On October 29, Sarah Lawrence College hosted SLICE After SLC: Exploring Careers in Environmental Science, Sustainability, and Social Impact, a panel discussion that highlighted the many career paths of Sarah Lawrence alumni working at the intersection of environmental science and social change. Moderated by faculty from the Sarah Lawrence Interdisciplinary Collaborative on the Environment (SLICE), the event underscored the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to addressing global environmental challenges and advancing climate justice.
Members of this panel included Emily Eder ’08, the Deputy Program Director at the Groundwork Hudson Valley; Ishika Joshi ’24, a Conservation Technician at the Nassau County Soil & Water Conservation District; Aubrey Baker ’23, an Exhibition Manager for The Great Elephant Migration; Lisa Grayson Zygmunt ‘84, the Deputy Manager for the NYC Accelerator Program; and Chris Girgenti ‘10, the Director of Environmental Programs at Randall’s Island Park Alliance.
The alumni panelists emphasized the influence their Sarah Lawrence education had on their career paths. Girgenti came to SLC with the intention of studying theatre and going into law school, envisioning going through his undergraduate education on one specific track. “But that’s not the way Sarah Lawrence should work, and it’s not the way it did work,” he said, noting how his time at Sarah Lawrence gave him the opportunity to explore topics he had never envisioned.
Baker highlighted the role of her First Year Studies (FYS) course “Environmental Eco-Poetry” in shifting her interests from political science to the natural world and creative writing, allowing her to realize her passion for animal behavior and conservation.
Joshi shared her experiences working as an environmental educator and intern at Sarah Lawrence’s Center for the Urban River at Beczak, as well as her participation in the College’s Summer Science program. “Hands-on experience set me apart from other candidates. When I was doing interviews, I could see that hands-on experience is a rarity nowadays.”
Each of the alumni panelists reflected on how their Sarah Lawrence education gave them the ability to be nimble, flexible, and “wear many hats” – skills that have helped them immeasurably in their careers. Eder manages farming, non profit-work, budgeting, planning, communicating, teaching, and problem solving in her role as a Deputy Program Director. Baker said her ability to “switch from one role to another seamlessly” is a true “testament to Sarah Lawrence.” Joshi spoke of the problem-solving and critical thinking skills that emerge from interdisciplinary study, recalling that “ideas from separate classes tend to blend together and you’re able to zoom out and see a topic from many perspectives” – a valuable skill that all students learn at Sarah Lawrence.