Student Profile: Corey Robinson
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, Corey Robinson ‘20.
Corey was nominated for her spotlight by her fellow classmate Clare Clarke for all the work Corey does in the Falk School of Sustainability— which turns out, is a lot! She’s an Eden Hall Fellow and a Resilience Metrics Assistant in the Office of Sustainability. Outside of her studies, she is a hiker, biker, and photographer. Learn more about her sustainability works, her plans for the future, and fun hobbies below!
Corey Robinson ‘20
Hometown: Redford Township, MI
Q: Why did you decide to pursue your master’s?
A: I did my undergrad at Northern Michigan University and I had a project where I had to look at masters programs so Chatham has been on my radar for a while. I majored in Earth Science with a minor in Environmental Studies. Initially, I was interested in a career in geology, but I took a class on environmental justice and sustainability which impacted my decision a lot. After graduation, I knew I didn’t want to work for an oil company which is what most geologists end up doing. I decided I wanted to get more into environmental justice and making the public aware of environmental issues by pursuing my master’s. It’s been a long journey but I’m almost done!
Q: What does being an Eden Hall Fellow entail?
A: They offer a lot of scholarships in my program and the Eden Hall Fellow Scholarship is one of them. It’s a huge scholarship for grad students. Essentially, in exchange for the funding, you and four other grad students/fellows plan a conference around sustainability. My group did our conference last year. We had tons of panelists and keynote speakers all focusing on accessibility to food, green spaces, and safe homes. It was a challenging experience but it was also really great!
Q: What work do you do as a Resilience Metrics Assistant?
A: I work for Mary Whitney in the Office of Sustainability. I originally helped with Chatham’s resilience plans against hazardous things like storms or pandemics, but I now track our sustainability initiatives and put together reports. I’m currently working on our STARS report which is a sustainability tracking report for colleges that gives you a rating. Last time, we got a gold star, and this year we are shooting for platinum!
Q: You’re busy! Outside of your studies, what do you enjoy doing?
A: I love hiking, camping, and traveling and have spent a lot of time out west. I also love crafting and quilting because my mom quilts— I’m currently working on a series of quilts for babies. I’m also a photographer, so I incorporate that into everything I do. I grew up riding dirt bikes and four-wheelers so when I’m home at my parents’, I ride my motorcycle, but I wouldn’t dare take it out on the Pittsburgh hills and cobblestone streets!
Q: Do you have a favorite part of your program?
A: Something I get to do with Chatham that I never got to do before, is actually working with communities on sustainability initiatives. I worked with the borough of Mars and interviewed residents to see how they wanted their community to improve. I also worked in Homewood with an aquaponics lab that provides food to a local coffee shop. I helped them improve their operations and looked at how they could improve their energy systems.
Q: What is something we all can do to be more sustainable?
A: If you really want to do something good for the environment, do your research because things are constantly changing. A lot of things aren’t recyclable anymore and people don’t know that. You’re probably contaminating recycling companies which slows them down from actually recycling. Find out what’s recyclable in your region! My other piece of advice, is that the little things do add up. Take a bag with you hiking to pick up trash. Hold the door open for someone, it might make their day a little better and easier, and in turn they can do good for others and the environment. It’s all connected.
Q: Plans for after graduation?
A: My top priority right now is finding a job. I enjoy the work I do at Chatham, so I’ve been looking into academia. I am also interested in working for a city or state to help create programs that get the public interested in sustainability and teach everyone how to properly recycle!
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.