Beau Staun-List

Life at L&C

What’s your favorite class? How has it expanded your knowledge?

Associate Professor Andy Bernstein’s Global Environmental History class gave me such an amazing and comprehensive understanding of humans and our connections with nature through time. I frequently think back to the sources we read and the concepts they’ve diffused, and see the way they’ve shaped our societies today.

What do you like or find most interesting about your major?

The environmental studies major is wonderful in the way that I’ve been able to get a theoretical basis in so many different fields. The breadth courses have allowed me to be curious about other realms of knowledge, while also building a more holistic view! I love the interdisciplinary nature of the ENVS major, and really feel like I’m better equipped to understand other fields and relate them to the work I’ve done. I really love that we get to choose our own areas of interest, and I’m super excited to enhance my knowledge of alternative agriculture!

How would you describe sustainability at L&C?

I think L&C sustainability is a mix of institutional measures and individual projects put on by passionate faculty and students. Our LEED buildings and dining-hall compost are some of the ways that the school (as an entity) has implemented sustainable practices.

What’s your involvement with any sustainability initiatives on campus? What’s the best part of your experience?

As a student coordinator for the SEED Club xGeneration Conscious project, I collaborated with other students to install and set up a detergent refill station on campus. This initiative aimed to accessibly provide plastic-free cleaning products to students, change attitudes toward waste, and make participation in closed-loop systems easy and socially acceptable.

I’ve taken part in some of the planting and harvesting that Garden Club does in our community garden and apiary, and have been so grateful to learn a bit more about composting and beekeeping.

This past summer, I took the Bates Center Summer Sustainability Internship class and got the opportunity to work a remote internship! I interned for Wonderfil, a low-waste product dispenser company started by an L&C alum. After a week of workshops and seminars on career preparedness in the sustainability field, I felt better equipped to help with the communications side of Wonderfil’s mission. The best part of this experience has been getting to take part in tangible projects, where sustainable ideals are actually being applied in practice!

What should incoming students know about sustainability at L&C?

Our campus has so many opportunities to engage with sustainability with your hands and with your minds, you just have to seek them out!

How does sustainability prepare students for life after L&C?

Learning how to balance your needs with available resources is a necessary skill for living an independent life!

What made you want to come to Lewis & Clark?

After touring and hearing from the experience of a family friend, I was enamored by the beauty of the campus and the opportunities for travel L&C could offer. I also loved the idea of being close to Portland’s activity, yet also have the peace of the forest nearby. I also absolutely adore rainy weather :)

How did your financial aid package influence your decision to attend Lewis & Clark?

L&C was one of the most generous in terms of financial aid, and I couldn’t pass up the chance to study abroad with the support of the school behind me. With L&C’s help, I’ve been able to prioritize my studies while also balancing a light part-time job. 

Sustainability Internship Profile

Summer 2023

What is your internship this summer, and what are your basic duties?

I am interning with Wonderfil PBC (along with 2 other L&C students) as a Web Presence Intern. In this position, I collaborate with the co-founder and interns to create digital content for the company website and social media.

What’s the best part of your internship?

The flexibility of it being remote means that I can fit the internship work into my day, rather than molding my day to the work. I absolutely appreciate that we work directly with the co-founder of the company; it really personifies their mission and also creates an open environment for feedback.

How has the Sustainability Internship course supported you in the process of finding and securing your internship?

Upon signing up for and getting accepted into this course, I was able to pick from a list of internships that Amy compiled for us. My preference was taken into account when my applications were sent out, and I ended up landing my first pick.

How do you see this internship leading to a career in your chosen field and aiding in your overall career development?

I am interested in sustainable food systems, and though this internship is more related to decreasing plastic consumption, it is giving me experience in marketing to consumers’ consciousnesses.

How does this internship support your interest in sustainability?

Part of actualizing a more sustainable food system is also addressing the way that we package, store and market products. The novelty of Wonderfil’s refill design could be applied to lots of other bulk liquid consumer goods (even food-related ones). All of these modifications need to be enacted in concert for there to be real change.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about your experience?

I really appreciate that I was able to receive an academic grant to support the unpaid work I am doing for the company. This not only benefits me but it also means that small sustainable businesses can get the help they need within their means.