Adjunct Instructor, Environmental Studies
As an active practitioner of policy – both in policymaking and policy implementation – I work to bring students inside the practical realities of what it means to develop, pass, and implement laws. Understanding who is at the table and the values and structures that enable or hinder participation is just as important as the text. My goal is for students to leave my course with an appreciation for the complexities and realities of using policy to address our most challenging environmental problems.
My focus is on Zero Waste, but the themes we discuss in class are widely applicable to most environmental policy topics. Through an exploration of local, state, federal, and international policy approaches to minimize waste, reduce consumption of virgin materials, and build a circular economy, students are able to develop a clear lens on environmental policy problems and solutions.
I am an environmental professional and policy analyst focused on waste and circular economy. I currently work for a small consulting firm called Clear Strategy where I focus on helping some of the world’s largest packaged goods companies comply with new plastic and recycling regulations. Prior to Clear Strategy, I spent a year with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection drafting an extended producer responsibility law for packaging, and before that I helped start Conservation Law Foundation’s Zero Waste Program, advocating for a range of zero waste policies in several New England states.
