Hello! How did you decide to major in environmental studies, and what has your experience been as a part of the Bailey COE?
I’m Andie. I am a government and environmental studies major from Long Island, New York. I’ve always had a passion for the environment and nature. In high school, I was really interested in protecting against climate change, so naturally I was drawn to the environmental studies linked major at Wesleyan. When I was in highs chool, I was mostly involved with science research, but I didn’t enjoy it. I was happy that at Wesleyan I could pursue my passion for sustainability while learning about policy and politics related to the environment.
The government and environmental studies combination works well, because as an environmental studies major you learn about major climate problems and solutions, and then the government gives you the tools to implement change. You learn how governments function and how regulatory processes work, and you begin to see that the way people perceive an issue shapes political responses to problems.
What classes have you enjoyed during your time at Wesleyan?
One class I enjoyed was the Environmental Law and Politics class with Professor Earl Phillip. It was probably the most difficult class I’ve taken at Wesleyan, but it was also one of the most rewarding. It introduced me to environmental law and regulations, which is something that I’m interested in pursuing in the future.
My sophomore year, I took a student forum on the psychology of the reality show Survivor, where we learned about psychology concepts that are relevant to the game. As you learn, you play your own game of Survivor, competing against your classmates. This year, myself and two other students decided to reintroduce the course. Now I am the teacher and producer of the class, and I designed the challenges. Teaching this student forum has certainly been rewarding, and I have developed as a leader because of it. One of my favorite aspects of Welseyan is that it allows students to pursue their passions.
What advice would you give yourself freshman year?
I would tell myself to try to get involved in more extracurriculars on campus! My freshman year was the covid year, 2020, and my class was definitely dissuaded from joining clubs. By the time Wesleyan became fully in person, and I was back to campus after study abroad, it was already the spring semester of my junior year. Nevertheless, I still had a wonderful experience during my four years at Wesleyan.
Tell me about your time abroad!
I studied abroad in Prague in the fall of 2022, under the UPCES program. One of my favorite parts of going abroad was the program itself. The directors were incredible! My program included about 70 people, so you really got to know everyone in it, including the teachers and the program leaders. I had a wonderful time learning about central European history and politics. One of the highlights was a class called The Walking Tour of Prague, where we would walk around the city and learn about architecture and the history. I also had the chance to travel to other countries, because Prague is in a central location.
The study abroad experience is really about pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone. I did not enter my program with any prior friends, so I had to push myself to make new friends and meet locals. It was a little daunting at first, but it was so worth it, and I grew a lot from the experience.
What is the focus of your capstone?
My capstone is focused on the economic, environmental, and social impacts of the avocado industry in the United States and Mexico. Most US avocados come from Mexico, and my research is examining the steps of the supply chain. I became interested in this topic because I find it strange how avocados are a food that have become a symbol of health, wellness, and the environment, but there are a number of negative externalities associated with their production.
My advisor is Professor James McGuire, from the Government Department. I have had a lot of freedom to develop this project in my own way, which is something I appreciate about the capstone experience.
What areas of environmental studies are you most interested in pursuing?
From working on my capstone, I have become interested in learning more about food justice and responsible supply chains. I am also interested in ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) policies. In the future I would like to study how companies can become more sustainable, which will hopefully lead consumer choices to be more sustainable. Hopefully, the weight of these consumer choices will further encourage companies to be more environmentally responsible, and this will create a positive cycle!