The purpose of SustainAffinity is to connect current RPI students and RPI alumni who were/are involved in sustainability in some way. You are welcome to join even if you weren’t involved in sustainability while you were at RPI. Our goal is three-fold: to provide a network to help RPI students and alumni interested in sustainability careers learn their options; to create a sustainability community that reaches beyond RPI; and to mentor current students, particularly environmental club leaders, to reach their goals at RPI and beyond.

Inaugural SustainAffinity Panel and Reception

SustainAffinity will be holding its Inaugural SustainAffinity Panel and Reception on October 3rd from 2 – 4 pm in Sage 3303.  Four panelists who are leaders in diverse environmental fields will speak about their experiences.  This event is free and open to all RPI alumni, students, faculty, staff, and guests. Alumni should register with Reunion and Homecoming.

Panelists:

Jodi Smits Anderson (Architecture, Class of 1990) is the Director of Sustainability Programs at the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York and is a Certified GPRO Instructor.  She has served in various roles with the US Green Building Council, including as Board Chair of the New York Upstate Chapter in 2012.  

Kathleen Brosemer (Geology, Class of 1985) is the Environmental Division Director for the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, which was recently recognized as one of two Tribal Climate Action Champions by the White House.

Gavin McIntyre (Mechanical Engineering/Product Design, Class of 2007) is one of the cofounders and Chief Scientist at Ecovative Design.  He has been the principal investigator on grants and serves on several boards, including the NYS Pollution Prevention Institute.  McIntyre made the Forbes.com 30 Under 30 earlier this year.  

Bobbi Chase Wilding (Environmental Science, Class of 1997 and MS Ecological Economics) is the co-founder and Deputy Director of Clean and Healthy New York.  She has over 15 years of experience in the environmental health movement, particularly environmental non-profits, and is also on the advisory board of the NYS Pollution Prevention Institute.  While a student, she was President of EcoLogic, one of RPI’s environmental clubs.

Schedule:

2 – 2:30 pm: Networking and refreshments.  Vegan and gluten-free options will be provided.

2:30 – 3:30 pm: Panel (will include audience questions)

3:30 – 4 pm: Networking.

To join the Google Group, please fill out this form here.  You can also connect with us by “liking” us on Facebook!