Bernard Nyanzu ’24 MF, an international student from Ghana, will be focusing his studies on ecosystem restoration.
The Yale School of the Environment welcomed the 2022-2023 incoming class of 147 students with a three-week MODs program — an annual orientation which includes workshops and activities at Yale-Myers Forest and in New Haven —and additional events including a campus community day at Kroon Courtyard and an open house at Marsh Hall at The Forest School.
This year’s class is comprised of students from 28 countries and 27 states and U.S. territories. More than half of the class —85 out of the 147 —will be part of the Master of Environmental Management program and 35 will be pursing degrees in the research-oriented Master of Environmental Science program. Fourteen students are enrolled in the Master of Forestry program, and four incoming students are pursuing Master of Forest Science degrees.
About one-fourth of the incoming class are U.S. students of color and more than one-third are international students from countries across the globe. The students have an average of four years of professional experience and range in age from 22-62.
“Our incoming class of students comes from all over the world and brings a wide array of lived experiences and perspectives in addressing our escalating environmental challenges,” says Dean Indy Burke. “Their enthusiasm and commitment are greatly needed. We are excited to welcome them into our community and look forward to teaching and learning from them.”
Incoming student Catharina Damrell, of Maine, is pursing an MEM and MPH degree.
MODs, held this year between August 8-25, introduces all incoming master’s and doctoral degree candidates to the collection and analysis of field data and problem-solving techniques. During the sessions, incoming students worked in Yale-Myers Forest in Eastford, Connecticut. In New Haven, during the urban portion of the program, students met with community leaders and helped plant trees in the city.
Catharina Damrell, who is pursuing an MEM as well as an MPH degree in climate change and health, says she is looking forward to diving into her studies on people, equity, and the environment.
“My hopes for this year are to build my skills, broaden my horizons, and get to know a lot of different perspectives,” says Damrell, who was visiting student clubs and activity tables last Monday at Kroon Courtyard.
Bernard Nyanzu ’24 MF, an international student from Ghana, will be focusing on ecosystem restoration at YSE. Small-scale mining activities in Ghana have led to a degradation of land there, says Nyanzu, who interned at the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency where he inspected and monitored mining sites.
“My hope is to help convert degraded land in Ghana into productive forest land capable of providing ecosystem services and functions,” he says.
YSE Welcomes Incoming Class
Published
September 2, 2022