Donald Leadbetter

Why did you choose the Trachtenberg School?

I work for the National Park Service, which has a longstanding relationship with the Trachtenberg School. The Roger Kennedy Fellows Program, inspired by a gift from a former director of the Park Service, supports employees pursuing graduate studies in environmental policy at GWU. It's a unique opportunity that I couldn't pass up pursuing.

Looking back, what are the most valuable skills, tools, or aha-moments you gained at Trachtenberg that you still rely on today?

Students in environmental policy can take two wonderful environmental sciences courses, which have helped me be more fluent, prepared, and successful when working with ecologists and academic partners. Also, courses in policy analysis helped me better understand how people evaluate information and make decisions, which has influenced how I present ideas and influence decision makers.

What advice would you share with someone looking to pursue a career similar to yours?

Be deliberate in shaping your career path and navigate to where you feel you are most having an impact. Environmental policy and sustainability are challenging issues in the 21st century, surprisingly divisive in the United States, because they speak to fundamental questions about how we live and how we treat the planet. It can be challenging to find your niche in such a broad field but professionally satisfying once you do.