean fuels portfolio and provides policy and advocacy expertise to advance the drive towards a net-zero economy. Prior to joining Gates Ventures and Breakthrough Energy, Maria served as Special Assistant to the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) where she led in the planning, development, and execution of agency policy. While at DEEP, she oversaw implementation of an Executive Order which expanded the scope of the Governor’s Council on Climate Change (GC3) to address climate change mitigation and adaptation in the state. Before DEEP, Maria worked in the Washington D.C. office of the Natural Resources Defense Council on international climate policy and cross-programmatic strategy.Maria holds a Master of Environmental Management degree from Yale University and a B.A. in Sustainability Studies and Political Science from the University of Florida. While at UF she was actively engaged with the College Democrats, the Office of Sustainability, and Gators Going Green, where she planned the annual Student Sustainability Summit. She interned with the Alachua County Commission, was Sustainability Coordinator for the Young Entrepreneurs for Leadership & Sustainability (YELS) Program and served as undergraduate Research Assistant for Dr. Thiele.
Continue reading → - Alumni Spotlight: Timothy Fitzwilliam
BA ’12 Liberal Arts and Science (Major Sustainability Studies)
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Timothy graduated in 2012 with a major in Sustainability Studies, after interning at Swallowtail Farm and Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery. Marrying a women he met in his travels in Switzerland, he moved there in 2014 and became a father. Although it took some time to learn the language and adjust to a new a country, Timothy is feeling integrated and at home now in Switzerland, where he is an active member of a local environmental group that turns conventional farm land into habitat for wildlife through the construction of ponds, the planting of native hedges and trees, and the removal of nutrient rich topsoil – allowing native groundcovers to thrive. Timothy is a Train Traffic Controller at the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB). Additionally, he works as a meditation teacher and Life-Coach and serves as the Treasurer for ManKindProject Switzerland. - Alumni Spotlight: Rebekah Foster
BA ’15 Liberal Arts & Sciences (Major: Sustainability Studies and Women’s Studies)
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Rebekah graduated from the University of Florida in 2015 with degrees in Sustainability Studies & Women’s Studies. During her time as a student she was a volunteer at the Rural Women’s Health Project, an environmental education intern at the Tuscawilla Prairie Learning Center and a teaching assistant for courses in sustainability & social entrepreneurship. Since graduating, she has worked as an environmental educator in a variety of settings. She has led middle school students on backpacking trips on the Appalachian Trail, taught stream ecology to elementary school students at a nature center in Georgia and led coastal hikes for high school students on the shores of the Pacific. - Alumni Spotlight: Kelsey Grantzer
BS ’14 Liberal Arts & Sciences (Major: Sustainability Studies), BA ’14 College of Journalism and Mass Communications (Major: Journalism)
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Kelsey graduated from the University of Florida in 2014 with bachelor’s degrees in Sustainability Studies and Journalism. During her time at UF, she worked as a freelance journalist and photographer, often covering stories about solar energy, composting and other environmental topics. She also interned with UF’s Sustainability Studies department and with Holbrook Travel, where she helped promote ecotourism and educational environmental studies trips. - Alumni Spotlight: Jonathan Davis
BA ’12 Liberal Arts and Sciences (Major: Sustainability Studies), BS Warrington College of Business (Major: Accounting)
Jonathan Davis graduated from UF in 2012 with a BA in Sustainability Studies and a BS in Accounting. While at Florida, Jonathan interned with the consulting firm Carbon Solutions, serving as a research assistant to the Gainesville-based firm that specializes in carbon accounting and management. Prior to studying abroad in Argentina, Jonathan sat on the board of UF Hillel, served as an editor for the Fisher School of Accounting Newspaper, and participated in the United Way’s Alternative Spring Break.
Continue reading → - Alumni Spotlight: Loren Parra
BA ’12 Liberal Arts and Sciences (Majors: Sustainability Studies and Political Science)
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Loren graduated from UF in December 2012, with a Dual Degree in Sustainability Studies and Political Science. Shortly after, she moved to Tallahassee, FL and was a full-time staff intern for Miami Representative Rodriguez, Deputy Whip to the Democratic Party, throughout the 2013 legislative session. - Alumni Spotlight: Jennifer Winter
BA ’13 Liberal Arts and Sciences (Majors: Sustainability Studies and Political Science)
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Jennifer Winter graduated from UF in Spring 2013 with degrees in Sustainability Studies and Political Science. During her time at UF, Jennifer was a marketing and communications intern for We Are Neutral and was also involved with I.D.E.A.S. for UF, where she helped work on obtaining a green fee on campus. - Alumni Spotlight: Nazmi Ahmed
BA ’16 Liberal Arts and Sciences (Major: Sustainability Studies)
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Nazmi Ahmed graduated from UF in spring 2016 with a degree in Sustainability Studies and a minor in International Development and Humanitarian Assistance.
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