UW Sustainability Courses

ALUMNI STATION

Former students are found in large and small businesses (some already running their own businesses), non profit organizations and government. This page is a resource to use to network with alumni of the class. If you would like to reach any of the people in the alumni station, drop a note to Tom Eggert requesting contact information. We are not including contact information here because there are nasty little webcrawlers that search out contact information for individuals on web pages and then start spamming them.

Click here to join the Alumni Network!

CALIFORNIA
NAME	TITLE	ORGANIZATION	LOCATION
Elizabeth Keller	Wilderness Trip Leader	Adventures Cross-Country	Mill Valley
I've gained a great appreciation for holistic thinking, seeing the big picture, and not accepting things just because that's "the way it is". It has inspired me to keep things as simple as possible in my life, follow my passions, constantly question society and envision something different...and sustainable:) I've found the closer I am to nature, and the closer I become to those from other cultures...I find my happiness.

COLORADO
NAME	TITLE	ORGANIZATION	LOCATION
Michael Joseph	Program Assistant	Natural Capitalism, Inc	Eldorado Springs
What I most remember and really enjoyed were the dynamic conversations that stemmed from readings and Tom's teachings. I probably wouldn't be working with Hunter Lovins if not for my desire to solve major worldly problems, if not for taking Environmental Strategy & Sustainability. I have been working on projects that range from implementing sustainability into a rural Jamaican community to sustainability applications in the international finance market.

MARYLAND
NAME	TITLE	ORGANIZATION	LOCATION
Danielle Gould

Erica Marrari	Student	University of Maryland	College Park

Claus Moberg			Baltimore
I'm majoring in sustainability (individual major) primarily because of this class.

MASSACHUSETTS
NAME	TITLE	ORGANIZATION	LOCATION
Samuel Jack			Boston

MINNESOTA
NAME	TITLE	ORGANIZATION	LOCATION
John Ostlund		Alpha Gamma Rho	Maple Grove
Only a few impassioned people ever made any real change in the world. The class inspired and infused me with a passion to make a difference. So, now I'm gonna go change the world.

OREGON
NAME	TITLE	ORGANIZATION	LOCATION
Cara Patton	Law Student	Lewis & Clark College	Lake Oswego

Ian McConnell		Storables, Inc.	Portland


VIRGIN ISLANDS
NAME	TITLE	ORGANIZATION	LOCATION
Danielle Davis	Assistant Manager	Virgin Islands Ecotours	St. Thomas
I took Tom's class in the spring of '01. I learned an enormous amount of information during that semester that changed the way I think about many things. I felt so compelled by the new knowledge that I decided to get an IES certificate in addition to my marketing degree. This class was also the catalyst for the student organization BASE (Business Action for Sustainable Enterprise), which was started by myself and some other students who took class. Before that semester I didn't really know what sustainability was. But this class left a footprint on my mind that has changed me forever. (And I am so very happy that it has!) Thanks for all your support Tom!

WISCONSIN
NAME	TITLE	ORGANIZATION	LOCATION
Alexandra Almenara	Student	MS CBSD	Madison
I think the most important thing I learned from class is that businesses have the potential to create change. Before this class, I was reluctant to believe that the private sector could create any positive change. Cradle to Cradle has become one of my favorite environmental books. It has totally changed my mind in the way I now see sustainability and has given me a more optimistic view of the future.
Kurt Baehmann	Marketing/Photographer	Visual Image Photography	Cedarburg

Bill Bower	Chemical Engineering Co-op	Johnson Polymer	Sturtavent
This course has certainly helped shape the way I think about the world. I took it at a time that gave me the kick in the pants I needed to realize that these are things I want to be working on and involved with throughout my life.
Joshua Clements			Madison
This class opening up my eyes to sustainable business, while educating me about the tools and methods businesses can use to approach sustainability. Tom is a great teacher, and his classes are among the best I have ever taken. I would suggest them to everyone and anyone, interested in business as a career or not.
Timothy Condon			Madison

Molly Coughlin	Student, Marketing Management and International Business	University of Wisconsin - Madison	Madison

Claire Cragan			Madison

Anne Drehfal	Student	University of Wisconsin	Madison
This class made an optimist out of me by opening my mind to infinite possibilities in all academic realms for sustainability.... It really reshaped my views of the corporate world by providing some positive examples.... Thanks for a great semester, everyone!.....
Eric Grob	Student	University of Wisconsin	Madison

Kristin Halverson			Wauwatosa

Mike He			Madison

Candi Heberer			Madison

James Jedibudiah	Student	University of Wisconsin	Madison
These classes have changed my whole way of thinking, and I know that I am more prepared for the world now. I liked the open discussion format the best because it allowed us to really figure things out as a group. I think we learned more that way rather than just being told what is supposed to be right like most classes do.
Matthew Kebbekus			Madison

Dan Kenron		University of Wisconsin	Madison

Christopher Kromm			Madison
I consider myself an optimist, but during the course of this class, I found myself at times seriously doubting that we as humans will reverse some of our environmentally-detrimental practices. With that said, the one thing that I will always remember about this class is Tom's optimism about the idea that humans will eventually make a full commitment to sustainability. Tom's relentless optimism eventually convinced me that we will one day actually live in a world where humans live sustainably, at that is what I will always remember about this class.
Kelley Lake	Barista	Mother Fool's Coffeehouse	Madison

Laura Madden	University of Wisconsin Alumni		Madison

Kelly McCarthy	Founder & Mgr-Holistic Health&Home	Good Harvest Market	Pewaukee
I took Tom's class in the Spring of 2001, was a TA in the Spring of 2002 and continued my relationship as a corporate liaison between Alliant Energy and the class in the Fall of 2002 and the Spring of 2003. Tom's class changed my life...everything I am doing now has a direct correlation with the things that I learned and the relationships I made during my involvement.
Ryan McMahon		Alpha Gamma Rho	Madison
it opened my mind to the world around me
Bryant Moroder	Director	Sustain Dane	Madison

Matt Nolan	VP of Fairs & Festivals / Performer	BC3 Acappella	Madison

Rachel Ogden			Oregon
I remember more from this class than any other class I've taken. This class has turned me away from environmental policy and towards the quicker and more effective route of business.
Andrew Peppard	Owner, Web & Graphic Designer	epiicenter designs	Madison
I gained a dramatic appreciation for business-specific application of the concept of sustainability. While I remain skeptical that business, without governmental regulatory impetus, will be a trailblazer, it was very enlightening to study how business might be convinced to embrace sustainable principles. Accordingly, I gained many ideas as to how government might craft regulation to encourage business, actively and passively, to progress towards sustainability with a bit more ambition. Both classes were great.
Lindsay Perlen			Madison

Stephanie Ricketts	Volunteer/ Newsletter Coordinator	Campus Women's Center	Madison

Ryan Rudnitzki	Graduate Student	University of Wisconsin	Madison

Shelly Schwarzmann		Natural Awakenings Magazine	Madison
These courses really made me aware of the potential for business to be robust without compromising its environmental and social impacts. I truly believe that we are entering an age where consumers/clients are making conscious choices. Also, the UW's sustainability classes reminded me of the importance of academia to work integratively with businesses and communities. Tom, keep up the great work.
John Surdyk	Managing Partner	Re-Envision Consulting, LLC	Madison

Mary Swanson			Middleton

Katya Szabados	Intern	State Environmental Resource Center (SERC)	Madison
The best thing that Tom's class did for me was give me some hope that on a fundamental level we are all caring, intelligent beings with the capacity to feel compassion towards the things that are important to us. Above and beyond that, Tom's class also helped teach me the tools and approaches to connecting with that compassionate part of others in order to encourage them to consider adding to the list of things that are important to them...ie. environment, sustainability, nature, beauty, etc. Tom offered many ways to connect with others, many different ways to explain and understand the interrelationships between things - tools that enable me to be more positive and to try harder to help others to see that we're all in this together, and we might as well make it beautiful and meaningful for all. Before Tom's class, I didn't have much hope for convincing certain others (i.e. "businessmen" or "conservatives") that we need to change for the better. I have hope now, as long as we realize that we need to explain these things in a way that is convincing and meaningful to others, whatever their own circumstances. Hence, today I'm interning at the State Environmental Resource Center in Madison, researching and writing info packages and model environmental legislation, particularly for state legislators to look at if they want to introduce positive environmental legislation in their state.
Sarah Thomas	Bilingual Executive Assistant	Hy Cite Corporation	Madison

Rebecca Thorman	Interior Designer	Madison Environmental Group	Madison
I always looked forward to coming to this class. I really learned what a difference business can make and the role of looking at the big picture; seeing the integration and relationships between sustainability topics.
Julie Tucker	Graduate Research Assistant	University of Wisconsin - Madison	Madison
I have become a more environmentally conscious consumer since I took Environmental Strategy and Sustainability. I now look for products that are fair trade and organic, consume less meat, buy local goods and try to support businesses that are being socially and environmentally responsible. The course has definitely had an impact on my life.
Shay Vetterman	Student	University of Wisconsin	Madison

David Waskowski		University of Wisconsin	Madison
What I remember most from the class is the discussions. Every week was a good conversation about environmental sustainability, many of which were continued outside the classroom.
Felix Wolfinger			Madison

Janette Wagner		UW Hospital and Clinics	Madison
The class definitely increased my awareness of the environmental issues out there and the businesses that are moving towards sustainability. It also brought me hope that in the future, our world will make progress in environmental areas and may actually be better, environmentally, than it is today.
Mike Williams	Student	UW	Madison
Helped redefine my career path. As I have not yet graduated, we'll see where this takes me.

WYOMING
NAME	TITLE	ORGANIZATION	LOCATION
Mark Thomsen	Ski Bum, I guess	Mountain USA	Jackson
The discussions were amazing. No other class has as much participation from students. Hearing others insights that are so profound can really help you along in this crazy world. Also, Tom is an inspiration every day!

INTERNATIONAL
NAME	TITLE	ORGANIZATION	LOCATION
Rebecca Petzl	Student	Semester Exchange at Murdoch University	Australia
Interacting on a weekly basis with others who believe in sustainability and the power of individuals to make change in the world is a constant inspiration. Ideas and thoughts that came out those Monday nights I know are always with me. Also, there are no lines...not between me, an activist in a tree, or a million dollar CEO. Remembering that makes it easier to envision how we can all work together towards the same goals.