Clemson FRESH announces inaugural cohort of sustainability leaders

The first cohort of the Clemson Fresh Sustainability Leadership Program kicked off the semester Sept. 4 with a seminar titled, "Careers in Sustainability: Networking Skills and Career Paths."

The talk was given by Josh Mellinger, Chief Operating Officer, Terra Nexus; Megan Robison, Product Development Manager, Printpack; and Deb Sofield, Executive Speaking Coach.

The students heard about green skills and why they are important to the workforce, the difference between climate solutions and climate leverage points inside of companies, examples of career paths in sustainability, necessary skills and qualifications for a career in sustainability, and effective networking strategies and personal branding techniques.

The seminar was the first of five business sustainability talks that the students will take part in during the fall semester all designed to advance their knowledge about sustainability careers and what it will take to enter those careers and become leaders.

"We have an exceptional cohort of students with their sights set on future careers in sustainability and we are putting them before speakers who will inspire, challenge and advise them as they work to reach their goals. We are particularly excited to have students from a variety of academic departments," said Anne Q. Barr, Clemson Fresh executive director.

Those students include:

• Alejandra Carranza-Lima; Forestry and Environmental Conservation
• Meredith Clem; Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences
• Hannah Dickson; Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences
• Mary Kathryn Gillespie; Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences
• Ezekiel Guevarra; Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences
• Pierce Hall; Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences
• Joseph Hundley; Forestry and Environmental Conservation
• Margaret Milani; Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences
• Caroline Munter; Forestry and Environmental Conservation
• Josie Naseko; Agricultural Sciences; Applied Economics and Statistics
• Tim Oeser; Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences
• Kayla Palacio; Forestry and Environmental Conservation
• Emma Riser; Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences
• Martha Robinson; Agricultural Sciences
• Andrew Seelig; Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences
• Sophia Stoddard; Forestry and Environmental Conservation
• Christopher Thomas; Agricultural Sciences
• Adelaide Thomas; Forestry and Environmental Conservation

Other seminars include: The Business Case for Advancing Sustainability; Talking the Talk-Defining Sustainability in Industry-Relevant Terms; Translating Purpose to Profit; and Communicating and Reporting Sustainability Accomplishments.