# Green graduation: Law school on horizon, ASU English student passionate about sustainability

By Kristen LaRue-Sandler, ASU News
May 6, 2026

Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable spring 2026 graduates.

Sangeet Bhalla is that rare combination of thinker and doer. This Barrett, The Honors College student is graduating from Arizona State University this spring with a Bachelor of Arts in English (writing, rhetorics and literacies), a 4.33 GPA and a profusion of hands-on internship, volunteer, mentorship and service accomplishments under her belt.

Bhalla said that the English degree helped her hone skills in reading, writing, critical thinking, analysis and verbal communication in preparation for law school, which she’ll attend next fall at UC Berkeley. Her honors thesis was titled “Building Public Understanding of Environmental Law to Advance Environmental Quality,” which drew together many aspects of her pursuits at ASU.

Bhalla is committed to sustainability, both professionally and personally. She won the Department of English’s High Impact Internship Award in 2024 for her work with Arizona Sustainability Alliance — a grassroots nonprofit. Bhalla did marketing, outreach and grant-writing with the organization, where she worked “to empower Arizonans to collaboratively work towards a more equitable and sustainable future.”

Bhalla said her passion for the environment began in childhood.

“I attribute it largely to all of the time I spent hiking and viewing wildlife in national parks with my family while growing up,” she said.

In addition to the award-winning internship, Bhalla was a research intern for ASU’s Culture, Health, and Environment Lab in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change, a volunteer for the nonprofit Let’s Go Compost and a member of the Barrett Sustainability Club.

Bhalla rounded out her academic accomplishments, practical experience and commitment to sustainability with service as a youth tennis instructor and as a piano performer at a local senior living center.

Here, she answers a few questions about her ASU experience.

Question: What was your “aha” moment, when you realized you wanted to study in your field?

Answer: My “aha” moment occurred as a freshman in ENG 105. In that class, I had to read a brief excerpt from a very controversial and disturbing manifesto. After reacting with initial shock and indignation, I became determined to understand how and why the author’s thinking and communication strategies fueled such large-scale injustice. As a result, for my final essay, I chose to conduct a rhetorical analysis of the excerpt with a focus on questionable assumptions, logical fallacies and rhetorical strategies.

It was fascinating to see how I could use writing and critical/analytical thinking to dissect and evaluate complex arguments, consider issues of justice and better understand others’ worldviews. This experience sparked a strong interest in argument, logic and communication that led me to English (writing, rhetorics and literacies).

Q: What’s something you learned while at ASU — in the classroom or otherwise — that surprised you or changed your perspective?

A: Something surprising that I learned at ASU was that seemingly unrelated disciplines intersect with each other in unexpected ways. Moreover, those intersections can give rise to rich opportunities for interdisciplinary research, collaboration and problem-solving that have the potential to improve our societies. I saw this firsthand as a researcher in the Culture, Health, and Environment Lab, where I contributed to interdisciplinary research on global issues like water insecurity.

Q: Why did you choose ASU?

A: ASU offered an unmatched range of degrees, resources, courses and opportunities for involvement. Additionally, as an Arizona native, I wanted to stay in Arizona and remain close to my family. Finally, I loved the beautiful Tempe campus and knew it would be a great fit for me.

Q: Which professor taught you the most important lesson while at ASU?

A: (Former ASU teaching assistant) Heidi Willers taught me the most important lesson I learned at ASU. Through her story, teaching and scholarly work, she taught me that communication –– and particularly, writing –– is one of the most powerful problem-solving tools we have at our disposal. She helped me understand that whether you are addressing an interpersonal issue or a complex societal challenge, change starts with being able to articulate your thoughts in a clear and compelling way.

Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to those still in school?

A: I would encourage undergraduate students to allow their interests and values to guide them throughout their undergraduate careers, especially in the face of any imposed pressure or judgment. In my experience, being mindful of what makes you who you are and staying true to those principles can lead to a significantly more enjoyable and meaningful undergraduate experience.

Q: If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you tackle?

A: I would tackle environmental degradation. I would focus restoration efforts specifically on communities impacted by environmental hazards, ecosystems impacted by human activity and displaced and/or threatened wildlife. I would also work with environmental scholars to develop a free online course that can be accessed by students, employees and leaders across the country.

This story originally appeared on ASU News.