Becky S. at Yosemite National Park on the DEL-MEM spring elective course CA Water Management trip

Becky S. at Yosemite National Park on the DEL-MEM spring elective course CA Water Management trip

Becky S., DEL-MEM ’14, is the Director for the Water & Clean Energy Campaigns at the Clean Water Action and Clean Water Fund in Boston, MA.  Becky has been an issue advocate and community organizer with Clean Water Action for over twelve  years, working on campaigns for clean water, clean air, and protection of human and natural ecosystems.  Becky completed the DEL Exec Ed “Writing for Environmental Professionals” course in 2013.  Her course project led to the publication of the Coal Free Massachusetts project report Brayton Point Coal Plant: Operating at Our Expense, which continues to be referenced by policymakers, scientists, members of the media, and informed citizens and has influenced the debate positively.

Becky says, “Dr. Cagle’s organization of the course, including having us work on a single writing project the whole six weeks, learning and drafting iteratively, giving and receiving peer feedback, and of course, getting her professional advising was extremely useful. I learned a process that I’ll continue to use in my career, and also really expanded my self-editing capacity.”

We asked Course instructor Nicolette Cagle, a Lecturer in Environmental Science & Policy at Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment how she thought participants might benefit from taking the course.  Dr. Cagle said, “Writing well offers environmental professionals critical advantages in the workforce. First, your written work becomes clear, concise, and engaging. By engaging readers, you can make substantial strides towards meeting your goals as an environmental professional. In addition, learning to write well increases your marketability. Environmental organizations across the globe need individuals with environmental expertise to clearly communicate their work both to the public and within their organizations.”

We also wanted to know what separated this writing course from all the others out there.  Dr. Cagle responded, “…It gives you the opportunity to refine and remodel your own writing in any genre. Students in the past have written grant proposals, public environmental reports, and education materials. This course also fuses traditional models of composition with the contemporary principles of plain language, including effective document design. This means that your writing becomes adaptable and relevant in a wide variety of situations.”

Like Becky, you too can work with Dr. Cagle to complete an upcoming work project, writing assignment, or personal writing task.  Join our dynamic 2015 cohort August 31 – October 9 for six online modules interspersed with personal assignments and group feedback. To register, click here.

 

Written by Lisa Strebler, DEL Staff