Masters of Sustainability Student Profile: Clare Clark MSUS ’21
During my first year at Chatham, I (Abigail Kneuss ‘23) have noticed that so many interesting people attend Chatham, and our sense of community is strong, even during hard times. In an effort to showcase just a few of these great people, I’ll be doing a series of student interviews in the coming weeks. These highlights are for students, about students, and by students. This week I am featuring graduate student, Clare Clark ‘21.
Clare wished to be featured to highlight the great work that her and her fellow graduate students are doing, and their great program (Masters of Sustainability). Not only is she constantly spreading the word about sustainability, but she is a traveler, hiker, cook, painter, and a glowing light to all she meets. Read on to learn about her work with food systems, her passion for her program, and her love of life.
Clare Clark MSUS ’21
Masters of Sustainability with a concentration in Food Systems
Hometown: Brookville, PA
Q: What inspired you to pursue your masters of sustainability?
A: I was in a class called Food Communications and a quote by Simran Sethi that was said there really stuck with me: “through the lens of food you can talk about anything and talk to anyone.” That really resonated with me because I’ve always felt that food is something you can connect with everyone on. It opens the door to help people, no matter who they are. I did my undergrad in Environmental Geology at Slippery Rock and I really got into the social science side of that degree towards graduation and I realized I have such a big heart. I want to make the world a better place to be, and food is such an accessible way to do that.
Q: Why did you pick Chatham?
A: What’s really special about Chatham is the personalized academic attention the students get. I had applied to a lot of other universities and got into some big names like Cornell and the University of Georgia, but I decided ultimately on Chatham because they welcomed me with open arms. They offered me the Falk School Scholarship which is a full-tuition scholarship. Between that and the deeply personal and unique program, I couldn’t pass up this great opportunity.
Q: What’s your favorite part of your program?
A: As I mentioned, I love how personable it is. But I also love how much flexibility there is with the degree and the many different places it can take you. As you get deeper into studying sustainability, it branches out like a tree where every limb is something new to discover. It can be daunting at times, but it’s also so exciting to explore what interests you. With our program, you get to experience what you enjoy on a professional, academic, and personal plane.
Q: Outside of your studies, what do you enjoy doing?
A: I have too many hobbies! Obviously, I love to cook and I love fresh produce. There has always been a sense of biophilic joy and openness to the endless possibilities and creativity that comes with produce. I love to travel, I lived in Scotland for 6 months in my undergrad and have been to 16 different countries. I also love hiking, kayaking, watercolor painting, singing, listening to the rain, and dancing around and loving life. I live in the poetic romanticism side of life. I live alone with my cat Mannie, so when I’m not at work at 412 Food Rescue, or doing one of my many hobbies, I do a lot of self-discovery.
Q: Can you tell more about 412 Food Rescue?
A: Their mission at 412 Food Rescue is to bridge the gap between the fact that 1 in 8 people face food insecurity and 30-40% of food is wasted. I’m the Special Programs Coordinator which means I work with the Hidden Harvest Program and the Ugly CSA Program. The Hidden Harvest Program harvests produce that would otherwise go to waste and distributes it to those in need while the Ugly CSA Program takes produce that is cosmetically unsellable and gives it to members of the program each week. I am currently doing it as an internship, but I will continue to work there once my internship is over. It’s truly a great program.
Q: In a crisis like the COVID pandemic, how are our food systems affected?
A: With the pandemic, it puts those who were already at risk further at risk for starvation and food insecurity. The beautiful thing though, is that in a time like this, local communities can really come together to make things work and fill in the gaps. Local, small non-profits like 412 Food Rescue have really helped out and it’s such a beautiful thing to witness.
Q: Best class you’ve taken?
A: I took a class about chocolate. While it might sound goofy, it was so great and one of my most challenging courses. We learned about food systems through the lens of chocolate and the slavery and inequality that goes into producing it. Despite the difficulty of the course, I would 10/10 do it again.
Q: Favorite spot at Eden Hall?
A: Eden Hall is absolutely gorgeous, so it’s hard to choose, but I would have to go with the basement of the lodge. It’s still decorated from the 1970s and there is a bowling alley! It’s preserved from when Eden Hall was a retreat for workers in the Heinz factory and it’s super fun.
Q: What’s next for you?
A: I’m currently working with Grow Pittsburgh on my thesis. I’m studying how their community gardens impact the mental wellness of Bhutanese and Somali Bantu refugees. It’s a lot of work, but I’m really excited about how it’s turning out. After graduation, I want to work on sustainability initiatives for a big company, working towards making them more sustainable and hopefully being able to travel outside of the country as well.
Chatham's Master of Sustainability (MSUS) program prepares enterprising students like Clare Clark with the tools necessary to be the agents of change that corporations, governments, and other organizations need to lead their sustainability initiatives. Master of Sustainability students build on their passion for change to make a lasting impact on the world.
Know a current or future student that should be featured or would like to be featured yourself? Email us! We’re happy to hear your suggestions.