jenn.lenhart's blog

Greetings MESPOMers,

My name is Jennifer Lenhart, MESPOM alumna from the first batch (2005-07).

To the current students: I hope you are enjoying MESPOM and its various locations, connections, friendships and adventures!!!  :-)  As you prepare to decide your thesis subject, please know it is ok to have many topics, thoughts, uncertainties and loose-ends untied.  Actually, for those I have spoken to, it seems you have many good ideas and concrete topics. But I know it is never easy to make the final decision on what you will do, where you will do it, and what you can 'contribute' to the greater field of scientific knowledge + research.  Anyway, I thought to share a few suggestions (based on my own process of confusion and reflection):

I received my bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle where I studied International Studies and Development. Beyond academics, I have spent time in many fields. Among these, I was employed at the International Programs Office at UW and spent a year volunteering with children’s education in Les Cayes, Haiti and several months in Antigua, Guatemala. Additionally, I have worked with sustainability education for an NGO, (Sustainable Seattle) and with emerging environmental policies in Seattle, working with International Sustainable Solutions.