Environmental Employer Showcase: Bridging Talent and Opportunity
The Graduate Program of Environmental Policy and Management (EPM) with sponsorship from the UC Davis Institute of the Environment hosted the third-annual Environmental Employer Showcase and Networking Evening (formerly known as the Environmental Internship and Job Fair). This event brought together 20 diverse organizations located in the Sacramento and Bay Areas and over 200 students from more than 20 undergraduate and graduate programs across campus. This event reflects our commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for students to engage with environmental professionals as they seek opportunities to strengthen their skills and gain professional experience. Strong industry attendance signaled hope to students nearing graduation as the environmental job market has contracted given ongoing federal changes.
Highlighting student excellence
This year’s student poster presentation session provided an opportunity for masters students in EPM to showcase work completed as part of their Practicum (internship) project and other research they completed at UC Davis. Posters for this session included:
- Elizabeth Uemura, a second-year student, presented her poster on rare plant reintroduction for the Webb Tract Wetland Restoration project.
- Julia Jamison, a second-year student who worked with WILDCOAST and Climate Curve on an in-depth assessment of a seamount off California's coast. Her project highlighted the location's emerging threats, ecological significance, and made recommendations for marine conservation opportunities.
- Gayatri Ganesh, a first year student, worked with Anthra, a woman-led veterinary non-profit to conduct the first One Health study in India on the maternal health needs and practices of semi-nomadic Dhanger sheep and goat pastoralists.
- Daniel Rothberg, a second-year student working with the UC Davis Water Management Lab, presented a poster on increasing access to water education in California.
- Lexi Yokomizo, a second-year student, presented a poster on her research project developed in collaboration with Restore the Delta. Her research focused on Harmful Algal Blooms in Stockton, California over four years and potential drivers while communicating providing accessible communication to the public through a ArcGIS Storymap.
When asked what the opportunity to present her research at this event meant to her, Julia Jamison shared:
"Presenting my work allowed me to engage in illuminating discussions with my peers and showcase the effort behind these projects. Because environmental policy is such a broad field, the fair was an incredible opportunity to both share my focus and also learn about the many different areas where we can make an impact."
Cultivating alumni engagement
Now in its 8th year, the EPM program has over 150 alumni, many who participated in this event on behalf of their employers. The ability for current students to engage with program alumni offers immense value, allowing students to gain a first-hand perspective of someone who completed the program, understand career pathways and insights into industry skills that can be developed prior to graduation.
Many alumni serve in EPM Connect, a mentorship program that connects first and second year students to an alumni or External Advisory Committee member for an academic year. During the year, the mentor and students meet at least once per quarter to discuss a wide-range of topics. Mentors assist students with identifying professional development and networking opportunities. If you're a program alumni or a mid-senior level environmental professional and are interested in participating in EPM's mentorship program, please contact Jessica Penrose.
Why YOU should join us next year
Events like the Employer Showcase are vital for students in today’s highly competitive job market. The opportunity to speak with potential employers and understand professional skills, industry trends, career trajectories and the art of networking itself helps students at all education levels as they prepare to transition from academia into the workforce.
For organizations, the Employer Showcase offers an opportunity to develop a pipeline to emerging talented leaders and connect with promising candidates across roles and industries. The steady attendance despite the current state of the environmental workforce signals the importance of platforms such as the Showcase that facilitate these interactions. If you’re interested in participating as an employer in next year’s Employer Showcase, sign up here for our bi-quarterly newsletter.