Building Bridges: Record-Breaking Turnout at EPM Job Fair
Uniting Alumni, Industry and Students
Quick Summary
- The Graduate Program of Environmental Policy and Management hosted the second annual Environmental Job & Internship Fair with a record number of participants.
The Graduate Program of Environmental Policy and Management with sponsorship by the UC Davis Institute of the Environment hosted the second-annual Environmental Internship and Job Fair. This event marked a significant milestone in connecting students with potential employers, bringing together 21 diverse organizations and more than 250 attendees, a substantial increase from 150 participants in the previous year. There were students from more than 14 different undergraduate and graduate programs at UC Davis. The expanded participation reflects our commitment to create meaningful professional networking opportunities for students. By facilitating direct interactions between students and organizations, we are cultivating future career pathways.
Highlighting student projects
A highlight of this year’s event was the student poster presentation which provided an exceptional platform for our students to showcase their academic research and internship projects. Participant Vanessa Buenrostro reflected on the experience stating
Presenting at the EPM fair gave me the opportunity to shine a light on the recurring issues facing environmental justice communities, issues that are often left in the shadows. It was a chance to connect with peers, share personal stories, and deepen my understanding of the critical role that environmental policy and science play in shaping a more equitable future.
Presenters for this session included:
- Paul Ronevich, a second-year student working as a Graduate Student Researcher with the UC Davis Institute of the Environment and the Sierra Institute for Community and Environment. His project is focused on water allocation in Modoc County.
- Sean Treacy, a second-year student working with the UC Davis Office of Sustainability. He is working on a greenhouse gas emission inventory for the university.
- Vanessa Buenrostro, a second-year student working with Restore the Delta to assess the socio-economic impacts of direct air capture (DAC) in the San Joaquin Delta.
- Kaitlyn Finlayson, a second-year student who worked with the Noyo Center for Marine Science. Her project focused on examining the regulatory process for aquaculture permitting and making recommendations to make the process more accessible.
- Alex Sanchez, a second-year student who has been working with Dr. Clare Cannon on approaches to monitoring and mitigating hazardous air pollutants for environmental justice in California.
The Power of Alumni Connection
One of the most rewarding aspects of our job fair was seeing program alumni return as recruiters for their organizations, creating a full circle moment that demonstrates the lasting impact of our program. These alumni bring unique insight and understanding of the program’s emphasis on professional development, making them invaluable bridges between current students and industry opportunities.
Thomas Miller, a program alumnus who attended as a recruiter, shared his perspective
Not only is it incredibly rewarding to continue contributing to the EPM program as a professional, but also a valuable opportunity to connect with highly qualified UCD students and other organizations in our field. From this single experience I have set up meetings in my organization with students conducting relevant research in my field, engaged with consultants involved in a project within my jurisdiction, and increased my network with GIS professionals in state departments.
Why Student-Organization Engagement Matters
Professional exposure is critical in today’s competitive job market. Job Fairs provide students with invaluable opportunities to:
Develop professional skills
Gain insights into industry trends
Explore potential career trajectories
Gain confidence in professional interactions
For participating organizations, these events offer a direct pipeline to emerging talent, allowing them to identify promising candidates and understand the skills of upcoming professionals. Our continued growth—increasing attendance by over 100 people in just one year—demonstrates the rising importance of these professional connection platforms. We look forward to hosting this event next year. If you're interested in participating in next year's Job Fair, sign up for our bi-quarterly newsletter.