Sanya Bery ‘21 graduated from Wes with majors in government and environmental studies. She is currently a graduate candidate in environmental justice, sustainable development, and urban planning at the University of Michigan.
As an environmental studies student at Wesleyan, how did your academic and extracurricular experiences shape your decision to pursue graduate studies in environmental justice and urban planning?
The Bailey College of the Environment was such a unique program; it approached environmental issues through a justice-oriented lens, which isn’t common for undergrad programs. If not for the COE, I might have felt hesitant about pursuing this path because environmental studies can feel so focused on pure science and conservation. My thesis project with Professor Haddad, which analyzed the ambitious aspects of Middletown’s Climate Action Plan, prepared me well for graduate school.
Since graduating from Wesleyan, what environmental projects have you worked on, and how have they shaped your perspective on the intersection of environmental justice and urban planning?
My thesis project sparked my interest in cities and their climate efforts. I worked with the City of Detroit’s sustainability office on implementing their Climate Action Plan, which addressed inequality, racism, and classism. Coming from the East Coast, it’s been fascinating to see the different dynamics at play in the Midwest.
How does your background in political science and government inform your approach to urban environmental challenges?
I see policy as fundamental to advancing sustainable development. A lot of environmental work I encountered early on was company focused, but I found myself drawn to justice-driven initiatives that engage communities directly.
What challenges and opportunities have you encountered in graduate school, and what are your goals moving forward?
It’s challenging to bridge the gap between academic insights and real-world action on climate justice. The Indigenous perspectives in Ann Arbor’s academic community have been enlightening. Post-grad, I hope to work on the city level to advance climate action that centers on environmental justice for communities disproportionately affected.