Allegheny Graduates Becomes Award-Winning Environmental Changemaker and Writer

When government and sustainability intersect, tremendous change can happen. Ethan Woodfill '22 is part of this change as the glass program coordinator at the Pennsylvania Resources Council, where he oversees their award-winning statewide glass program.

Ethan Woodfill

After graduating with his bachelor's degree from Allegheny College, Woodfill spent a year working on a sustainability project at Oberlin College. Today he connects with glass manufacturers, processors, waste haulers, and municipalities, which have collected 20 million pounds of glass for recycling.

"My professors, courses, and peers consistently pushed me to think about real-world problems. The connections I made between classes and majors are so relevant to the real world. Allegheny prepared me to collaborate with others and to identify key stakeholders and changemakers in the community," says Woodfill, who majored in environmental science and sustainabilityand political science.

The glass program has earned the Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence and supports the 12,000 jobs in Pennsylvania's glass industry.

"It is so interesting, and recycling and waste is something that affects everyone. Every day is different. I get to teach people how to make more sustainable choices and see how recycling works in action," says Woodfill. "I also never thought I'd be tasked with ordering 25-yard dumpsters!"

Not only did Allegheny College enable Woodfill's drive toward a more sustainable future, but it supported his passion for writing. He reflects that his time as editor-in-chief of The Campusdeveloped his leadership skills and made him unafraid to ask difficult questions.

Woodfill continues to freelance as an environment and health reporter for NEXT Pittsburgh. In 2024, the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation awarded Woodfill first place in the Health/Medical/Science/Environment category for Non-Daily Newspapers and News Services at the Robert L. Vann Media Awards.

Woodfill notes, "Freelancing, for me, is an outlet to use my journalistic skills to learn more about the cool things happening in Pittsburgh. It's also a great way to network and learn about other people's careers."

In his free time, Woodfill is a board member for Communitopia, a Pittsburgh-based environmental nonprofit that provides climate change education. Furthermore, he plans to attend the University of Pittsburgh to pursue a master's in public administration with a focus on energy and the environment.

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