Panel for Careers in Sustainability, Hosted by the Williams Environmental Council

Join the Williams Environmental Council in an open conversation about careers in environmental service on Thursday, November 14th at 7:00pm in Paresky 201. We will hear from four panelists about their career trajectories, interdisciplinary work, and insight into the global need for environmentalism. Please RSVP using this link!

Jared Powell ’06 was on a trajectory to law school until he made the last minute decision to instead start a career at a small environmental consulting firm where he worked his way up the ladder to Director. He assesses how well energy efficiency programs work and helps shift markets towards more energy efficient practices.

Julianna Connolly ’01 worked as an environmental consultant for almost twenty years focusing on environmental due diligence and the risk-based closure of contaminated sites. In 2021, she joined a real estate investment firm that specializes in complex redevelopment projects. She currently is responsible for managing environmental redevelopment assessment and remediation activities during the redevelopment and reuse of former industrial facilities.

Susan Richmond ’82 published five collections of nature-themed poetry while teaching and developing science and environmental publications and curricula. In 2015, she joined Mass Audubon as a nature preschool teacher and began her career as a children’s author. She has published four children’s picture books and a hands-on activity book.

Thomas Jorling is a former Professor of Environmental Studies and Director for the Center of Environmental Studies at Williams College, positions he held for fifteen years until he became the assistant administrator for Water and Hazardous Materials at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He was responsible for the implementation of the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. He was also a major driving force behind efforts to clean up many coastal and waterfront areas in the country. Later, he became the Commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; and then the Vice President of Environmental Affairs at International Paper Company, responsible for environmental, health and safety programs and forest policy programs within the multinational corporation. 

Charlie Sellars ’13 will also join the group virtually to give a keynote address. He works as the Director of Sustainability at Microsoft and his book “What We Can Do” will explore a “Climate Optimist’s” perspective on the data-driven ways to make a difference in local communities. He is based in Minneapolis, MN.

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