From creating newsletters to planning events to meeting passionate students, coordinating the EL Network has been a defining part of my grad school experience.
From Newsletter Reader to Coordinator
Sometimes it pays off to be on newsletters.
That’s something I’ve learned both as a former member of the Environmental Leaders Network (EL Network) and as its coordinator over the past school year. When I was an undergrad, I frequently checked the newsletters for different job openings, which led to me becoming a Sustainability Communications Intern for the Office of Sustainability during my senior year. Due to my prior success finding a job, I continued to browse the website and newsletter once I got accepted to graduate school to see if anything new piqued my interest. One day, I happened to visit the TESI job page, and voila, there was a new TESI graduate assistantship posting.
I could not have been more hopeful and nervous when I read the job posting to become the EL Network Coordinator. Here it was: something I was familiar with and qualified for, but also something I would hate to miss out on. As fate would fortunately turn out, I landed the role!
Growing with the EL Network
Working alongside the TESI staff, communications interns, and Swamp for the Springs team has been incredibly rewarding. Not only have I seen the EL Network grow to over 500 members, but I have also been able to participate in a variety of projects that taught me so much each step of the way!
I have learned a lot about what it takes to manage a program of this size, especially regarding the ins and outs of event planning and collaborating with other organizations. From advertising to engaging with students to coordinating logistics and bringing the whole thing together, every event brought with it the chance to grow. Not everything always went according to plan, of course, but trials and errors made me more comfortable and prepared for the next event. They also provided me with valuable insights I will be passing on to the next coordinator to help the EL Network thrive.
Fun with Trivia
One of my favorite events to plan was the fall Trivia Night. It was the first EL Network social event of the school year, so I was a little nervous for how it would go, though I couldn’t have been happier with the turnout. I had such a fun time watching teams come together and get competitive over questions, especially for bonus questions when everyone was allowed to shout out answers. The highlight of the event was when a team who had just met that night won the grand prize. The EL Network was created to help foster student connections, and I got to see that come to life right before my eyes.
Surprising Joys
Another thing I came to enjoy as coordinator was tabling. Even though I, like many students, must admit to avoiding tables before (especially in Turlington Plaza), I liked the different chances to meet students across campus. It was a great way to introduce TESI and the EL Network, and also hear about what kinds of internships and events they were most interested in.
Being in this role has also allowed me to interact with disciplines I haven’t explored much before. Touring collections in Dickinson Hall, attending professional talks and career chats, and even going on an educational trek to Manatee Spring provided me with a broader view of the many intersections of the environment.
Thank You
As my time as the EL Network coordinator is coming to an end, I cannot express my gratitude more for all the opportunities, connections, and skills I have gained.
A huge thank you goes out to Sadie Mills, Megan Ennes, Alise Cross, and Carla Ruffer for being invaluable mentors and for their support. I would also like to give a special thanks to the Smallwood Foundation for funding this graduate assistantship and making all of these amazing experiences possible.
This position was funded by a grant from the Smallwood Foundation.
