Written by Rachel Kraft Mattson
Wyatt Ellinger’s journey began at a university in Arizona, where a major titled "Business Sustainability" first caught his eye. While he knew he wanted a business degree, the traditional paths felt incomplete.
"The idea of combining business with creating a positive impact in the world really resonated with me," Wyatt says.
After three semesters in Tempe, a series of visits to friends at the University of Minnesota sparked a new vision. He discovered that the Sustainable Systems Management (SSM) program offered the perfect blend of his two primary interests: the fast-paced world of commerce and the grounded reality of science.
"The program felt like a better overall fit," Wyatt says of his decision to transfer. "It still focused on the business side, but with a stronger emphasis on science."
This past summer, Wyatt traded the classroom for the construction site, working in the offices of JE Dunn Construction. As a Sustainability Intern from May to August 2025, Wyatt worked directly under the Head of Sustainability to analyze how the company integrates green initiatives into its project proposals.
The work was rigorous, but he dove right in. Wyatt spent his months cleaning and organizing expansive datasets to identify trends across different regions and markets. His efforts came together in a high-stakes presentation to senior leaders in Kansas City, where he shared strategic insights that will help shape the company’s future marketing and design strategies.
"I evaluated data across regions and markets to understand where sustainability initiatives were being included and where opportunities existed for improvement," Wyatt explains.
Though Wyatt is set to graduate in Fall 2026, his roadmap is already well-defined. He will return to JE Dunn as an intern to support the “Advanced Facility Group” projects out of the Minneapolis office. After his internship wraps up in August, he hopes to join them fulltime after he graduates.
But Wyatt’s ultimate goal is even more ambitious. Long-term, he envisions launching his own consulting firm.
"My goal would be to help businesses of all sizes achieve their sustainability goals while also improving the experience they create for both employees and customers," Wyatt says. "I want to support organizations in making changes that are not only environmentally responsible but also beneficial to their people."
When he isn't analyzing project wins or attending site tours with SSM Professor Omar Espinoza, Wyatt stays true to his Plymouth, Minn. roots. Growing up surrounded by Minnesota’s lakes and trails shaped his environmental appreciation early on, and he continues to spend his free time exploring the outdoors.
While he focuses on his final year of study, Wyatt encourages his peers to stay curious and get involved in everything the university offers. Whether it was his brief stint in the Finance Club or his favorite 'hands-on' biology labs, Wyatt believes the BBE and SSM community is defined by this kind of versatility. It’s a community that also invests in its students' success; this past fall, Wyatt was awarded the Department’s CR-Building Performance Specialist Scholarship.
"That support played a big role in the path I chose," Wyatt says, "and ultimately led me to where I am now."