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Degree and Year of Graduation

M.A., Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning, 2009

Advisors
Rusty Russell, Marji Erickson-Warfield (Brandeis University)

Thesis
An Implementation Evaluation if the No Discharge Area Program in Casco Bay, Maine.

 

 How did you decide on the WSSS program?
I did the WSSS program my first week at Tufts. I originally came in thinking I was going to do a dual degree with UEP and Biology. My advisor [in UEP], Rusty Russell, gave me the WSSS pamphlet and I started reading up on it a little bit more and realized that [WSSS] was something I could do without adding to my course load. In a dual degree there are a lot more requirements, more courses. With WSSS I was able to take classes and do other things I wouldn’t have [been able to do] with just UEP or even with UEP and Biology. It fit all my needs, so I signed up with it from the very beginning – week one.

Something about WSSS you never expected?
With WSSS, suddenly you’re not with only UEP, like-minded people – you have conversations with engineers, public health or nutrition students, or students from the Fletcher school. When you’re sitting in class there’s a little more back-and-forth. People are coming from different areas, which broadens the discussion.

I think it’s going to be different every year because of the mix of students and levels of involvement from the participating schools – that changes the dynamics. Even person-to-person – if you’re sitting in class or a seminar with someone who is outgoing and willing to argue their point of view, you’re going to have a different conversation than if you didn’t have that person.

What was your favorite part(or parts) of the WSSS program?
Working on the advisory committee -- I was the WSSS UEP representative. I really had a good time with that because I was able to shape the program a little bit and provide my feedback.

We also had a good Practicum. It was a little different than how it’s structured now; we had a little more freedom, but we still got to do a place-based project. [Our Practicum] was with the Arlington, Belmont, and Cambridge -- the ABC -- group. We got out in the field and tried to make a difference with an interdisciplinary project. Working with the engineers and public health people was very valuable. All the connections that you make was another great thing about WSSS. It broadens the horizon of what’s available to you and who you get to know, like professors from other departments. If you’re only connected to UEP people you may miss out on different opportunities.

What was the most challenging part of WSSS for you?
It was a little tough to meet all of the requirements at first, but that was when the Practicum and the UEP field project were separate courses -- I had to do two different, very intensive projects in the same semester! That was a little overwhelming, but we worked to change it. It’s one course now, so that was a great improvement.

What advice would you give to an incoming WSSS student?
Get involved; get involved early. If I wasn’t in the WSSS program I don’t know if I would’ve gotten what I wanted out of graduate school. For me it had the right mix of different courses, especially coming from a science background.

I would make connections, I would go to conferences, I would present your research when you’re at that point. I was able to present my thesis at the Maine Water Conference and then the Coastal Zone 2009 National Conference held here in Boston. I took advantage of it and made the connections that I needed to. You have to get your name out there when you’re graduating or close to graduating. Volunteer and help out on projects when it’s needed -- you’ll get more value out of [your experience].

 If WSSS were a Jelly Belly, what flavor would it be?
RL: I would have to go with blueberry or something blue, because when I think of WSSS I think of water and how water’s connected to everything – everything I do at my job, but everything else too!