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Environmental Studies, B.A. | Class of
Claire Roth
Safe Streets Coordinator
Employer: Better Eugene-Springfield Transportation (BEST)
Job description: As Safe Streets Coordinator for BEST, I coordinate education and advocacy efforts around safe transportation in Eugene, Springfield, Lane County, and beyond in Oregon. Mainly focusing on the safety of people walking and biking and using other micromobility devices, I work closely with community partners such as the city transportation planning team, local equity organizations, schools, and more to advance the transportation options for all of our community members, make sure they get where they need to go safely and comfortably.
About Claire
Why did you choose this program?
I chose Environmental Studies because of its interdisciplinary nature. I strongly believe that many of the problems our world is facing are due to the siloed nature of things; people tend to work in their own professions and disciplines, and rarely stray into others. Partnerships across disciplines encourage colorful, well-rounded solutions, the very nature of what it means to be interdisciplinary.
How did this program prepare you for your job?
Environmental Studies gave me the professional tools to bring voices and perspectives to the table that were previously overlooked in the conversation. The transportation safety world is still newly becoming interdisciplinary, stepping into topics such as equity that were not previously discussed in transportation, yet absolutely necessary for a safe and successful transportation system. My degree in Environmental Studies prepared me for making partnerships across discipline lines in order to work together toward lasting solutions.
What did you enjoy most about the program?
I enjoyed the camaraderie of Environmental Studies. On days when it was difficult to hear about the state of the Earth, when my mental health was suffering, or when everything seemed too heavy, knowing that my classmates were moving toward the same direction of being agents of change in the world, to create something lasting and better, made academic growth tangible and a better world seem possible.
What would you say to prospective students who are thinking about applying to this program?
If you want a degree that will allow you to think outside of the box, take the box apart, and make it into a new, better shape, Environmental Studies is for you. You can take the thing you are interested in and mold it into a craft capable of taking you where you want to go in life, professionally and personally.
I want to say a huge, heartfelt thank you to Sarah Jaquette Ray for all of her patience with me while I was a student, and especially during senior year.