In the cool hush of February, between the winter-bare paths of Lullwater Preserve and the steady hum of campus shuttles, Emory gathered once more for a tradition rooted in connection and possibility: Green Networking Night. The annual event continues to link students curious about environmental and sustainability-focused careers with Emory alumni and Atlanta-area professionals whose work shapes the world beyond the classroom.
This year’s Green Networking Night marked an important evolution in the event’s 18-year history. For the first time, the event was co-hosted with the Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health (GDEH) and held within the R. Randall Rollins Building at the Rollins School of Public Health. The setting underscored a powerful truth that sustainability and public health are deeply intertwined, and that solutions for the future emerge where disciplines meet.
Approximately 120 undergraduate and graduate students attended alongside 50 alumni and professionals from across sustainability sectors.
The evening opened with warm and welcoming remarks from members of the organizing committee, helping students orient themselves to the event’s purpose and the breadth of professions and career paths represented: sustainability consulting, the green building and sustainable real estate sector, and environmental advocacy and policy.
In true Green Networking Night fashion, alumni and professionals wore colorful bandanas, with each hue signaling an area of expertise within the vast landscape of sustainability, such as corporate sustainability, urban planning or environmental health. Keynote speakers Shan Arora and Elena Jordanov shared how their time at Emory shaped their career trajectories and goals.
Arora, for example, began his career in international trade and tax. When he decided to align his environmentalist-minded passion with his profession, he said he built relationships with Emory alumni working in sustainability. He volunteered with in related areas, consistently attended events — and networked his way into a role at a leading sustainability nonprofit.
Today, Arora serves as director of the Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design at Georgia Tech — one of the world’s most environmentally advanced buildings. His advice to students was simple: “Explore volunteer and internship opportunities, stay engaged and use the Emory network.”
Student attendees already understand the value in Arora’s advice.
“Green Networking Night was the perfect way to meet individuals passionate about sustainability in their fields,” says Suhani Agarwal, an Oxford alumna and current Goizueta Business School student. “From corporate sustainability to advocacy, there really was someone in each industry present, and I had a lot of fun learning about how these amazing alumni found their opportunities after college.
“Green Networking Night is an amazing outlet if you want to learn about career opportunities, how to be sustainable in different fields, or if you simply want to make some new friends in the process,” Agarwal adds.
“We’re incredibly proud of this year’s Green Networking Night and what it represents,” says Yang Liu, Distinguished Professor and Chair of the GDEH. “Through a new partnership across multiple school entities, we brought together students, alumni, faculty and industry leaders to spark meaningful connections and new collaborations. It’s a strong example of what’s possible when we unite around a shared commitment to environmental health and sustainability.”
As the evening full of conversations, curiosity and newly formed connections drew to a close, attendees received a basil plant grown by Erik Edwards, Emory’s Educational Garden Project manager. The plant served as a living reminder that sustainability, like community, thrives when carefully cultivated.
Missed Green Networking Night or interested in additional opportunities?
The Office of Sustainability Initiatives invites students to attend its first Virtual Sustainability Alumni Panel on Tuesday, March 24, at 5 p.m. With a focus on navigating the green career space, the panel will host five alumni engaged in ESG reporting, solid waste planning, water sector innovation and more.
RSVP by Monday, March 16, to ask the panelists questions ahead of the event and look for a virtual invitation in March.
Green Networking Night was designed to exemplify environmental responsibility from start to finish. It was a certified gold-level sustainable event at a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certified building. Materials such as professional directories and name tags were digitized or recycled to minimize waste. The all-vegetarian menu reflected a commitment to low-carbon, nourishing food.
The event was sponsored by the Pathways Center, Emory Alumni Association, the Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health (GDEH), the Department of Environmental Sciences, the Goizueta Business and Society Institute and the Office of Sustainability Initiatives. The host committee included Emory alumni Shan Arora, Elena Jordanov, Kelsey Alexander, Tushaar Sharma and Joey Shea.