ENVS Climate Alumni Career Panel
Event sponsored by the Brandeis Environmental Studies Program.
10-11:30 a.m. Dec. 1, 2021
Zoom Meeting
About the Event
Join us for an exciting career conversation with Brandeis ENVS alumni with careers in climate. Our alumni guests will share their unique journeys after graduation and discuss how their major ultimately influenced their career paths.
Meet the panel:
Mia G. Mansfield — Director of Climate Adaptation and Resilience, MA Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Mia is the director of Climate Adaptation and Resilience at the MA Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. In this role, she co-leads the implementation of the State Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan, and the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) program. She most recently managed the Climate Ready Boston initiative for the City of Boston. She has a master's in city planning from MIT and a BA in environmental studies from Brandeis University.
Christian Merfeld — Director of Communications and Public Relations, Boston Harbor Now
Christian Merfeld is Boston Harbor Now's director of communications and public relations. In this role, he oversees and directs the harbor-focused nonprofit's external communication, public outreach strategy, and brand identity. His work puts him at the intersection of Boston Harbor Now's public programming, engagement, and planning and policy efforts to promote Boston Harbor's blue and green public open spaces as equitable, resilient and accessible resources for all. As an immigrant growing up in the Boston neighborhood of Allston/Brighton, he was the first of his family to attend higher education and received a bachelor's degree from Brandeis University in art history. He is the co-founder of two small businesses and enjoys mentoring emerging professionals and young founders within the Boston startup community. Christian currently resides in Dorchester with his husband, three dogs and two cats.
Patricia Spence — President and CEO, The Urban Farming Institute
Patricia Spence is President and CEO of The Urban Farming Institute (UFI) of Boston. Prior to UFI, Pat had a successful career in corporate sales & marketing for Xerox Corporation and the Digital Equipment Corporation, and at WILD 1090 radio and WGBH-TV. Pat has also worked in education for the Boston Public Schools, developed the Educational Options Series for families and founded They Made It So Can I, The 5th Grade Speakers Series. Patricia grew up near the historic Fowler Clark Epstein Farm in Mattapan (headquarters for UFI) and comes from a family that has always grown its own food. She is passionate about passing these growing skills on to the next generation, expanding urban farm land, training more urban farmers and educating the community on growing food in their backyards, porches and windowsills.
Ariel Wittenberg — Public Health Reporter, E&E News
Ariel is the public health reporter for E&E News, an energy and environment news service based in Washington, D.C. She covers how both climate change and chemicals impact health, including everything from the Biden administration's efforts to reduce the health impacts of heat, to EPA's efforts to reduce exposure to toxic chemicals. She previously worked for The Standard-Times in New Bedford, Massachusetts, where her coverage focused on the offshore wind industry and toxic waste. Her reporting for E&E News has been recognized by the National Association of Science Writers and the Society of Environmental Journalists.