Student & Alumni Profiles

Overview

BCEP students come from a variety of academic disciplines, and they bring to Bard a passion about their future role as environmental leaders. Although each class is diverse in both background and interests, all students share a common purpose - to understand the complexity of environmental problems, and work towards finding viable and sustainable solutions to tomorrow's environmental challenges. Most students decide to complete the standard M.S. in Environmental Policy in two years. However, some students elect to pursue other degree options, contributing greatly to the diversity and overall integrity of each year's cohort. Below are selected profiles of our past and current students.

Video Profiles

Watch current students and alumni give their perspectives on BCEP by watching the video profiles below:

Michel Wahome '10
Matthew Guenther '10
Christie Ferguson M.S./M.A.T. '08

Katrina Shindledecker - M.S. '06

Director of Land Preservation, Hudson Highlands Land Trust, Garrison, NY.

Katrina Shindledecker entered the Bard Center for Environmental Policy in 2004. Prior to BCEP, she completed her Bachelors of Science at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, FL, with a major in Psychology and a minor in Biology, and graduated from Pace University's Environmental Science Master's Program in 2003.

From 2000 through 2004 Katrina worked for the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) at the Rockefeller State Park Preserve in Mount Pleasant, NY, where she acted as the Director of Natural Resources. Her duties included developing and overseeing natural and historic resource maintenance and restoration projects for the preserve, many in partnership with local partners. In 2005, Katrina's role with OPRHP was expanded to include natural resource initiatives and environmental compliance for the Taconic region, which comprises15 parks and 5 historic sites.

Due to Katrina's extensive professional background, her internship requirement was waived, and she was able to complete her M.S. degree by writing her master's thesis, which was titled, "Land Transactions: Policies and Practices of Land Trusts in the Hudson Valley."

After Graduating from BCEP in 2006, Katrina continued her work until September 2007 at the OPRHP regional office while volunteering at local land trusts. In October 2007, she accepted the position of Director of Land Preservation at the Hudson Highlands Land Trust (HHLT) in Garrison, NY. The Hudson Highlands Land Trust works with landowners, local residents, municipalities, and regional conservation organizations to preserve the vast and biologically diverse land in the Hudson highland region. As HHLT's Director of Land Preservation, Katrina is responsible for directing and implementing the land trusts acquisition and stewardship program. She is also involved in local land use and acts as the community liaison for the land trust on natural resource issues.

Jessica A. Steinberg - M.S./J.D. '07

Associate, Sive, Paget & Riesel, P.C., New York, NY.

Jessica A. Steinberg was the first student to complete the joint M.S./J.D. program with Pace Law School. She graduated from both schools in May 2007.

After graduating from the College of William and Mary with a double major in Public Policy and Environmental Studies, Jessica taught middle school Latin and physical science. After commencing her legal studies in 2003, Jessica applied to the joint program with BCEP. As stated in her BCEP application, "[a] stronger background in both the sciences and policy will help me . . . become an informed, active environmental lawyer."

As a student, she was a vice-chair of the National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition, a first-year intern with the Pace Land Use Law Center, an extern with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C., and the first recipient of the Theodore Gordon Flyfishers' Founders Fund Scholarship, based on her commitment to environmental law in New York City and the Hudson Valley region. She also served as a case note/comment editor for the Pace Law Review. Jessica's Master's thesis, entitled "Appraising Conservation Easement Donations: The Need for More Uniform Standards and Greater Oversight," was published in the Environmental Law Reporter in November 2007.

Jessica is an associate at Sive, Paget & Riesel, P.C., one of New York's leading environmental law firms, and practices in the areas of environmental law and litigation.

Jackson Morris - M.S. '07

Air & Energy Program Associate, Environmental Advocates of New York, Albany NY.

Jackson Morris came to the Bard Center for Environmental Policy when he was 28 years old. Jackson received his B.A. in Sociology from Duke University, where he also received certificates in Primatology, and Markets and Management.

Prior to coming to Bard, Jackson oversaw an organic farm and managed the wholesale and retail sales of a natural foods store in Woodstock, NY. He also taught math, science, ecology, and Spanish in two schools outside of the U.S., one in the West Indies and one in the Dominican Republic. Born and raised on a horse farm in Kentucky, he has lived in the Catskills since 2004.

While at BCEP, Jackson interned at Environmental Advocates of New York (EANY), an environmental advocacy watchdog group in Albany, NY. As a policy intern, he researched potential abuses of the state's drinking water revolving fund and worked on the Campaign for Community Preservation. After graduating in 2007, Jackson went on to work for Environmental Advocates as a Government Affairs Associate; he now serves as the Air & Energy Program Associate. His responsibilities include finding ways to cut air pollution and to promote the use of renewable energy in New York State.

"My time at BCEP provided me the solid foundation necessary to pursue a successful career as an advocate, lobbyist, and policy analyst for environmental issues in New York State," says Jackson. "The holistic, intensive curriculum offered at BCEP was instrumental in allowing me to hit the ground running in my field, and the full semester internship has clearly paid dividends, as it grew into a permanent position before I even graduated." He adds, "I would highly recommend the program to those looking for a degree that provides both sophisticated fundamental knowledge of environmental policy and the flexibility to specialize in whatever niche they wish to pursue."

John Stapleton - M.S. expected '09

Master's International Program

John Stapleton came to BCEP as a Master's International student in the fall of 2005 from Pelham, NY. Prior to coming to BCEP, John majored in International Studies at American University, in Washington D.C. In college, he focused on international economics and policy in the context of international development, and the ethical challenges involved with economic growth while protecting the environment in developing nations. John has a strong background in community service and advocacy work, and he is fluent in Spanish.

The opportunities offered by the MI Program at Bard were consistent with John's background and future priorities. "The Master's International (MI) program is truly unique in that you can study while serving, adding a level of authenticity to your research and to your graduate school experience that will be difficult, if not impossible, to find elsewhere," says John while on his Peace Corps assignment in El Salvador.

John's assignment in El Salvador was with the Agro-Forestry and Environmental Education Program. As an MI student, John's research and service work formed the basis of his Master's thesis. "My master's project is essentially an analysis of the partnerships between the Salvadoran national government and Non-Governmental Organizations pertaining to biodiversity conservation. The academic component of the MI program provides students with a slightly higher level of structure than other volunteers get. This enables MI students to focus more, and manage time more efficiently."

John's work while in El Salvador included organizing ecological clubs that included classes on topics such as deforestation, biodiversity, the environmental legal framework, water and air contamination, plant and tree identification workshops, cleaning campaigns, recycling campaigns, reforestation campaigns, ecological hikes, and the organization of community wide events, such as Earth Day. John also helped other local cooperatives form alliances with other environmentally conscience organizations in the region.

John is now back at BCEP for his final semester. He is applying for jobs at the UN, the Peace Corps, International NGOs, and other government agencies involved in environmental conservation. "I would tell people who know they want a graduate degree and also know they want to serve in the Peace Corps, that the MI program is the most exciting and feasible option." He adds, "When I completed college I realized that all the international development jobs interesting to me required a Master's degree, at least two years of work experience, and fluency in a foreign language. The MI program was the best way for me to acquire the experience, skills, and education necessary to advance myself and my career. Plus, this has been an adventure that's distinctly fascinating, successful and rewarding. I'll miss it!"