Ben Schiltz - He/Him
Pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Systems Management
Anticipated graduation date: Fall 2025
Where are you from? Describe what your hometown and/or family is like?
I grew up in the south metro of Minneapolis. The neighborhood I was raised in was a close-knit place as a child, a place where everybody knows their neighbors which made for a fun childhood. Minneapolis is a place that most of you have come to know, and it continues to welcome everybody and anybody to call this place home. It has always been a place that I’ve wanted to return to no matter how far I may travel because of its beautiful scenery and people that make it the welcoming and interesting place that it is. My family is similar to Minneapolis in that way, always trying to extend a hand to others and try new things. We like to keep close and enjoy each other's company when we get the time.
Why did you choose this major?
I chose this major after deciding to transfer from UW-Eau Claire. It was the perfect fit for me not knowing how I wanted to be involved in sustainability but wanting to give myself the opportunity to pursue a career in it. At UW Eau-Claire they have a sustainability studies major but I knew that getting a major in sustainability studies would not offer the kind of employable skills that might be offered here and I figured even if it didn’t, I would have more options to choose from if it wasn’t what I was looking for.
What has been a favorite course, project, or experience in the SSM program so far?
The program has such a unique curriculum and a multitude of opportunities offered, making it hard to pick one but I really found the ESPM 3241 Environmental Policy course to be very memorable. The final project was passing a policy that had a sustainability initiative and the process was very engaging and useful in understanding how change can be made. I think the group I was in took a lot out of the experience, whether that was the group memos that we had to write each week helping to keep us on track with the project, or the usefulness of previous connections which gave us the opportunity to gather our own data through a test event, or even pitching/defending the policy initiative to the CFANS Undergraduate Student Government. We worked on the project all year and devoting so much time to see it get passed was very rewarding.
What student groups or extracurricular activities are you involved in and why?
I’m currently a part of the BBE/SSM Student Ambassadors group which plans all the student events for the department and find it to be a great way to get to know new people as well as direct some creative energy to planning fun events. It’s such a flexible group which was appealing to me and my schedule. I’m also learning Portuguese and trying to teach myself the guitar.
What are your career goals after graduation?
I’m currently working for the Office of Sustainability and plan to work there in the Fall so I could see what jobs are available post graduation through the office. I also got an internship for the summer through Young Environmental Consulting Group which puts me on track to land a job in sustainability consulting. This was my goal going into the major and still offers the most flexibility in tasting different aspects of sustainability. I want to get involved in urban development which may require more schooling. If this is the case then I’d reassess to better understand the programs available to me and where they could lead.
Is there anything else you'd like to share with the BBE/SSM community?
It’s been an absolute pleasure getting to know a lot of you and I can’t wait to see what everybody ends up doing after school. I hope you enjoy having this community as much as I did and wish you good luck with the rest of your semesters!