EPM hosts CNRA Secretary Wade Crowfoot at graduation celebration

Last Wednesday, we held our annual EPM Graduation Celebration at the Putah Creek Lodge. Our graduating class consisted of 28 students- 10 students who completed the accelerated 12-month track and 18 students who completed the two-year track. EPM was excited to host Secretary Wade Crowfoot from California Natural Resources Agency as our guest speaker.

"Secretary Crowfoot oversees an agency of 21,000 employees who protect and manage California’s natural environment. This includes stewarding the state’s forests and natural lands, rivers and waterways, and coast and ocean, protecting fish and wildlife, and overseeing energy development. As a member of the Governor’s cabinet, he advises Governor Newsom on natural resources and environmental issues. Secretary Crowfoot firmly believes that good natural resources management helps natural places thrive and allows communities and our economy to prosper (https://resources.ca.gov/About-Us/Secretary-Crowfoot)". 

Secretary Crowfoot gave an inspirational speech that connected our program's mission in training the next generation of environmental policy and management leaders with California's work to protect and conserve natural resources and to mitigate climate change. Huge thank you to Secretary Crowfoot and his team! 

Second-year students Cheryl Winfield and Ava Scally were our student speakers for the event. Both gave moving speeches about navigating the start of their graduate school career through zoom, the adjustment to coming back to campus in their second-year and how it bonded their cohort together. We are so proud of all our students for navigating this experience despite these challenges, and doing phenomenal work!

Congratulations to all of our graduates. We wish you all the best in your next chapter and cannot wait to see what you accomplish in the future!