Julia joined the Office of Sustainability in October 2024 after arriving at Columbia as a School of Professional Studies (SPS) student in the Sustainability Management (SUMA) program. She was quickly hired by the office because of her warm demeanor, strong work ethic, and prior experience in waste management at the Javits Center. Over the course of her internship, Julia played a critical role in projects spanning greenhouse gas accounting, sustainable transportation, and campus-wide waste management, directly supporting the goals of Plan 2030.
One of Julia’s most impactful contributions was her work on Columbia’s commute survey analysis. She tabulated and analyzed more than 20,000 responses, enabling the Office of Sustainability to accurately calculate greenhouse gas emissions associated with commuting. This complex effort required advanced Excel proficiency, including the use of sophisticated formulas to translate raw survey data into meaningful insights on miles traveled by commute mode over the course of a year. Her work strengthened the University’s emissions reporting and provided a robust data foundation for future transportation initiatives.
In support of sustainable transportation, Julia also developed a proposal to improve Columbia’s bike infrastructure by better accommodating larger e-bikes within campus bike enclosures. As e-bike use continues to grow, her recommendations helped address evolving needs for secure, accessible, and inclusive cycling facilities.
Julia also supported the Office of Sustainability’s collaboration with Procurement Services in the first-ever University-wide comprehensive waste collection Request for Proposals (RFP). She conducted extensive research on New York City waste area vendors, including their management processes and final waste destinations. Julia helped coordinate weekly touch-base meetings between the two offices, ensuring alignment throughout the project, and developed a detailed presentation that she delivered to senior University stakeholders involved in waste management across all campuses. Her presentation outlined the current state of waste operations, clarified RFP goals, and gathered valuable feedback to guide next steps.
“We’re extremely proud and honored to have hosted Julia in our office, and we’re grateful for her contributions to Plan 2030 over multiple sustainability topics,” said Daniel Allalemdjian, Director of Sustainability and Transportation within the Office of Sustainability. “Her detail-oriented and meticulous nature was an asset we truly valued. We can’t wait to see what’s next for Julia, and we look forward to staying in contact.”
Julia’s time with the Office of Sustainability exemplifies the meaningful impact student Campus as Lab (CAL) projects can have on advancing Columbia’s environmental commitments. The Office of Sustainability extends its sincere thanks to Julia for her dedication and looks forward to following her future accomplishments in the sustainability field.
