University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) graduate Ericka Popovich’s (MS ’10) academic journey began at Purdue University, where she completed her Bachelor of Science in wildlife biology. She started her career in conservation education at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, where she worked with the in-park education team to educate park visitors about wildlife conservation and environmental sustainability. 

However, her passion for environmental education took a significant turn when she realized that the visitors she was interacting with were not consistently acting in alignment with the expectations she formed during her undergraduate studies. This realization led her on a quest to understand human behavior and its role in educating people about environmental sustainability. Consequently, her search for answers brought her to U-M’s Reasonable Persons Model, a conceptual framework that links environmental factors with human behavior, developed by SEAS Professor Emerita Rachel Kaplan. A graduate degree initially was not in Popovich’s plans, but after stumbling upon the groundbreaking research being done in the Behavior, Education and Communication specialization at SEAS, she knew she had to apply. 

“I came to SEAS because I wanted to learn how to create a supportive setting for people to engage. I learned during my time at Animal Kingdom that the most interesting folks were the ones who came in thinking, ‘you don’t want to talk to me. You’re an environmentalist, and I know you’re here to tell me and my kids that we are terrible people,’” Popovich said. 

“They had such an expectation of negativity and judgment, and when that was not what they were met with but instead something that was responsive and supportive and made them feel they belonged in that conversation, all of a sudden everything changed. And so that was really what I wanted to recreate—that everywhere I go and in all the spaces I work in, I want people to feel like they belong in the conversation and that together we can think about a new future.” 

Where is Popovich now?

Popovich has substantial professional experience supporting diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (JEDI) projects. Today, she serves as the senior director of operations at Blue Water Baltimore, where she supports the nonprofit’s community programs with the mission of ensuring that all Baltimore residents have access to clean water and greener neighborhoods. In her position at Blue Water Baltimore, Popovich manages community engagement, which includes education and eco-literacy programming, community outreach and communications, as well as leading the organization's JEDI values and commitment.

Prior to joining Blue Water Baltimore, Popovich worked as the director of engagement for the West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC), where she worked on projects that aimed to advance climate and water justice. Some accomplishments that highlight her contributions to WMEAC include the development of an organizational climate change communications strategy that incorporated tools and training for productive climate change communication in all aspects of organization. Popovich also led decolonization efforts by building partnerships with Indigenous experts and community leaders with the mission of addressing historically unjust practices of nonprofits and updating policies and procedures. Further, she co-created “Integrating Environmental Justice into WMEAC’s 2019-2021 Strategic Plan” white paper and ensured that decoloniality and settler harm reduction efforts were included. 

Recently, Popovich served as Maryland's first tree equity specialist for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. As a tree equity specialist she assisted local communities in under-resourced urban neighborhoods plant trees on private and public land. Through this effort, she helped combat urban heat islands, a phenomena where urban development has replaced natural areas with dense concentrations of pavement and other surfaces that absorb and retain heat. Urban heat islands disproportionately impact BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities, subjecting them to extreme heat and climate vulnerabilities. Her efforts in combating urban heat islands demonstrate her commitment to uprooting insidious environmental injustices and promoting equitable access to green spaces. 

SEAS experience

Popovich’s time at SEAS was a transformative experience that shaped her approach to environmental education and community engagement. SEAS provided Popovich with a unique learning environment that honed her ability to work across disciplines, a skill that has been pivotal in her career. 

“The SEAS approach of being connected and working in an interdisciplinary way is absolutely spot on with the experience that you will need working with communities,” Popovich said. Her time at SEAS exposed her to the intricacies of collaborating with partners from various backgrounds, be it funders, neighborhood organizers, block organizers, or government officials. She quickly realized that different individuals brought diverse perspectives, work methods, and expertise to the table. 

Within SEAS, the experience of working collaboratively was not limited to just her master’s project. Popovich fondly recalled how, within many of her classes, students would form groups to tackle different tasks or study groups. This structure provided a platform for students with diverse backgrounds and experiences to learn from one another. Popovich emphasized that “everyone has these unique experiences, these different backgrounds from all sorts of places and all sorts of work and academic experiences. You really get to experience what it means to work alongside someone and learn from them.”

This learning experience often challenged her comfort zone, but Popovich found these moments of discomfort were profound learning opportunities. SEAS instilled in her the value of diversity and the strength that comes from having a range of perspectives at the table. She underscored this sentiment, stating, “there are so many strengths to having diverse folks at the table with you.” This lesson is something that she has carried forward into her work experiences and community endeavors. In her current role at Blue Water Baltimore, Popovich continues to implement the principles she learned at SEAS by emphasizing the importance of asking, “who’s not at this table, and who should be at this table?” and actively seeking to include diverse voices in decision-making processes. 

The interdisciplinary focus and the ability to collaborate with individuals from diverse backgrounds that Popovich honed at SEAS have been critical in her success in the workplace. Her story serves as a testament to the value of interdisciplinary education and the power of embracing diversity in the pursuit of equitable and sustainable change. 

Advice for students 

Studying social equity issues and working in environmental justice communities often means confronting difficult and painful truths. Popovich emphasizes the importance of sitting with discomfort and the invaluable lessons it can offer. “You’re going to hear things that are uncomfortable, hear people’s shared experiences, their trauma, and the violence experienced in some of the communities you might be working with," she said, "and sitting with your discomfort rather than projecting that discomfort out is a constant thing and that’s okay, center on that.” 

Popovich’s work in environmental justice communities has not only taught her the importance of navigating uncomfortable situations but also the value of staying connected to a supportive community. The bonds forged during her time at U-M have proven to be long lasting and invaluable. Popovich has not only carried great knowledge and skills acquired at SEAS into her professional journey, but also has maintained a strong connection to the SEAS community. “At SEAS, there’s a great community you will have even after you graduate.” 

She passionately encourages current students and recent graduates to stay connected to the university and tap into its network of support. Popovich’s journey proves that when you graduate from SEAS you don’t simply leave; you become part of a lifelong network of support and resources. So whether you’re a current student or recent graduate, Popovich’s message is clear: stay connected, reach out, and never underestimate the strength of the SEAS community to guide and support you on your journey.