Kate Morsink, Future Sustainability Advisor

Pupil Highlight: Kate Morsink, Future Sustainability Advisor

Kate Morsink is in her remaining semester of the M.S. in Sustainability Administration program and is the director of engagement for Girls & Sustainability, a scholar group devoted to empowering feminine leaders in sustainability.

This previous summer time, Kate was chosen by the Environmental Protection Fund for the Local weather Corps Fellowship to determine a sustainable packaging roadmap for Wayfair. Kate’s remaining suggestion centered on eliminating Styrofoam and plastic from Wayfair’s provide chain and shifting to 100% responsibly sourced paper and cardboard.

Earlier than shifting to New York in 2021 for the SUMA program, Kate lived and labored in Canada, the place she attended the Smith College of Enterprise at Queen’s College. Upon commencement, she joined TEALEAVES, a luxurious tea firm that works primarily with main resort teams. There she labored as a enterprise improvement supervisor, touring the globe for consumer consultations and ultimately founding the corporate’s sustainability program. She remodeled their packaging and provide chain away from single-use plastic and linear practices.

Kate will full this system in December, after which she plans to implement her information of sustainability administration at Boston Consulting Group, the place she’s going to work on their local weather and sustainability staff as a marketing consultant.

What drew you to use and select the SUMA program?

My undergrad diploma is in enterprise, so I wished to review in a grasp’s program that was on the intersection of sustainability and enterprise. I selected the M.S. in Sustainability Administration program for its range of dialogue and its fame as a platform upon which individuals can construct an impactful function in society. By incomes my grasp’s diploma in Sustainability Administration, I’m constructing a robust basis on local weather change, environmental justice, politics, and company sustainability, by a enterprise lens.

Are you able to share some highlights out of your time within the SUMA Program?

I’ve had an unimaginable time being a SUMA scholar and can be very unhappy to graduate on the finish of this semester. A spotlight for me was being on the board for Girls & Sustainability. It’s been such an exquisite expertise to get to plan occasions and improvement alternatives for the Columbia group and it has allowed me to fulfill extra college students and college throughout the college. This semester, I led the planning for our annual Uplift summit, on November 18, which was an incredible method to cap off the semester! I’ve additionally made lifelong buddies from this system with whom I’ve had the pleasure of touring the world with this yr. I look ahead to many extra adventures collectively.

What have been a few of your favourite programs or professors?

It’s so arduous to select! Just a few favourite courses are Round Financial system with Danielle Azouley, the Earth Institute Practicum with Alison Miller, and Life Cycle Evaluation with Christoph Meinrenken.

You’ve not too long ago acquired prestigious recognitions and awards. Are you able to inform me about them?

This summer time I had the pleasure of working at Wayfair as an Environmental Protection Fund Local weather Corps Fellow. I facilitated collaboration throughout a number of groups throughout the firm to develop a complete roadmap for sustainable packaging and was awarded the Collaboration Award by Local weather Corps for my work! This fall, I used to be honored to have been chosen as an Earth Institute Fellow by SUMA. And earlier this month, I used to be thrilled to have been chosen out of two,000+ candidates for Finduddannelse’s worldwide sustainability scholarship!

What do you assume is subsequent for you?

I can be working in New York as a sustainability marketing consultant after I graduate. I’m trying ahead to working with companies to inject sustainability into their core enterprise technique.

Do you’ve any recommendation for present or incoming college students within the sustainability applications?

The scholars in this system are actually superb and in addition such a enjoyable group of individuals! I might encourage new college students to prioritize attending to know their cohort and to get entangled with golf equipment or occasions on campus, in order that they’ll meet college students from the Local weather College at massive. Additionally, benefit from cross registration alternatives outdoors of SPS and throughout Local weather College applications. I’ve loved taking courses in SIPA and within the Local weather and Society program as its allowed me to fulfill extra college students.

This system is aware of you as a unprecedented scholar with a ardour for sustainability. Exterior of college and internships, the place can we discover you?

I really like music and at the moment sing within the Columbia Choir! I additionally love attempting vegan eating places round New York and enjoying tennis.

The M.S. in Sustainability Administration program is provided by Columbia’s College of Skilled Research in partnership with Columbia Local weather College.