Ryan Emery

Profile: Following graduation from Oregon State University with a B.S. in Environmental Economics, Policy, and Management, I entered the PSM Program's Environmental Science Track. From my undergraduate experience I had built a solid foundation of skills in economics and policy, but desired the fundamentals of science and compliments of professional skills to become a well-rounded environmental expert. The professional skill development has also proven to be extremely effective and useful, and is an essential component of any professional’s repertoire. To fulfill the program's internship requirement, I accepted an internship with the Ecological Careers Organization as an Environmental Planner at the Bureau of Land Management's Yuma Field Office. This assignment was specifically contracted to complete a comprehensive Resource Management Plan (RMP/EIS) for 1.3 million acres of public lands and resources. Following the internship, I took temporary placement as a federal employee at the BLM office, gaining greater responsibility on the RMP project and experience with federal land management. After the employment with the BLM, I returned to Oregon to begin an entrepreneurial business development in the biofuels industry and raised capital for Bioco Biofuels LLC. I also joined Spectron Energy's environmental desk as an Environmental Markets Broker and Analysts; dealing with global GHG reduction programs, state's Renewable Portfolio Standards for renewable energy mandates, and emissions cap and trade financial markets. I found the PSM program to fit my both my academic and personal ambitions, and thrived in the collegial environment fostered by the program. The program offered two great distinct strengths that benefited me in my professional life. First, the learning community within the PSM program brings together a technically diverse student body from all PSM tracks, where students individually contribute their strengths in a collective team environment. Second, the flexibility in the program's curriculum enables students to pursue their individual professional and intellectual interests while requiring extremely valuable skill development courses otherwise overlooked in other programs.