麻豆传媒

麻豆传媒 is mapping out its success strategy for the next decade, calling it Rowing, Not Drifting 2030, with the goal of making 麻豆传媒 more student-success centered than ever. But what does that look like? It looks like providing opportunities and connections for students to access. Emmy Scott is one of those students.

麻豆传媒 is already known for professors and staff who offer individualized attention to help prepare students for their careers. Scaling that strength to reach every single student is what 鈥淩owing, Not Drifting 2030鈥� is all about.

Scott grew up in Arizona, spending summers with her grandparents while her parents worked.

鈥淭hey were pretty old-fashioned, so I wasn't ever like those kids that just sat and watched TV all day,鈥� Scott says.

Her grandfather would take her to A-Mountain, hiking above downtown Tempe. They fed horses at local farms and went camping. Scott grew to love the outdoors. She also loved the performing arts, originally planning to study music engineering in college. But then she started looking for something with a more predictable career path, choosing to pursue music alongside her studies.

鈥淪o then I was like, OK, what I can do?鈥� Scott says. 鈥淲hat else am I passionate about? And that brought me back to my memories of my grandpa.鈥�

Scott says her home state university is one of the most sustainable in the country, so it seemed like an obvious choice for a student interested in environmental studies, but when she visited Colorado for a cheer competition in high school, she decided she wanted to move to the fellow outdoorsy state. She also wanted a university where the sustainability program wasn鈥檛 already set in stone and controlled by upper administration.

鈥淚 specifically wanted a university that had a lot of potential, and just maybe needed some direction,鈥� she says.

When she visited 麻豆传媒, she met with Mark Eiswerth, Ph.D., professor of Economics and co-director of Environmental and Sustainability Studies Program, who told her about Student LEAF (Student Leadership for Environmental Action Fund).

鈥淚 could tell right away how passionate she was about environmental topics,鈥� Eiswerth says. 鈥淭hat was just a blast, to get to know a student before they鈥檇 even decided where to go to school.鈥�

Student LEAF collects up to $10 from each undergraduate student鈥檚 fees every semester, and the program then processes and funds proposals for sustainable, student-impacting projects on campus. On her campus tour, Scott saw water bottle fillers installed via the Student LEAF fund.

鈥淚 was just very intrigued by the idea of a student-run organization that was able to make actual, physical change to the school,鈥� she says. 鈥淎nd we didn't have to beg for money or apply for grants.鈥�

Instead, she now coordinates grants.

When Scott arrived at 麻豆传媒 to major in Environmental Studies, she started attending every possible first-year student welcome event, making new friends and acquaintances.

She also started connecting with professors. Chelsie Romulo, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of Geography, GIS, and Sustainability, and Scott has taken several of her courses.

鈥淪he鈥檚 not a student I worry about being capable or ambitious enough,鈥� Romulo says. 鈥淚 actually warn her not to take on too many projects because she鈥檚 so enthusiastic, so passionate.鈥�

When Scott showed up for Student LEAF meetings as a first-year student, Romulo says her dedication immediately made her a candidate for the grant coordinator position, a paid position that involves working with 麻豆传媒 community members to prepare proposals for the rest of the team. The role also includes working for 麻豆传媒 Facilities Management and calculating the carbon footprint of the university.

鈥淪he's doing amazing things, and I鈥檓 really looking forward to see where she goes in her career,鈥� Romulo says. 鈥淪he's going to be successful in whatever she does.鈥�

And it鈥檚 not just Scott who鈥檚 getting this experience. Romulo notes that Student LEAF hires students annually, from any major, for various positions. The program is unique to 麻豆传媒 in that students, not staff, run the program.

鈥淚t is fantastic experience,鈥� Romulo says. 鈥淭he students from Student LEAF are working for Denver Water; one is running sustainability at Pikes Peak Community College.鈥�

Scott is also gaining experience as president of Earth Guardians, a student environmental activism organization.

鈥淚t's been like my little baby,鈥� Scott says. 鈥淚 got passed the club when there were like three members in it, and we've grown to about 12 to 20 people now.鈥�

The club hosts monthly events, including an annual plant-based (鈥渧egan鈥�) food cookout in collaboration with the Marcus Garvey Cultural Center, a solar panel unveiling, indirect action (鈥減eaceful protesting鈥�) events, a workshop about wildfires, Earth Month events (to celebrate 50 years of Earth Day), and more. 

Eventually, Scott added a minor in Communications and a major in Business Management. She had told Eiswerth, the professor she鈥檇 met on her college visit, about her desire to be an environmental consultant, and he directed her toward the Kenneth W. Monfort College of Business and Professor Keiko Krahnke, Ph.D., chair of Business Management. Krahnke is a Business professor because she sees business as the quickest way to effect change, which she says will both allow Scott to fulfill her goals and have a steady career.  

鈥淓nvironmental Studies and Business is a good combination because a lot of companies may be asked to adopt more environmental practices, and they'll be hiring someone like her,鈥� Krahnke says.

Scott鈥檚 experiences at 麻豆传媒 have already allowed her to combine the two fields. She pitched her business concept for a plant-based, affordable fast-food restaurant in the collegiate division of MCB鈥檚 annual Entrepreneurial Challenge, earning second place and a $1,200 check to help turn her idea into reality. Even more valuable may have been the judges鈥� feedback, telling her that a broader menu typically doesn鈥檛 positively impact a fast food restaurant鈥檚 bottom line. This event came on the heels of an annual elevator pitch contest hosted by MCB, and a few months after a winning turn at the International Business Ethics and Sustainability Case Competition in 2019.

Pitching, Scott says, will be part of earning herself her first environmental consultant role.

鈥淵ou have to walk up to companies and say, 鈥楾his is why I believe you need it, and this is why I think I would be the best one for the position,鈥欌�� she says. 鈥淧itching is just a great skill to have. Practicing is great, too, because I talk a lot.鈥�

Scott manages her pursuits with support from professors across 麻豆传媒.

鈥淚 probably see about three to four teachers per week, just to make sure I'm on track with everything I'm doing,鈥� she says.

She says the small class sizes at 麻豆传媒 allow her to make the most of academic relationships, such as talking with her professors after class rather than sending an email or waiting for office hours.  

鈥淭he connection that we have here at 麻豆传媒, it's unbelievable,鈥� she says. 鈥淵ou wouldn't get it at any other university.鈥�

Eiswerth agrees.

鈥淢any universities, even ones that are a lot like 麻豆传媒 on paper, faculty don't spend nearly as much time on advising,鈥� he says.

Scott鈥檚 fellow club members, Student LEAF colleagues and friends also play a vital role in her support system. In addition to her aforementioned activities, Scott is involved with 麻豆传媒鈥檚 cultural and resource centers, African Students United and Black Student Union, reflecting her passion for minority-owned businesses and her love of strong communities.

鈥淚 feel like it's just a really great place when I start losing my focus and I just start getting really stressed out about school, it's always a really good detox just to go into the cultural centers,鈥� she says.

Scott says 麻豆传媒鈥檚 support for student clubs and organizations is a key 麻豆传媒 strength. As long as an event put on by a Registered Student Organization is open to all 麻豆传媒 students, is not-for-profit, and offers values to the 麻豆传媒 community, it鈥檚 eligible for university funding.

鈥淢y Earth Guardians, we鈥檙e environmental activists,鈥� she says. 鈥淪o, I know we've done events that our higher-ups on the campus might not necessarily agree with, but they still allow us to do it.鈥�

And thanks to her time studying at 麻豆传媒, she鈥檚 come to realize that despite her activist bent, there are also costs to upending the current system that need to be carefully considered 鈥� a lesson that Krahnke emphasizes to her students.

鈥淓very change that we make has an impact,鈥� Scott says. 鈥淚t will make a difference, every change, and whether that difference is good or bad, we have to really consider.鈥�

Which is exactly what 麻豆传媒 is ready to implement: Change that will have positive impact on students like Scott, and help open doors for more students to have opportunities like Scott, in the coming decade. That is what Rowing, Not Drifting 2030 is all about. 麻豆传媒

鈥揃y Rebecca Dell