A group of new students standing in rows in front of a tree at Walker Hall.
The EPM Class of 2027 as well as some EPM staff and faculty featured in front of Walker Hall. Photo by TJ Ushing, UC Davis.

Welcome Back: A look at the Year Ahead

  • by Jessica A Penrose

Welcome to the EPM Class of 2027! 

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. 

We are happy to welcome 30 returning students from our second-year cohort, many who have been working over the summer with organizations to complete a Practicum Internship. The goal for the Practicum is for students to apply what they learned in their coursework during their first year to a real-world environmental policy or management project with an off-campus partner. Over the summer, students worked with organizations such as San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, Green Schoolyards America, American Walks, Restore the Delta and more. We will feature blog posts of completed projects throughout the academic year, be sure to check them out! If your organization is interested in hosting a student for their Practicum, please contact program director, Jessica Penrose.

A look ahead

For the 25-26 academic year, we are thrilled to welcome back Dr. David Bunn, former Director of the California Department of Conservation, to teach ENV 202: Policy Implementation and Development. This class educates students on the policy process from start to finish: from developing and enacting legislation, budget changes and regulation development. Students participate in hands-on activities to reinforce learning and will complete a mock hearing negotiation at the California State Capitol building in November. 

We also welcome back Tracy Winsor to teach ENV 201: Environmental Law, a course that develops student's ability to identify, analyze and explain legal issues presented by environmental problems. Recently retired from her career with the state, Winsor now serves as a Professor of Environmental Practice and Co-Director of the California Environmental Law and Policy Center with the UC Davis School of Law. 

Dr. Ryan Meyer, Executive Director of the Center for Community and Citizen Science at the UC Davis School of Education was recently named as the new instructor for ENV 203A and B: Environmental Policy Clinic, a unique and dynamic capstone class designed to give students hands-on experience working in small teams on an environmental policy and management project in partnership with off-campus partners. Meyer will instruct the course over three quarters, guiding projects to completion and supporting students as they complete their final program requirement. 

Get involved

EPM supports three student organizations: AEP at UC Davis Student Chapter, Student Diversity Committee and the EPM Social Committee. These student-led organizations plan a variety of events with the goal of building community and providing professional development opportunities to students. Some event offerings include speaker panels, workshops, and networking opportunities. If you're a student interested in getting involved, check out our events page. You can also sign up to be a student member of AEP at UC Davis for FREE. See more information here.

Tips for success

To wrap up this week's blog, we are re-sharing tips for success from a few second-year EPM students:

  1. Set aside some time weekly to dedicate to professional exploration. Search for jobs, go to seminars, connect with mentors, etc.
  2. Meet with program staff (Jessica Penrose & Jessica Chalfin) each quarter. They have valuable perspectives on classes you should take, mentors you should connect with, ideas for careers, etc.
  3. Each quarter, sign up for one extra class. Go to every class the first week, then drop one of the extra classes. It's hard to tell what a class will really be like just from the course description.
  4. Pick classes that will help you grow, not projects that will get you an A.
  5. Write down important dates for internships, trainings, etc., in advance. They'll sneak up on you.