Erica I graduated from the EPM program in June 2025 while working full time as a Policy Associate at Californians Against Waste (CAW). When she joined CAW in March 2024, she stepped directly into an effort to update the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Landfill Methane Rule, a regulation aimed at identifying and mitigating methane emissions from landfills across the state. The project quickly became the centerpiece of her role at CAW. Because Erica was working full-time and enrolled full-time, her practicum and coursework needed to integrate with her job. To do this, she centered her academic work on landfill methane research, writing papers on landfill methane policy, researching emissions trends, studying community impacts at facilities like the Chiquita Canyon Landfill, and developing policy briefs based on her research and findings. This overlap helped Erica apply what she learned in class to real policy decisions.
1st year EPM student Kyle Benestad wrote an op-ed responding to federal executive actions that expand oil drilling and remove ocean protections. Originally written for a core EPM class, the piece was published in the San Francisco Chronicle on November 20th.
When the Graduate Program of Environmental Policy and Management launched EPM Connect in 2022, the vision was simple: create meaningful mentorship connections between current students and experienced environmental professionals. What started as a pilot program pairing students with members of the program's External Advisory Committee has blossomed into a comprehensive initiative that's becoming an vital part of the EPM student experience.
Fall quarter has been off to a busy start! The Graduate Program of Environmental Policy and Management (EPM) works in collaboration with three student committees to host a range of events to cultivate community, foster meaningful connections and help new students as they transition to UC Davis.
At the University of California, Davis, we believe in equipping our students with the knowledge and skills to address complex environmental challenges. In the Environmental Policy and Management (EPM) program, you will gain cutting-edge skills and experience in applying environmental science to real-world policy and management issues.
September sees a return of students and bicycles, creating a bustling campus atmosphere after a slow summer. We are excited to welcome our new and returning graduate students back to campus! This year's cohort of 33 students has a wide range of professional experience in planning, policy, water resources, education and agriculture and are joining us from near and far including India, Taiwan, China, Virginia, Kentucky, New York and from all over California.
“Where does your water come from?” is a question I’ve been asking a lot this summer.
We interact with water every day, but we are often geographically isolated from where our water comes from, the environmental and economic costs of delivering it, and the legal and physical infrastructure that ensures water security, sustainable use, and resilience. Water education is one of the most important tools we have to fill in the gap, and because water systems are so complex and tied to place, experiential learning is a crucial part of water education because it allows us to see how systems actually work versus how the rules say they should work.
Recognition can be a powerful catalyst for building vibrant and supportive communities that celebrate excellence, inspire growth and foster lasting connections. To highlight some of the exceptional work that is being done within our community, we developed five categories of awards, announced annually at our graduation ceremony.
My name is Becky Haworth (she/her) and I am a second year in the Environmental Policy and Management Program at UC Davis, specializing in Sustainable Food Systems. I graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2018 with a degree in Environmental Earth Science. After a brief stint in the wine industry and a year working in local government, I began my career in state government.
