Julie Heck is graduating from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in May 2026 with a Master of Education (Ed.M.). During her time at Harvard, Julie became involved in campus sustainability initiatives and programs, including the Office for Sustainability’s Council of Student Sustainability Leaders (CSSL). Learn more about Julie’s experience at Harvard.
How are you involved with the Harvard Office for Sustainability?
I have been a CSSL member for two full academic years, from Fall 2024 through Spring 2026.
What is your best memory working in sustainability at Harvard?
The student mixers were my most memorable experience. They highlighted the importance of bringing people together — showing how sustainability depends on relationships, shared dialogue, and the conversations that turn ideas into action.
What other sustainability experiences did you have at Harvard and beyond?
I engaged with sustainability through coursework, student-led initiatives, and interdisciplinary projects, including work at the intersection of AI and environmental impact. I served as a Student Ambassador for the Salata Institute Student Ambassadors Program and co-organized the Green AI Summit 2025 at Harvard and Boston University. I also explored events and collaborations across Harvard, MIT, and the broader Cambridge–Boston community to better understand how these challenges can be addressed across technical, policy, and design domains.
What were the most inspiring sustainability topics you learned about?
Exploring how AI can be leveraged for environmental conservation — particularly in designing scalable, real-world solutions across education, business, and policy — has been the topic that inspired me most.