On Friday, April 14, 2017, Middle College students at Skyline College along with Middle College faculty and program staff had an exciting opportunity to learn about the clean energy and sustainability sector from a stellar, all-women, industry panel and about the innovative Energy Systems Technology Management program from Professor and ESTM Faculty Coordinator, Bruce Greenstein. Dr. Regina Stanback-Stroud welcomed the Middle College students, faculty, and program staff to this insightful and informative event and spoke about the importance of sustainability and the College’s leadership in this space. Professor Greenstein engaged students with hands-on activities in the Center of Sustainable Construction’s Test House as well as outdoor activities which included demonstration of solar energy kits.
The all-women panel forum was moderated by Professor of Environmental Science, Dr. Carina Antilla-Suarez. The panelists included Adrienne Etherton, Executive Director of Sustainable San Mateo County; Ann Edminster, net energy consultant and founder of DesignAVEnues; Carolyn Raider, Resource Conservation Specialist, San Mateo County Office of Sustainability; Daisy Meyer, Workforce Development Manager, GRID Alternatives; Kirsten Andrews-Schwind, Communications and Outreach Manager, Peninsula Clean Energy; and Marjan Javanmard, Permit Specialist, City of San Jose. The women all shared their wealth of knowledge of clean energy and sustainability to the Middle College students and talked about how they began their careers in this sector and how exciting it is to work in a sector that is growing and innovative due to new technologies and public policies.
At the conclusion of the panel discussion, Lavinia Zanassi, Faculty Coordinator and Counselor for Career Services, shared various resources available in the Center for students to develop their own self- awareness and characteristics that align within the clean energy and sustainability sector.
This event was supported in part by The California Community Colleges Doing What Matters for Jobs and the Economy Initiative, and the Deputy Sector Navigator for Energy, Construction, and Utilities.
Special thanks to Dr. Raymond Jones, Director of Middle College, Sindy Soto, Middle College Office Assistant, Assistant Professor, Joan Connolly, Professor Bruce Greenstein, Professor Carina Antilla-Suarez, Faculty Coordinator and Counselor, Lavinia Zanassi.
Article written by Rita Gulli | Photo by Anasanique Fountain
