Background of ECO's current board members
Welcome to SIPA's Environmental Coalition! We're very excited to get to know you better. Here's a little background on each of our board members and some insight on why we joined the organization. We look forward to getting to know you throughout this semester!
Nick Kraft, President, MPA 23'
Nick is a first year MPA student coming from a background in international development and nonprofit management. After graduating with a degree in international affairs, he spent four years in Nepal where he worked with a grassroots organization on last mile rural development initiatives in partnership with local governing bodies. In between his time in Nepal and arriving at grad school, Nick spent 6 months as an apprentice on an organic vegetable farm in Virginia where he furthered his interest in sustainable and local food systems. As a member of the SIPA student body, Nick hopes to explore overarching questions related to how our current political and economic system defines value and how relationships between government, private organization (for profit and nonprofit), and society are contributing to this.
Muhammad Haykal Ardhanikusumah, Vice President, MPA-DP 23'
Muhammad Haykal Ardhanikusumah is a first year student at Columbia SIPA’s MPA-DP program. Before joining SIPA he worked at a national NGO in his home country of Indonesia, focusing in climate change governance and policy. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking as well as exploring new foods and places. At ECO he aims to connect like-minded people interested in environmental policy issues and promote climate change governance.
Ojani-Pierre Ruphin Walthrust, Vice President, MPA 22'
Ojani-Pierre Ruphin Walthrust is an MPA student at Columbia SIPA concentrating in Urban Policy with a specialization in TMAC and ICR. He is a 2020 Pickering Fellow and will be entering the Foreign Service in Fall 2022. In ECO, he wants to promote equity in sustainability and climate change policy.
Alec Apostoaei, Treasurer, MIA 23'
Alec Apostoaei is a first-year MIA student concentrating in EE and specializing in DAQA! He's from Knoxville, Tennessee where he grew up hiking and enjoying the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. He has previously worked with the Howard Baker Center on Public Policy, Deloitte, and the Tennessee Valley Authority. He currently holds a position with CGEP where he is continuing his research on nuclear energy. Alec is very excited to join ECO and to work to help ECO have a larger impact on Columbia's campus and greater community!
Baihui Lei, Director of Sustainability, MPA 23'
I am a first-year MPA EE&DAQA student. Prior to SIPA, I worked as a sustainability consultant providing sustainability management consulting to companies in establishing governance structure, materiality analysis, ESG data collection and calculation, information disclosure and reporting, sustainability rating improvement as well as sustainability training. Before this, I also worked as a public relations specialist in a PR agency for two years, focusing on corporate communication, government affairs and media relations. I truly believe that sustainability defines our future!
Marc Boddewyn, Director of Membership & Outreach, EMPA 22'
Marc Boddewyn is a third year EMPA student pursuing a Masters of Public Administration (MPA) with a concentration in Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management. Marc is also a Co-Leader of the NYC Chapter of the Circular Economy Club. Professionally Marc specializes in cultural and open space project management, and is currently working at Bryant Park in midtown Manhattan.
Angela Peterson, Director of Membership & Outreach, MIA 23'
Angela Peterson is a MIA student at SIPA, focusing on Energy and Environment and Latin America. She received her B.A. from the University of Colorado Boulder where she fell in love with the mountains and grew a strong desire to protect our environment. Before attending Columbia, she worked for international NGOs located in both Chile and Uganda. In her free time she loves playing volleyball, skiing, reading historical nonfiction, and trying as many restaurants NYC has to offer! Through ECO, she wants to work on reducing food loss across campus.
Gina Masino, Director of Communications, MIA 23'
Gina Masino is pursuing her Master of International Affairs at Columbia SIPA, concentrating in Energy & Environment with a Specialization in Spanish. Prior to graduate school she spent five years working across the public and private sectors, including 6-months as a Field Organizer in Las Vegas during the 2016 presidential election. Most recently, Gina worked in Communications at a boutique consultancy in New York City with a focus on global public health. She graduated cum laude from Barnard College with a BA in English. Originally from San Francisco, this is Gina’s sixth year in New York City.
Rosa Snyder, Director of Events, MIA 23'
Rosa Snyder is a MIA student focusing on Human Rights and Humanitarian Policy with a specialization in ICR and Middle Eastern Studies. She is interested in advocacy for human rights and conflict resolution which includes environmental protection and climate justice globally but specifically in conflict regions. Through ECO, she wants to bring awareness and provide spaces for discussion about our climate.
Diego Castrillon, General Board Member, MPA 23’
I am a Peruvian MPA EE Student. After working in different organizations (government agencies and think tanks) in my home country, Peru, and the U.S., I want to focus on working immediately for a more sustainable world without forgetting the unequal consequences of climate change in vulnerable populations and developing countries. I will create this throughout my SIPA experience and, especially with Eco! I am also passionate about the outdoors (especially hiking), food, and working out!
Nate Levin, General Board Member, MPA 23'
Nate Levin is currently studying a Master of Public Administration, graduating in 2023 with a concentration in Energy and Environmental policy and specialization in management.
Most recently prior to SIPA, Nate served as head of the political department for the Texas Democratic Party, and was responsible for recruiting and supporting thousands of candidates up and down the ballot, while organizing and overseeing voter contact to millions of voters statewide. Nate also served as Training Director for the Biden Campaign in Texas, and created a campaign school to train the next generation of political staffers. Nate also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Sociology from Bates College, and is an experienced whitewater canoe guide, with extensive travel in Ontario, Quebec, Maine, Alaska, Texas, and Mexico.
Surabhi Mohan, General Board Member, MPA '23
I'm Surabhi Mohan, a first-year MPA (IFEP, DAQA) student. I have over five years of experience in the finance industry and love everything economics and finance. My hobbies include birding, going to national parks in the hopes of spotting wild animals, hiking and I recently tried scuba diving and loved it! I also enjoy art in all possible forms. With climate finance, ESG and sustainability being the prominent current and future themes in the policy space, given the need and urgency, ECO has a lot to offer to anyone interested in learning and understanding this, and I want to facilitate that as much as possible!
Rishabh Sonkar, General Board Member, MIA 23'
Rishabh Sonkar is a current Master of International Affairs student at Columbia SIPA, concentrating in Energy & Environment and double specialising in UN Studies & Data/Quantitative Analysis.
His previous work experience for startup leadership in sales, business strategy, consumer psychology and communications helped hone his skills that extrapolate to his interests in the politics of transboundary natural resources focused on hydropolitics, marine conservation, environmental justice and climate induced migration. Rishabh wishes to pivot to a career in climate advocacy and communication.
At ECO, Rishabh hopes to contribute to student and institutional engagement that can affect behavioral changes towards the environment and resource utilisation.
Gudfinnur Sveinsson, General Board Member, MPA 23'
MPA student at SIPA, focusing on Energy and Environment and International Conflict Resolution. Management consultant, focusing on executive team coaching, former product manager and team coach at QuizUp and a musician. Interested in long hikes, meditation and competing at basketball despite lack of real skills. Through ECO I want to promote the adaptation of progressive climate change policy.
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