When Andy Zhang came to UConn as a freshman, he didn’t plan on becoming a sustainability intern, founding a club, or getting involved with student government. Four years later, he’s spent three years at UConn’s Office of Sustainability; founded the UConn chapter of Plant Futures; and, by the way, spent a year as president of the Undergraduate Student Government. All of these things happened, Zhang says, because he embraced the possibilities on offer at UConn. As he heads off for a post-graduation job in Washington, D.C., Zhang – who will also earn a BS in Economics in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences this May – says future Huskies should be willing to take on the new and unfamiliar.
Why did you choose UConn?
During the pandemic, I admittedly did not spend much time reflecting on the person I wanted to become or the impact I wanted to make on the world, but I knew I wanted to chase something that I was genuinely passionate about. I chose UConn because it offered both the academic breadth to explore different fields and disciplines as well as the community that would allow me to chase that soon-to-be defined goal. It also didn’t hurt that my high school girlfriend (another CAHNR student) had committed to UConn as well!
What’s your major or field of study, and what drew you to it?
I chose environmental sciences as my major because of the interdisciplinary lens that it offers for understanding society’s most pressing issues. We live in an increasingly complex and globalized world that requires individuals who are able to approach problems not solely through economic or public health lenses, but also through environmental, sociological, and anthropological ones. Studying environmental sciences has given me the breadth to engage with a wide range of disciplines, and my extracurricular experiences have allowed me to translate those concepts into lived practice.
Did you have a favorite UConn professor or class?
Dr. Meg Boyle, hands down. She actually arrived a year after I did, but in such a short time she has already vastly changed the trajectories of so many students for the better! She shows such care for each and every student, despite how large her class sizes are, and truly exemplifies everything that you would want in both a professor and mentor. If you’re a UConn student, take any opportunity you can to cross paths with Dr. Boyle!
What activities were you involved in as a student?
My philosophy with activities was simply to say yes to every opportunity that aligned with my goal of becoming the best environmental advocate that I could. To this end, I’ve spent the last three years as a sustainability intern at UConn’s Office of Sustainability; a CAHNR student ambassador; and a member of our Undergraduate Student Government, the final year of which I served as president. I’ve founded and served as president for the past two years of the UConn chapter of Plant Futures. I have also been able to take advantage of many of UConn’s wonderful experiential learning programs, including traveling to Brazil as a COP30 fellow and competing against Fort Hayes State University in the annual Werth Innovation for Sustainability challenge.
What’s one thing that surprised you about UConn?
I’m not usually a sentimental person, but every time I walk into the Young Building, I feel such a strong sense of being at home. I remember the many freshmen advising meetings in Sara Tremblay’s office, laughing and working as a Difference Maker Mentor in Dr. Cisneros’ office during my sophomore fall and spring semesters, and attending countless staff meetings in Room 209. Each of those spaces now holds memories that mean far more to me than I ever expected when I first walked through their doors.
What are your plans after graduation/receiving your degree?
After graduation, I’m excited to join the Environmental Law Institute in Washington, D.C., as a research associate. I’m really looking forward to working with such a thoughtful team and contributing to an institution that plays an important role in shaping environmental policy and law. I plan to spend the next two years learning as much as I can through that experience before ultimately pursuing law school, where I hope to continue building the tools needed to strengthen and improve the public institutions that serve our communities.
How has UConn prepared you for the next chapter in life?
It would be easier to describe how it hasn’t. I’m leaving UConn a wholly new person compared to when I came in. All the necessary skills for building toward a successful life, whether that be communication, time management, or collaboration, have been things that I’ve been able to practice and get better at. My UConn experience has allowed me to do anything and everything under the sun, and for that, I will always be forever grateful.
Any advice for incoming students?
Pursue your passion! My story on paper is very different than my story in reality. I didn’t come into college with the idea of working as a sustainability intern, or founding a club, or becoming student body president. I didn’t even come into college with the idea of joining student government, but all of these things happened because I said yes to the things that I truly cared about and enjoyed doing. Life is too short to spend doing things you don’t love.
What’s one thing everyone should do during their time at UConn?
Attend a class tree planting! Many students don’t know this, but UConn has a long and storied history of planting class trees dating back to the 19th century, and as a sustainability intern, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside our wonderful tree warden, Eileen McHugh, to select and ultimately plant one for the classes of 2027, 2028, and now 2029 during our annual Earth Day Spring Fling event. It’s a lot of fun and a cool way to quite literally watch your class grow.
What will always make you think of UConn?
The people! UConn, and specifically CAHNR, would not mean what it does for me without the people that make it up. CAHNR will always be my home, and it is because of the people there that it is that way.
