Members of the ENST class of 2024 celebrate their graduation.
Alumni and members of the OC Association of Environmental Professionals hold a regular career panel with our current students.
Cathie Chavez-Morris
Cathie Chavez-Morris
Utility Services Manager, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and CEO, Equidad Group
At the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, I work closely with large capital projects teams to ensure that infrastructure projects align with environmental justice principles and practices. The education I received at CSUF ENST around policy development has been incredibly helpful to me as I craft policies related to water and power conservation programs, and I ensure that communities that have been historically and disproportionately burdened by utility programs and policies are not further harmed and instead experience community benefits. CSUF ENST helped build a foundation that allowed me to be able to work in a variety of fields. As CEO of Equidad Group, I help municipal entities and non-governmental organizations advance diversity, equity, inclusion and justice principles in the workplace and marketplace.
Nicolo Di Jerlando
Nicolo Di Jerlando
Environmental Compliance Specialist, Dudek
My job requires me to work with clients to adhere to local, state, and federal regulations that protect the environment. CSUF’s ENST program provided me with exposure to adjunct professors with real world professional experience that gave me insight to the actual challenges faced by environmental consultants. Their experience showed in the classroom when I was exposed to the technical reports, assessments, tools, and engineering drawings that I now work with on a daily basis. Being in the room with other peers who were also seeking to better their opportunities was also extremely helpful. I have been provided new job opportunities and great advice from students who were in the program during my time and I am very grateful for that.
Aimee Halligan
Aimee Halligan
Senior Wetlands Ecologist, Irvine Ranch Water District
I currently manage a series of engineered wetlands designed to treat urban runoff for the Irvine Ranch Water District. I previously worked for CA State Parks as an Environmental Scientist and the County of Orange as a CEQA and Natural Resources Manager. The ENST program at CSUF allowed me to customize my masters degree to meet my career goals, focusing on ecological studies while also getting a broad range of skills that have been directly applicable to my work, such as GIS mapping, field data collection methodologies, statistical analysis, policy and legal analysis, and research and reporting. These are skills that I use every day and have contributed to my general success in the environmental field. Having had exposure to a broad range of topics in the ENST program has also helped me to be adaptable, think critically, and continue to learn new things to grow in the field.
Kevin Hostert
Kevin Hostert
Senior Water Resources Analyst, Municipal Water District of Orange County
The CSUF ENST program really helped me develop good research skills. In my current job I am constantly asked to solve complicated problems and to report my findings to the public. In addition, my ENST Research Project and internship were hugely helpful at getting me into the water industry.
Dr. Lilia Illes
Dr. Lilia Illes
Continuing Lecturer at UCLA Dept. of Geography
The ENST program set the foundation for my success in my PhD studies, as well as introducing me to a wider field of environmental studies. The ENST program was an amazing opportunity for me to forge my own path and explore new areas of study I had not previously considered. The opportunities and guidance I was given during my time with ENST has shaped both how I teach and how I do my work in the field. The diversity and flexibility of the ENST program makes it an outstanding choice for students who wish to tailor their studies to their interests and career goals.
Patrick Murphy
Patrick Murphy
Associate Resource Specialist, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
My job is to help develop local resources that will reduce Southern California’s reliance on imported supplies. I am also an adjunct instructor in the Water Systems Technology program at my local community college, College of the Canyons. The ENST program was foundational for my career in the water sector. The hands on courses and exposure to nature provided the biggest impact to my education.
Aelna Sakamoto
Aelna Sakamoto
Wildlife Biologist with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
The courses I took in the Environmental Studies MS program really built up my foundational knowledge of the environmental field. It was so helpful that the courses were interdisciplinary because working on a planning development team on civil works projects requires me to talk to many different disciplines and collaborate with decision makers and stakeholders.
Dr. Reza Yeganehshakib
Dr. Reza Yeganehshakib
Lecturer and Energy Consultant
The interdisciplinary training I received at CSUF has been instrumental in shaping my career, equipping me with the analytical skills and perspective needed to address today’s complex environmental issues. Currently, I teach environmental studies at CSU Dominguez Hills, Santa Monica College, and CSU Long Beach. In addition to teaching, I work as an independent consultant specializing in energy policy, energy transition, and energy security for private sector clients in the UK, Norway, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Canada, and the United States. The program’s emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches provided me with a comprehensive understanding of environmental issues, which I use extensively to address complex matters in policy, sustainability, and energy security. Combined with insights into environmental history, these skills allow me to approach energy-related projects with a nuanced understanding of environmental impacts and sustainability goals.