Master of Sustainability + MBA dual degree student Mary Schrott '21 is preparing to be a corporate sustainability leader
Chatham’s community is filled with a diverse and unique group of students, including graduate students from over 30 programs who are pursuing specialized degrees in their fields of study. To tap into the passionate pursuits of these students and their academic journeys, I (Laura Allston MSUS ‘21), will be interviewing a set of graduate students throughout the coming weeks. This week’s edition features Mary Schrott, Masters in Sustainability and MBA dual degree student.
Mary and I first met at an MSUS cohort potluck dinner last August. In my first moments of talking to Mary, I quickly observed her wisdom, kindness, and her striking ambition to create and invoke change in our world through sustainability. Mary is a leader in the classroom, an excellent baker, and an extraordinary friend. We recently chatted to discuss Mary’s past professional career, her first year at Chatham, and how she’s staying occupied during the quarantine.
Mary Schrott,
MSUS + MBA '21
Hometown: Mount Lebanon, PA
Q: Where did you pursue your undergraduate degree? Give us some details about your time in undergrad!
I received my BA in 2017 from Miami University (OH) where I majored in journalism and professional writing and minored in interactive media studies. I was also a part of the Honors Program at Miami which allowed me to live with other honors students and participate in a cohort my freshman year that had a big positive impact on my experience in Oxford. Later on during my junior year, I took a semester to study English in Ireland at Trinity College Dublin. During my senior year, I was also lucky enough to be accepted into a program called Inside Washington at Miami where I lived in Washington D.C. and interned at Voice of America. Outside of my academic experiences, I enjoyed friendships through clubs and organizations like Alpha Delta Pi, The Miami Student Newspaper, and a bible study.
Q: You had a career before pursuing your MSUS + MBA dual degree. What did you do? What made you choose to go back to get your Master’s?
After I graduated from Miami, I moved to Washington D.C. where I began a job in marketing and communications with the U.S. Green Building Council. This job was a perfect fit for me at the time. I loved the pace and rigor of D.C. and wanted to do communications work with a purpose. The green building mission behind USGBC was one I could get behind and it broadened my perspective on sustainability as a profession. There I learned how crucial sustainability is to creating a healthy and efficient world. After some time working, I realized I wanted to become a leader in this field and that a graduate degree could help me get there.
Q: You just completed your first year at Chatham. Congrats! What made you choose this program over others?
I actually first found out about Chatham’s MSUS + MBA dual degree program in my job at USGBC when I helped on their 2018 Best of Green Schools Awards. Chatham’s Eden Hall Campus was a recipient of the award that year, which got me digging. Not a lot of universities offer both business and sustainability graduate degrees. I find the combination extremely valuable and think it will give me an advantage in my career. There are a lot of professionals with MBA degrees, but the sustainability element makes this degree unique. Sustainability is a growing field that I can see being a necessary element of all businesses in the future.
Q: Do you have any tips for other graduate students working from home?
Given the current situation, reaching out to classmates in a non-academic sense feels crucial right now. It’s easy to see familiar faces in a Zoom lecture or what have you, but we’re missing the socialization that comes with school. Reach out to a peer about something not school related—just to let them know you’re still there!
Q: What is something you are looking forward to right now?
This question holds a different weight in quarantine! I’ve learned to look forward to the little things like making my morning coffee, reading (non-school) books in a comfy spot with my dog, and getting fresh air at some point every day. I also have a niece/nephew coming in September, so hopefully, I will be able to meet them safely by then!
Q: What are you hoping to do with your graduate degree? What field of work do you see yourself in?
The great thing about sustainability is that there are so many opportunities career-wise. It’s hard to say where exactly I will end up, but I am interested in working in corporate sustainability. I’d love to work for a bigger organization in their sustainability department putting together CSR reports and finding effective ways to communicate sustainability.
Q: You love to bake. What is the best thing you have made in quarantine so far?
Baking is very therapeutic and so is eating! I think carbs are one of the world's greatest comforts, so I’ve been doing a lot of bread making. I’ve recently mastered bagels. So, I guess you can say I look forward to eating bagels too in quarantine!
Q: What is the best thing to come out of your first year in the MSUS + MBA program?
This year has taught me that any situation is what you make of it. Grad school is a great opportunity, but you will only reap benefits from it if you give it your all and seek out the opportunities you want. If you’re not pleased with a situation, do something about it! This is true for many things in life, but I think the higher you go in education the more pertinent this becomes.
Chatham’s MSUS+MBA program is a joint degree from the Falk School of Sustainability & Environment Master of Sustainability (MSUS) program, in partnership with Chatham's Master of Business Administration (MBA) program. It prepares graduates for sustainability management and leadership positions across all sectors including business, government, and NGOs. Students enrolled in Chatham’s Master of Sustainability and MBA dual degree program are passionate about the role of corporate sustainability leaders and that sustainable business choices are crucial in ensuring a resilient, efficient and equitable future.