Sarah Walwema graduated from Weinberg in 2018, majoring in environmental sciences. Walwema is currently an urban planner at GRAEF, a private industry engineering and consulting firm. She also serves on Delta Institute’s Associate Board, who works with communities to solve environmental challenges throughout the Midwest.
Walwema recently answered a few questions about her Northwestern experience and career path.
Why did you decide to come to Northwestern?
I had applied to a lot of different schools my senior year of high school and didn’t end up committing until the last minute. Like all my other options, Northwestern is a school with resources for low income students like I was. Ultimately, it came down to location! At the time, my family was located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, so Northwestern was just an Amtrak train ride away. I was also really excited about being so close to such a big city (though full disclosure, I didn’t really start exploring Chicago until after I graduated)
What inspired you to pursue your area of study?
I wasn’t sure what sector I wanted to work in, but I knew that climate change would be a driving force in my life. The only thing I knew for sure is that I wanted to work to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Tell us about your career path. How did you get to where you are today?
After graduation, I was a fellow with the Northwestern University Public Interest Program at the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP). During undergrad, I mostly took biology classes, spent my summers conducting field work, and during the school year I worked at the Chicago Botanic Gardens. My work in plant biology gave me my initial exposure to data management in R and GIS and climate science. These hard skills were central in me securing my fellowship at CMAP. I loved the work I was doing in plant biology but felt like I found my place in urban planning. I got to stay in Chicago and do work at the intersection of climate change mitigation and equity. After my fellowship, I worked in environmental consulting for 2 years and worked for a month with Mayor Lightfoot’s transition team before starting my current position as an urban planner.
How would you describe your research and/or work to a non-academic audience? What was it then and/or what is it now?
Early on in the US, urban planning was used as a tool to further segregated communities. For example, thriving Black and brown communities were often bulldozed to make way for highways and parking lots. Now, we know that urban planning is about using the built environment to create places that are vibrant, community-based, accessible, equitable, and ecologically-conscious.
What are you working on right now that excites you the most?
The great thing about my job is that I’m doing a lot of different things . Community engagement is a huge part of my job and so is resiliency and sustainability. But I also get to make graphics and layouts, write, and even use my background in Environmental Science and Plant Ecology regularly.
Any accomplishments would you like to share?
1. I started my new job as a Planner at GRAEF!
2. My senior thesis that I wrote with Northwestern professor Dr. Amy Iler was published in the International Journal of Biometeorology.
3. I started my tenure on the Delta Institute’s Associate Board.
What advice would you give your younger self or someone considering a similar path?
Urban planning is a fairly inclusive field, and I’ve met a lot of planners from many backgrounds. As long as you’re excited about mission-based work, you’ll find yourself talking to the right people.
What’s a fun fact that you want to share with the Northwestern community?
Even though I’ve lived in the Chicagoland area since 2018 ,this is the longest I’ve ever lived in one place and I consider it to be my home. 🙂
How do you enjoy spending your free time?
In my free time, I like to give back to NU by speaking on panels with the Weinberg College or conducting mock interviews with CFS. I love riding my bike around the city, practicing my plant ID skills when I can, practicing yoga, and walking along Montrose Beach.