Alumni

Melissa Gallina

Past Sustainability Intern,
Recent Graduate

---

Melissa first got involved with the Academic Sustainability Programs Office in her undergrad when she implemented the Sustainable Printing Initiative and Written Work Submission Guidelines.

Driven with the aspiration to provide graduate students with the opportunity for sustainability-related experiential learning, Melissa continued her work with us through the development of the GUCEL Program.

Where are you now?

“I am currently working as a Junior Environmental Specialist for Hatch Ltd. Hatch supplies engineering, project and construction management services, process and business consulting and operational services to the mining, metallurgical, energy and infrastructure industries. I am involved in a number of sustainability-related areas, including: sustainable development reporting, Aboriginal relations, and corporate social responsibility.”

Any words of advice to new sustainability students?

“I encourage all students to make the most of your time at McMaster – get involved! This could mean joining a club, participating in an internship program, working on campus – anything to make connections with the community. Pursue activities that interest you and relate to your career goals. When you put yourself out there, you never know what you will learn, who you will meet, or where it will lead you!”

Janelle Trant

Past Sustainability Intern,
Recent Graduate

---

Janelle first left her mark at the Academic Sustainability Programs Office through her work on the McMaster Sustainable Procurement Guide. In the summer of 2013, Janelle joined us once again to take on a new project, Engage with Waste, with the goal to make McMaster’s waste reports more user-friendly and easy to interpret.

Where are you now?

“I am currently working at a small environmental consulting firm in Kitchener, AET Group Inc. So far, I have conducted environmental audits (including pesticide use and waste), helped to put together proposals and also helped coordinate a volunteer event for the office. I also just started volunteering with the Bruce Trail Conservancy and look forward to getting involved with this amazing organization!”

Any words of advice to new sustainability students?

“Getting involved is well worth it! It will give you an incredible competitive advantage, help you make connections, and also help you determine what exactly you want to do when you graduate.”

Jeff Chan

Past TA for Sustain 2S03 and Sustainability Intern,
Current Masters Student

---

Jeff was a highly engaged student with the Academic Sustainability Programs Office. In the short span of two years, he got involved in the Sustainability Internship Program, the GUCEL Program, and was one of the first TAs for Sustain 2S03. His projects include the Residence Green Bin Pilot Program and Engage with Waste: Employee Education and Engagement.

Where are you now?

“Come fall 2014, I will be beginning the first year of a Masters of Science in Sustainability Management at the University of Toronto. It is a part of their brand new Institute for Management & Innovation. This summer I am working as a student intern for Sustainable Hamilton, a non-profit corporation focused on inspiring Hamilton area businesses, large, medium or small, to adopt sustainability as a strategy for greater business prosperity and success; all with the vision of transforming the city of Hamilton into a global beacon of sustainability. I primarily work in project management, event planning and ensuring the successful execution of initiatives.”

Any words of advice to new sustainability students?

“Being involved with the Office of Sustainability was one of the best and most rewarding experiences at McMaster. I learned more as a student intern than in any course I took during my undergraduate degree. I absolutely loved being apart of the sustainability team, or “sustainability family” as I like to affectionately think of it. The people you work with and the support you are given on a consistent basis are great! You will definitely learn a lot of useful skills and gain knowledge that you can’t get in a simple classroom setting – it gives you a chance to get your hands dirty, the best way to learn. It really helped me find my passion and I am grateful for that. Whether it be getting involved with sustainability or not, I encourage all students to get involved in any way they can at McMaster. It’s a great learning environment!”

Tommy Lee

Past Sustainability Intern,
Recent Graduate

---

Tommy was the first student to work with the Academic Sustainability Programs Office, and the catalyst behind the creation of the Sustainability Internship Program. His project, Permeable Paving Study, focused on the feasibility of incorporating permeable paving in McMaster’s Lot M.

Where are you now?

“I’ve had three engineering jobs since graduation, tried my hands at programming, then geotechnical work, then went back to my Metallurgy field. Currently, I’m working as a process engineer.”

Any words of advice to new sustainability students?

“OWN YOUR PROJECT! I cannot emphasize enough on that point, which alone can be the key to a successful project. Make sure it’s a topic/question/inquiry you are passionate about OR at least passionate about learning. The sustainability internship was one of the first chances I had to take control over my education. Much like the real world, I chose what to learn, when to learn and what resources to use.”

Brittany Staboon

Past Sustainability Intern,
Recent Graduate

---

Brittany joined the Academic Sustainability Programs Office in 2012 when she took on an internship to preserve Ash trees that have been infested by the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB).  As a result of her project, Ash Tree Preservation and Landscape Management, over 20 trees on campus have been treated for EAB! Brittany was also involved in the Climate Change Education and Community Engagement project to develop a presentation on her research for high school students.

Where are you now?

“After both graduating and completing my Sustainability Internship at McMaster, I went on to complete my Bachelor of Education at Brock University in Intermediate/Senior Education specializing in Biology and Geography (Grades 7-12). Currently, I work for the Halton Catholic District School Board as an Occasional Teacher. During this summer (July 2014), I am teaching my first entire course which is Grade 12 University Preparation Biology. As a teacher, my goal is to deliver engaging lessons and to inspire my students to love science. Not only did I learn valuable concepts and practical experience throughout my university degree and in my sustainabily internship, but I am now able to share this knowledge and experience on to the students that I teach. The capacity for the McMaster Office of Sustainability to effect change in the community is great which I have witnessed in my own life. Finally, I serve as the Volunteer and Education Coordinator for Sustainable Hamilton and formerly was the Reporting Initiative Coordnator for the education sector in which I managed accounts such as the HWDSB and Green Venture. In this new role, I assist with volunteer management and recruitment, as well as coordinating the sourcing and development of instructional content for various purposes.”

Any words of advice to new sustainability students?

“One of the most important things that I gained from my Sustainability Internship at McMaster was practical experience. In my project, I examined the effect of the Emerald Ash Borer on the McMaster campus and during the course of my research, a forest became my classroom!

In addition, it was a truly rewarding experience for the fact that a simple initiative that I was taking part in had the potential to impact the McMaster University community in a positive way, and that involved much more sustainable practices.

I would encourage any student with an interest in sustainability to bring it to life by doing an internship. I also gained many job-related skills from communication, professional collaboration, time management, research, and organizational skills which are certainly highly valued and transferable to any type of career that an intern may be interested in.

This was a very collaborative and supportive experiential learning opportunity where ideas are encouraged and explored, and where a vast network of professional and talented individuals work together to implement sustainability.”