Employment high for ASU sustainability alumni

ASU Executive Master's for Sustainability Leadership students
October 02, 2014

Since the inception of Arizona State University’s School of Sustainability in fall 2008, alumni have gone on to pioneer new sustainability positions and lead change at local, national and global organizations.

According to a recent School of Sustainability report, 73 percent of employed undergraduate alumni have found careers directly related to sustainability with companies like Aramark, Henkel, Intel, Waste Management, Tesla Motors and U-Haul International.

The report also shows that as educational experience increases, so does employment. Of the students surveyed, 88 percent of master’s graduates and 100 percent of doctoral graduates are in sustainability careers. The private sector isn’t the only one hiring – graduates have found positions with Central Arizona Project, Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Geological Survey, as well as professorships at colleges including ASU, Illinois State University and Portland State University.

Because the sustainability field continues to grow and employers are seeking highly educated experts, the School of Sustainability launched the Executive Master’s for Sustainability Leadership, a program developed and administered through the Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Solutions Initiatives. Created for working individuals who want to lead sustainability practices and programs for their employer, the hybrid program complements theory with real-world practice.

"As a mid-career sustainability consultant, I am faced with an enormous opportunity to enact a sustainability vision and strategy at a national level,” says Michael Herod, a current Executive Master’s for Sustainability Leadership student. “Thanks to this ASU program and the support of the professional mentors I have met, I have total confidence in my ability to succeed."

A limited number of scholarships are currently available for the 2015 Executive Master’s cohort, and applications must be submitted by Oct. 31 to be considered.

The School of Sustainability is hosting an open house for the Executive Master’s for Sustainability Leadership program Oct. 16, allowing potential students an opportunity to talk with current students, meet faculty and learn more about the program. The open house will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m., in the University Club, Traditions Room, on the Tempe campus.