From Engineering to EHS: One Alumna's Journey and Key Career Tips

Initially I didn’t even know what EHS, or sustainability was, or what RIT had to offer. I had my sights set on some area of engineering and that search is what led me to RIT. I was determined to find the school and program that would suit me best, and what field of work would challenge me and expand my skillset. In this pursuit I stumbled upon CET and the ESHS program. I was intrigued by the inclusion of environmental sustainability due to my love for the outdoors and passion for environmental protection and conservation. I also became interested in the co-op program, and the ability to complete a Bachelors and Masters in the BS/MS program offered. I found that EHS and RIT felt like the right path for me. After graduating high school that’s where I headed, and I’ve never regretted my decision.

I found my co-op through LinkedIn. I was lucky enough to have the EHS team at Novelis Aluminum in Oswego, NY take a chance on me so early in my career when I had little to no EHS experience yet. After accepting my first internship with Novelis, I then found out that one of my coworkers graduated from RIT’s ESHS program just a few years prior. I ended up doing 2 co-ops at Novelis, and after I graduated back, they offered me a full-time position as an EHS Coordinator. I jumped with joy at this opportunity. I knew from the first internship that that’s where I wanted to start my career. I loved the people, the job, and the challenges of working in heavy industry. Co-op gave me a chance to practice my skills and apply what I was learning. It also helped me explore what area of EHS I wanted to get into. I worked on a little bit of everything during my co-ops at Novelis. From sampling, solid and hazardous waste management, spill response and incident investigation, and so much more. In this field of work, you’re always kept on your toes. No days are the same and things are constantly changing, which really challenges you. A lot of what we did was ensure compliance with NYS laws and regulations, while also protecting the surrounding environment from the potential harmful impacts of heavy industry. When on co-op you realize just how much you’re leaning in your classes. Everything you do at RIT you are able to apply while on co-op. Course materials on solid and hazardous waste, hydrology, geology, management systems, accident causation and prevention, occupational health and safety, all helped prepare me for success on co-op, and now working full time.

I chose RIT because I could really see myself there. I chose CET and the ESHS program because of the co-ops, the ability to do a BS/MS, and the inclusion of sustainability in combination with health and safety. I didn’t really know what I was getting myself in to, but once I started at RIT everything I experienced just confirmed that I had made the right decision. Extensive information is covered in classes, and this prepared me so much for the workforce, I cannot emphasize that enough. But none of that would even be possible without the ESHS program’s professors. I enjoyed every class and loved every professor I had. Each professor has so much knowledge gained from years of experience in the field of EHS. All these reasons are why I chose RIT, why I chose CET, and why I stayed and had so much success in the ESHS program.

If I could give advice to high school students, I’d say do your research. Choosing a school and career is a huge decision, so don’t just pick a field of engineering and jump into it like I almost did. Dig a little deeper because EHS might suit you better. That’s how it turned out for me. I would also say network. Get in touch with some of the CET or ESHS professors, or even past students of the program. They can give you a better understanding of what EHS is to see if it’s the right field for you. If a student is already set on EHS, I would say get the most out of your classes. Pay attention and soak up as much as you can because it pays off in the future. I would tell them to take interesting elective courses, join clubs, and get involved in not only the RIT community, but also in the EHS community as well. I would tell them to make as many connections with their peers and professors as they can because you never know who will be hiring in the future or who your connections can connect you with. I would also say apply to a ton of co-ops and maybe work a few places to expand your experiences. The whole high school to college to career transition period can be intimidating, so go with your gut on what’s right for you. And maybe just maybe that’s EHS. That’s what I did and now I couldn’t see myself working in any other field.