EPM students had two chances this fall to practice networking and meet professionals in the environmental field. The annual Fall Networking Mixer brought students and professionals together for an evening of bingo and conversation, and the EPM Alumni Association led a Networking 101 workshop to share advice for how to build professional relationships.
Fall Networking Mixer
On October 20, EPM hosted its 2026 Fall Networking Mixer. Students, alumni and local environmental professionals gathered around tables to talk about careers and get to know one another.
Meet Aaron Guerra! Aaron is a PhD candidate in the Geography Graduate Group who is also earning his MS in Statistics. This fall, he is serving at the TA for R-DAVIS, a course where graduate students from a range of disciplines learn to analyze and visualize data in R. Aaron is passionate about helping future scientists and practitioners build a foundation in data analysis, and he enjoys learning about effective approaches to data visualization.
A big part of the EPM experience happens outside the classroom. Student organizations give first and second-years a chance to meet people across cohorts and connect with professionals in the environmental field. This year, the Student Diversity Committee, the Association of Environmental Professionals at UC Davis, and the EPM Social Committee are back with leaders who are excited about the year ahead.
Applications to join the next cohort of the UC Davis Graduate Program of Environmental Policy and Management (EPM) are now open! Whether applicants are coming straight from an undergraduate degree or have years of professional experience, now is a great time to start planning an application.
This fall, the Environmental Policy and Management program welcomes its 10th cohort. Almost a decade of graduates have gone on to shape environmental policy across California and beyond. We’re excited to see the next group begin!
Grace Curtis is a second-year EPM student who began her role working as an EPM Student Assistant this fall quarter. Her work with the program entails developing outreach and engagement content for various EPM student, faculty, and alumni platforms, and she will also be providing event support. Grace is completing a specialization in sustainable agriculture during her second year in the EPM program, but also prioritizes building skills and experience in data science, environmental justice, climate science, sustainable land management, and community resilience.
On October 1st, we're launching a crowdfund campaign to support experiential learning opportunities for our Environmental Policy and Management students. We're raising $4,000 to support travel and other costs, including flights, lodging, registration fees, and transportation that come with hands-on opportunities.
When it Rains, it Pours, and Stormwater Infrastructure Breaks
Most of us don’t think about stormwater infrastructure - infrastructure that diverts, stores, and/or filters water, until it breaks. During an intense storm, pipes can break, and storm drains can clog. Poorly maintained stormwater infrastructure leads to chronic flooding and pollution, posing direct threats to human and environmental health.
Every year, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) manual is updated, making the previous year’s manual obsolete. A book treasured by CEQA practitioners, the manual is turned into a dense paperweight that gets heavier each year. At the same time, exemptions to CEQA are limiting this foundational law’s domain.
