Workshops in Sustainability Career Paths and Curriculum

Columbia University's M.S. in Sustainability Management alumni will share insights into the courses that shaped their professional journey.
About this Event

Panel: Corporate Sustainability

Thinking about a future in sustainability? Join Columbia University's M.S. in Sustainability Management for a special panel series, “Workshops in Sustainability Career Paths and Curriculum,” where alumni share which courses had the biggest impact on their careers—and why.

The workshop series offers an inside look at how Columbia’s M.S. in Sustainability Management's curriculum translates into real-world skills and professional opportunities. Hear directly from graduates as they reflect on the classes that shaped their thinking, built their toolkits, and helped them launch successful careers in sustainability.

Registrants can attend virtually or in person, and registration is required.

Moderator:

Vance Merolla

Senior Vice President & Fellow, Global Sustainability, Colgate-Palmolive Company

Lecturer in Professional Studies, Sustainability Management

Vance Merolla is Senior Vice President & Fellow of Global Sustainability for Colgate-Palmolive Company, a consumer products company based in New York City, responsible for the evolving development and implementation of Colgate’s global sustainability strategy. Vance provides leadership on Colgate’s worldwide strategic, commercial and environmental programs including working on integration of sustainability into the company’s brands and products, key business functions, and the advancement of the company’s commitments around climate change, sustainable sourcing, elimination of plastic waste, and water stewardship.

Prior to his 25+ years with Colgate, Vance was an environmental engineering consulting group manager for the URS Corporation, an environmental compliance manager at a leading waste-to-energy company and a design engineer on water, wastewater and landfill design projects at an environmental consulting firm. Vance holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Arizona State University and a Master’s in Environmental Engineering from Rutgers University. He is a licensed professional engineer (PE) in the states of New York, New Jersey, and Washington, and is a U.S. Green Building Council LEED-Accredited Professional.

Panelists:

Danny Dolan

Principal, Enterprise Strategic Sustainability, FedEx

Danny Dolan is a Principal of Enterprise Strategic Sustainability at FedEx, where he leads sustainability reporting strategy. Before joining FedEx, he advised companies including Kroger, Peloton, and Red Robin on sustainability reporting and disclosure. Danny earned his M.S. in Sustainability Management from Columbia University and previously worked in communications, focusing on brand strategy, storytelling, and content marketing. His career journey from communications to corporate sustainability gives him a unique perspective on how organizations create and communicate business value through sustainability.

Brian McEnroe

Product Sustainability Analyst, Colgate Palm-Olive

Brian is part of the Global Sustainability Team at Colgate-Palmolive, where he works to embed sustainability into the company's product development and innovation processes. Brian graduated from the SUMA program in the summer of 2022, and began working at Colgate as a part-time intern during his second semester in the program. Prior to Columbia, Brian received his Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida, and worked in that field for two years before pivoting to a career in sustainability.

Andrea Gómez Vesga

Senior Program Manager, Sustainability, ABM Industries

Andrea Gomez Vesga is a sustainability and climate professional with more than 10 years of experience translating climate data, emissions reduction strategies, and sustainability risks into business decisions. She is currently Senior Sustainability Program Manager at ABM Industries, where she leads enterprise climate strategy, Scope 1-3 emissions initiatives, and sustainability integration across client portfolios. Andrea holds an MSc in Sustainability Management from Columbia University and the CFA Certificate in ESG Investing. She is fluent in English, Spanish, and French and is passionate about advancing practical, business-oriented approaches to climate action.

Note:

This event is free and open to the public. Registration is required.

For in person attendees, a QR code will be emailed to your email address the day before the event, which will grant you access to Morningside Campus where the workshop will take place. Please note that in person seating is limited.

For virtual attendees, the Zoom link will be emailed to your email address on the day of the event.

For more information, please contact the event organizer, Cindy Ip, at [email protected]

To obtain additional information about program offerings at Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies, please contact an Admissions Counselor at [email protected].

If you require closed captioning, sign-language interpretation, or any other disability accommodations, please contact Disability Services, [email protected], at least 10 days in advance.

Please visit Columbia University’s Hub for Emergency Preparedness (https://preparedness.columbia.edu/) to stay up to date on the latest campus health and safety policies.

This event is open to individuals irrespective of identity and sex.