Action | Student News
Mr. Andeck Goes to Washington
MEM Candidate Networks with Nicholas Alumni
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Greg: What makes the Washington area an exciting
place to live and work?
Robert: Because the government
is here, a lot of the environmental policy is done here, so
in that sense, there are opportunities to make significant
changes in national policy. You’ve also got the EPA, the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, and all of those agencies, and
most major environmental groups have offices here. In terms
of what I do, it’s a hotbed for environmental policy work.
With that said, I do think that there is a lot of merit in
regional environmental groups and state and local areas because
a lot of what happens outside of Washington influences what
happens inside
Elizabeth: I find that my job
now requires me to be in D.C. because of the policy aspect
of my job. I’m also meeting with federal folks on a regular
basis, and the other conservation NGOs that we work with are
based here. It’s a place where a lot of decisions are made,
so it wouldn’t be the same to be based somewhere else. … I
really like the feel of the city—it’s not a “huge” big city.
You can feel like you’re still in a neighborhood when you
walk the streets and there are neighborhood places to eat
or hang out. There’s also a whole gang of Duke Nicholas School
graduates in D.C., and we get together frequently.
Guy: Going to D.C. was a no-brainer
for international conservation work. … Socially D.C. really
attracts a lot of young people, including Nicholas School
folks. There is so much to do with all of the attractions
and restaurants. The biggest drawback is that it is a very
expensive city to live in.
Greg: What are two or three sets of skills
that you would advise prospective students or future environmental
professionals to seek out while they are in school?
Robert: I would say that it
is extremely important to learn how to be analytical— to determine
what are the root causes of problems and develop solutions
for them. The knowledge of economics has also been extremely
valuable. Not many folks in the environmental world think
in terms of economics, so knowing those interactions will
put you a step ahead. It was also very valuable for me to
have had a background in forestry that I acquired at the Nicholas
School. Not many folks involved in policy know forestry.
Nori: There are a couple of things
that I took advantage of at Duke, not necessarily in a formal
way, like sitting in on classes in which I was not officially
enrolled. Duke is very good at bringing people from the outside
in to describe the current issues. ... [I also valued information]
the Career Center provided, like generating a resume or ensuring
that government job application criteria are met.
Elizabeth: Knowing GIS, stats
and regression are all extremely valuable, not so much in
that you have completely mastered the subjects, but rather
have the knowledge to understand the language when it is being
spoken. … I would also recommend really working on your public
speaking.
Guy: Believe it or not, it has
been extremely valuable just knowing how to use PowerPoint
and Excel. A lot of people in the workplace didn’t grow up
with this technology. Knowing the technology gives you a big
leg up. In fact, I believe that an introductory GIS course
should be mandatory. Not so much in that you will actually
do any programming in later years, but simply so that you
can understand what the technology can do. … Duke has great
opportunities to take law, policy and business courses while
at the Nicholas School. The ability to take a leadership course
would also be beneficial.
Becca: GIS classes for sure.
The skills are needed everywhere. I would take Lynn Maguire’s
conflict resolution class, which I didn’t take, but wish I
had. The intro policy courses were valuable as well. … Any
class where the professor makes you learn to write memos is
also extremely valuable. Those are the really practical skills.
Greg: Any last thoughts?
Nori: Some of my best friends
I met at Duke, some of whom I work with now. I’m amazed that
I actually went to school with these people. There are some
very highcaliber people coming out of Duke, which is still
relatively new compared to many schools, so there is great
potential. At NOAA, there are enough staff that have come
out of the Nicholas School that they call it the Duke Mafia.
… It’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Want to learn more? The complete transcripts of Greg Andeck’s
interviews are online >
Edited by Lisa M. Dellwo
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