Student Spotlight- Anna LeRoy

Anna is a second year EPM student specializing in Sustainable Systems. She currently works with the National Stewardship Action Council advocating for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation and policies that advance a circular economy. She hopes to use the skills she’s learned in EPM to advocate for and implement policies that hold waste generators accountable for the end of life management of environmentally hazardous products & advance climate change mitigation strategies. 

What has been your favorite experience in the EPM program so far?

So many to choose from, but one that stands out is the tide-pooling field trip with my Marine Ecology class at Half Moon Bay. It was my first time tide-pooling and we saw a ton of wildlife and we were able to make connections with the material we were learning in class. Something so unique about environmental work is that you can experience the places you are protecting. EPM has taught me that it is crucial to be out in the field to learn about the ecosystems and/or communities you’re preserving.

What is your role on the Social Committee? Why did you decide to volunteer for this role? 

I am the Communications Coordinator, I send information about the events that the social committee hosts and take recommendations from students on what activities they’d like to participate in. I volunteered for this role because a goal I had as an incoming student was to get involved on campus and be active within the program. Social committee also seemed like the perfect opportunity to get to know everyone in EPM (which has been my favorite part of grad school). 

Can you talk about your work in waste and advocacy? What has been the biggest takeaway from your work and how has the program helped prepare you to enter this role?

I work with the National Stewardship Action Council (NSAC), a 501c(4) non-profit that advocates for circular economy policy. I had the opportunity to advocate for two California Extended Producer Responsibility bills in the 2025 legislative session (SB 501 (Allen): the Household Hazardous Waste Producer Responsibility Act) & SB 561 (Blakespear): the Emergency Distress Flare Safe Disposal Act). I garnered support for both bills through outreach to stakeholders and writing coalition letters of support to get each bill through State & Assembly policy committees. 

My biggest takeaway is how important effective science communication is. Sometimes it’s difficult to advance environmental policy when climate change feels abstract. Scaling down, presenting data on specific issues, and finding ways to resonate with different stakeholder groups works. Something else I’ve learned is that working in waste rocks – the ways we manage our materials is fascinating!

EPM prepared me for this role in a huge way – it really is a practice in everything we learn in the classroom. Environmental Governance & Policy Development have been the most useful in my professional endeavors, but the support & guidance from all of the professors/advisors/staff is what got me to the place I am now. 

Your Policy Clinic project is focused on microplastics. Can you talk about the work that your group is doing? 

My team is working with Ocean Conservancy, a 501c(3) non-profit that seeks to advance evidence-based policies to protect natural ecosystems. Plastic pollution reduction, including pollution from microplastics, is among the organization’s top policy priorities. In 2025, Ocean Conservancy released their “United States of Plastics Report” which identified 6 states that passed legislation focusing on researching microplastic pollution, microplastic removal technology and program based strategies to mitigate environmental and public health threats of microplastics. Our role is to analyze the outcomes of these bills and produce a report for legislators, advocates, and other interested parties to use in developing microplastics legislation. My team has been learning a ton about how persistent microplastics are and we are gaining really great insight into how governing entities make decisions on implementation strategies. I’m excited to present at our EPM Policy Symposium in June, anytime I get to nerd-out on plastics is a good time for me. 

What advice would you give to prospective students considering attending the EPM program next year? 

Community is everything in grad school. Finding ways to be involved on campus and connect with my cohort makes me excited to come to school everyday. A huge part of my community is also the EPM faculty, staff and alumni! Stay in touch with your advisors, mentors and favorite professors – they’ll always be a great resource but they’ll also be your biggest cheerleaders. 

Tell us a fun fact about yourself!

I have a capybara named after me in the Sacramento Zoo! His name is Anna-Leroy and his favorite food is bamboo.