STUDENT COMMUNITY

Growing up in Jamaica, known to its Indigenous Taino people as “The Land of Wood and Water” for its lush forests, rushing rivers, and natural beauty, Khande-Jae Fisher was always surrounded by abundant natural resources like sunlight and wind, but she noticed that they were underutilized. For Khande, this disconnect wasn’t just disappointing, it was a call to action. To turn that untapped potential into real, sustainable solutions, she knew she needed advanced technical skills, practical tools, and a global perspective. That search for the missing piece in her mission led her to Columbia University’s M.S. in Sustainability Science (SUSCI) program, where she is now combining her technical background with cutting-edge sustainability science to drive change at both local and global levels.

SUSCI student Sarah Brown is transforming her passion for education and environmental sustainability into impactful action, working as a project manager at NYSERDA. In this article, Sarah discusses her transition to the SUSCI program, the transformative power of hands-on experiences like lab research at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, and how her teaching background shaped her approach to studying.

Olivia Colton, a Master’s student in Sustainability Science at Columbia University, transitioned from active-duty U.S. Army officer to academia. Inspired by low veteran enrollment, she applied to Columbia. Colton’s military leadership now enhances her roles in student life and the Tree Ring Lab. With a conservation biology background from LSU, she aims for a career in environmental conservation.

Tyler Zorn was already working in environmental consulting firms before he enrolled in the Master of Science in Sustainability Science (SUSCI) program at Columbia. But even while he found his job worthwhile and necessary, Zorn had a realization: He wanted to focus on preventing environmental degradation rather than stepping in to deal with the aftermath.

As Zorn prepares to graduate from the SUSCI program in the spring, he plans to use the tools and experience gained from his time at Columbia to achieve his aim of working for a climate technology startup that centers sustainability to accomplish ambitious carbon removal goals.

Born and raised in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Fia moved to the U.S. in 2016 to complete her bachelor's in chemistry from the University of Washington. She is specifically interested in data analysis and management with the ultimate goal of helping companies and non-profits adapt to more sustainable practices and engaging in global climate change.