Andrea D
- Research Program Mentor

MBA candidate at Duke University

Expertise

Environmental Policy and Economics, History and Policy, Business

Bio

As a preface -- I like to think of myself as an interdisciplinary nerd! My passion for understanding both breadth and depth of topics intensified when I earned a B.A. in History with a focus in Middle Eastern Studies and a Minor in Maritime Science and Policy from Williams College. I am currently fascinated by how we can communicate the value of environmental resources in economic terms to be used in how companies and policymakers can push for an equitable societal transition in the face of climate change. You can find me still talking about crew and teaching for ages, but also outdoors (no matter the weather!) and often cooking southeast Asian foods.

Project ideas

Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.

Modern Environmentalism at Work: How Can a Business Sustainably Grow?

This project will explore recent changes in conversations around not only business sustainability in the context of operations but address additional risk factors often recognized in popular self-disclosed reporting metrics and their implications for policymaking. We can also consider this in the context of ethical frameworks, understanding that reshaping business reshapes economies and often social orders. Prerequisites: Desire to learn how government and business can collaborate

Evaluation of President Joe Biden's Climate Plan Rollout

Have you heard about President Biden's climate initiatives in his first several months in office? He's made it no secret he's moving the U.S. towards what appears to be a top-down approach to achieve the initial Paris 2016 goals. But, how much of this needle has already been and will be moved by policymaking or joint engagement with the private sector? You could be the one to determine that! Prerequisites: Some familiarity with U.S. attitudes towards climate policy would be helpful, but not necessary!

Foreign Policy in the Near East

If you've ever wanted to learn more about a particular country in the Near East, and the intense attention foreign powers have paid and continue to pay here, this could be a good project for you! I continue to be fascinated by how domestic and outside forces shape countries such as Israel, Iran and Egypt, in particular. I would be excited to pull back the veil on foreign involvement in any of the Near Eastern countries with you. Prerequisites: Curiosity Reading primary and secondary source material for at least 2 hours in between sessions

Coding skills

Languages I know

French

Teaching experience

1) In college where I rowed on a top Division 3 team, I was the main senior who led teaching our freshmen walk-ons how to row. 2) After college, I was fortunate enough to work as a History teacher, assistant crew coach, dorm parent, and student advisor at the Berkshire School, a private boarding school (9 - 12) where I taught World Religions to freshmen and Modern World History to sophomores for three years. I created several units there. 3) At Duke, I worked as a T.A. for Environmental Policy and Science 102 for undergraduates where I led five discussion-based classes without the professor present in 2020. I was proud to receive feedback from one student that these classes were among the "best organized" they had experienced at Duke, among other positive reviews! 4) In the summer of 2020 I created an online teaching resource website for TAs at Duke's Environmental School and held office hours where I advised professors on how to restructure their curriculum for an online class.

Credentials

Work experience

Berkshire School (2015 - 2018)

History Teacher, Assistant Crew Coach, Dorm Parent, and Student Advisor

Duke University (2020 - 2020)

Teaching Assistant to Environmental Sciences and Policy 102

Education

Williams College

BA Bachelor of Arts (2015)

History with a focus in Middle Eastern Studies

Duke University

MEM Master of Environmental Management candidate

Environmental Policy and Economics; Energy