While at Haverford, Eva White ’23 majored in physics while pursuing two minors, environmental studies and global Asian studies. White just finished a summer internship at the Pacific Northwest National Lab, where she worked on projects related to net-zero federal buildings and emission factor applications in regulations and policy.
With a commitment to sustainability and equitable resource access, White’s aspirations are wide-ranging. She envisions herself as a problem solver, focused on addressing climate change. “It’s very important to me to center people and communities in these solutions and to practice environmental justice in my career,” says White.
After her internship, her next career move will take her to Anchorage to work for Launch Alaska. She’s accepted a position in the Alaska Fellows Program, an organization dedicated to attracting and retaining young professionals to The Last Frontier, and will assist with their Tech Deployment Track.
Looking back on her experience at Haverford, she says that “Black and Asian Foodways” with Visiting Assistant Professor Talia Young stands out in her coursework. The class expanded her understanding of the cultural, historical, and anthropological significance of foodways and their intersectionality with other fields of interest. “We read widely, shared vulnerably, listened to each other well, and even enjoyed meals together. It was a class that transcended the classroom,” White adds.
White spent time abroad in Iceland, where she took an independent research course and created a project about art as a form of scientific communication. She also developed an art exhibit with paintings, zines, and photographs, which was on view in VCAM in fall 2022.
White says her thesis advisor, Suzanne Amador Kane, and her mentor at the Pacific Northwest National Lab, Erik Mets, have offered invaluable guidance as she embarks on her post-grad career. “They have been instrumental in shaping my academic and professional development, enabling me to explore various aspects of sustainability and connect with professionals in the field,” she says.
Her experience participating in the Carbon Neutrality Task Force and working in the Haverford Customs program revealed her strengths and passions. From them, White recognized the power of her multidisciplinary interests, her creativity, and her desire to work on issues related to people and the environment.
As White envisions her future, she prioritizes happiness, work-life balance, and continuous learning. She aims to explore different areas of the sustainability field and hopes to continue traveling and gaining insights into environmental interactions and solutions worldwide.
“I met so many dynamic people at Haverford, and I hope all of us can experience wonder, belonging, and greater self-awareness wherever we go next. I hope we never stop learning!”
“Where They’re Headed” is a blog series chronicling the post-collegiate plans of recent Haverford graduates.