Student Spotlight: Meet Emma Brodzik

Posted July 16, 2021

By Madeline Shepard

In Fall 2019, a new master’s program launched in the School of Public Policy. We talked to Emma Brodzik, Campus Recycling Coordinator and graduate student in the Master of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Management (MSEEM) program, about her experience starting the interdisciplinary degree.  

So you are in the new MSEEM program. What made you choose this program and  what factors drew you in? 

The MSEEM program drew me in because of my undergraduate degree in economics. I was also interested in pursuing a master’s with a sustainability-focused curriculum. My career and passions are based in environmentalism, but not my previous academic pursuits.  

You also work at Georgia Tech. What is your role and does your degree assist you in your job at all?  

​I am the campus recycling coordinator for the Office of Solid Waste Management & Recycling, which is a part of Sustainability, Facilities and Safety. So far, the MSEEM program has allowed me to dive deeper into research about recycling programs and legislation in Georgia and the U.S., as well as allowed me to learn new data analytics and visualization skills.  

You are pursuing your degree part time as you work. What advice would you give to other working graduate students?  

​My main advice would be to manage your time. I am a huge list maker and planning out my work and school tasks and getting to check things off keeps me motivated. Being a part-time student can be isolating with the number of duties to fulfill, but taking the time to get to know other students and working together is very beneficial.  

What has been your biggest take away or your favorite part of Georgia Tech and of the MSEEM program?  

​I am lucky to have the unique perspective of also working at Tech, and what I enjoy most is seeing the work around sustainability being done in and outside of the classroom. My favorite part of the MSEEM program has been the variety of course offerings. I have taken policy, city planning, economics, and data classes all taught by expert professors.  

Do you feel that Covid-19 impacted your student experience? In what ways?  

​The largest impact of Covid-19 has been not being able to connect as easily with other students. I am lucky that through class projects and safe meet-ups, I have gotten to know many great people! I am excited to experience a more traditional course offering this fall.