University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) alumna Amy Emmert (MS/MSEd ’03) decided to work toward her master’s degree at SEAS because she wanted to expand her skill set to better match what she was doing in her career. Trained as a biologist, Emmert worked as a zookeeper during college and realized how much she enjoyed the educational components of the job. Hoping to learn more about environmental education, Emmert came to SEAS to study in the Behavior, Education and Communication specialization. During her search to find a graduate program that was a good fit for her, she became interested in SEAS Professor Ray DeYoung’s research, and reflected on the groundbreaking nature of his work in environmental education in the late 1990s. “At the time, he was one of the major players in looking at behavior change towards environmentalism,” Emmert said, “and that was something that I was really interested in.” 

Emmert valued her SEAS education, not only in the classroom but also as a teaching assistant outside of the program. This draw to educational practice led her to connect with Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Michaela Zint. Zint drew from her interdisciplinary connections to introduce Emmert to Joseph Krajcik, who was then a professor in the U-M Marsal Family School of Education. He was looking for a student with an interest in education and a background in water quality. Because of this introduction, Emmert formed strong associations with faculty in the School of Education and earned a dual master’s degree from the school and SEAS.

As a SEAS student, Emmert continued to work with Zint on a sustainability education project with Ypsilanti Township public schools, focusing specifically on behavior change. “The project opened my eyes to the importance of working with practitioners and teachers,” explained Emmert, “and since that experience, I’ve spent over 10 years working with Detroit Public Schools. I’ve learned that if you’re really going to work in the field of environmental education, you have to develop and foster relationships with teachers and students alike.” 

After graduating from SEAS, Emmert moved to Australia where she taught environmental education for two years. Having the opportunity to teach internationally was a grounding experience for Emmert, and when she came back to the United States, she continued to work in conservation education because of what she had learned in school and abroad. One way that Emmert bridged her interests was through getting involved in citizen science projects with the Belle Isle Nature Center. “The need for citizen science wasn’t taught when I was in school,” reflected Emmert, “but by this point the industry was changing and community engagement and education practices were changing as well.”

Once again, Emmert went abroad, volunteering at an international school in Germany for three years. “The experience put me in the classroom and helped me to realize what some of the struggles were in education,” she said. 

Emmert took what she learned from her early career, her education at U-M, and time spent abroad with her when she moved back to Detroit and assumed the role of school program coordinator at the Belle Isle Aquarium. Emmert had volunteered at the Belle Isle Nature Center, and was excited to return to the island. She worked closely with the Detroit Public Schools system and some teachers she had worked with in the past. “I was able to really lean into what they were doing at their school and in their curriculum and how the aquarium could support them through environmental education and place- and project-based learning.” 

Emmert’s role at the Belle Isle Aquarium has since grown to education and engagement director where her purview has shifted from programming not just for students but also for aquarium visitors. She also continues to do work with U-M’s School of Education and the Detroit River Story Lab. A SEAS capstone project team recently worked with the Story Lab, and Emmert was excited to talk about the work with the student team. “They did fantastic work with stories here on the island, and it was really exciting to see them get involved because there are so many cool things going on at the University of Michigan. I’d love to see more environmental education get included in those things.”

Reflecting on her career path, Emmert places emphasis on the value of community involvement, network building and “boots on the ground” work. “In order to make great connections, you really do need to get out there and do the work and be part of a community network.”