Why SEAS?

Ally Sung-Jereczek (MS ’24) was first drawn to the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) due to the uniqueness of the Behavior, Education and Communication (BEC) specialization and the opportunity to tack on additional specializations throughout the graduate program. She wanted to explore the interdisciplinary nature of climate change solutions and environmental injustices, which she knew she’d be able to do at SEAS. Because of her passion for interdisciplinarity, Sung-Jereczek tackled three specializations during the past two years, including BEC, Ecosystem Science Management and Environmental Justice.

Sung-Jereczek’s interests led to her research and involvement in a theme-based capstone master’s project working with the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians (Sault Tribe) on Sugar Island, centered around strengthening relationships and collaborative research between the Sault Tribe and the University of Michigan on the Chase Osborn Preserve. 

Sung-Jereczek explains, “My research primarily focuses on strategies and collaborative processes that restore Indigenous fire stewardship and Tribal access to federal lands for native fire restitution and resilience. I am particularly interested in how we can bridge the gap between traditional ecological knowledges and western sciences to rebuild relationships and severed ties to the land while creating long-term resilient solutions to climate change and natural disasters.”

What’s next?

Following graduation this spring, Sung-Jereczek hopes to return to California or the Pacific Northwest to develop solutions to the wildfire crisis and collaborate with a variety of stakeholders, private landholders, and Tribes on how to effectively steward forests by bringing “good fire,” such as prescribed burns, to the landscape. Because of her time at SEAS, Sung-Jereczek says she feels prepared with the tools and skills needed to excel in a variety of careers in environmental sciences or environmental justice.

Reflecting on the experience of attending SEAS

For Sung-Jereczek, the most valuable thing that she has learned at SEAS is, “how we can effectively work across disciplines, perspectives, interests, and even cultures by acknowledging and taking action against past systems of harm and working towards solutions that are community-based and community-driven.” 

Steven Yaffee’s course, “Negotiations,” proved to be one of Sung-Jereczek’s most influential courses. She says she learned the artful skills of mediating and facilitating difficult conversations involving a variety of parties with differing and often conflicting interests. 

Sung-Jereczek shares that, “My experience at SEAS has been absolutely amazing! SEAS is truly filled with some of the sweetest, kindest, smartest, and most passionate people I know! I’m constantly inspired by all of my friends, colleagues, and faculty here.” She looks forward to using and applying all of the information and knowledge she has gathered during her time in the graduate program to her future endeavors.