Sofia Chufani de la Cuadra is graduating from the Harvard Extension School in May 2026 with a Master of Liberal Arts in Management, along with a Graduate Certificate in Corporate Sustainability and Innovation, and a Micro-Certificate in Circular Economics. During her time at Harvard, Sofia became involved in campus sustainability initiatives and programs, including the Office for Sustainability’s Council of Student Sustainability Leaders (CSSL). Learn more about Sofia’s experience at Harvard.
How are you involved with the Harvard Office for Sustainability?
I joined CSSL as a member for the 2025–2026 academic year.
What is your best memory working in sustainability at Harvard?
Sitting in a room filled with brilliant people interested in caring for our planet, looking for solutions, and connecting with one another. The community that comes together has been amazing, and meeting CSSL members both in person and online has been so rewarding.
What other sustainability experiences did you have at Harvard and beyond?
I served as Director of Community Sustainability Initiatives at the Harvard Extension School Sustainability Student Club (HES3C), where I organized events in collaboration with Food 4 Thought Innovations at the F4T festival. I also took courses in corporate sustainability, circular economics, and regenerative economics as part of my concentration, and regularly attended events at the Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability.
What were the most inspiring sustainability topics you learned about?
Learning about individuals and companies working on solutions and collaborating was particularly inspiring. It was fascinating to explore regenerative projects and circularity in systems as approaches that move away from waste and resource extraction toward something more restorative.
What did you learn through your work with OFS and in the classroom?
It was truly interesting to learn how Harvard operates as an institution where each school maintains independence. This decentralization explains some of the obstacles that students may observe, and it gave me a deeper understanding and appreciation for the teams working in sustainability and navigating this structure.
What are your plans for the future?
I hope to integrate my passion for food and sustainability with my career.
What advice would you give to incoming students?
Explore! Join groups, attend events, talk about your interests, and connect with others. Everyone is always kind and willing to help students pursue their interests. I also highly recommend joining CSSL.
Anything else you would like to add?
I am very grateful to the OFS team — David, Gabrielle, Lauren, Rachel, and Kristin — for supporting and inspiring us at CSSL. I am grateful for the many fellow members and students I got to meet throughout my sustainability journey at Harvard.