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Roian and his DEL-MEM classmates at The Point, Emerald Isle, NC.

From August 19-23, the DEL Program welcomed its newest cohort of students to the program.  The Class of 2015 is comprised of 14 outstanding men and women with impressive experiences and backgrounds.  As with most DEL classes, the Class of 2015 arrived to the Nicholas School a little nervous and apprehensive, but by the time they returned to their homes, they were ready to meet the challenge of the new school year.  The new students bonded quickly and continue to learn about each other through every class meeting.

One student in particular, Roian A., evoked a sense of calm and openness.  From the opening ice-breaker, Roian helped set the stage for how his life experiences have shaped him into the person he is today.  Roian recently agreed to answer a few questions about his experiences, interests, and goals:

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Roian A., 1st Year DEL-MEM Student

DEL:  Who do you currently work for?

Roian:  I currently work for a sustainability consulting firm that is celebrating its 15th year in business. We’re a group of industry professionals using a technical approach to solve corporate sustainability issues, mostly related to products.

DEL: As Senior Sustainability Consultant, what are your job responsibilities?

Roian: I work with clients daily, usually a sustainability director, on their specific needs to advance their programs.  For example, I oversee our Radio Flyer account.  I built a product scorecard that helps them evaluate all products, existing and future through a matrix of criteria, so that they can make practical design and development decisions.

DEL:  What do you like to do in your spare time?

Roian: Garden, or I should say hobby farm. Chickens, pumpkin patches, growing apples. I am really passionate about it because it’s good exercise and I get the opportunity to be productive at the same time.

DEL: Tell us about your family life?

Roian: My wife Pam and I life in southern Maine with our geriatric dog, Loopa. We’re planning a family soon, (after DEL-MEM!) and we share the same passions for the outdoors and environmental stewardship.

DEL:  What was your most memorable experience during orientation?

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Famous mega-jenga at Hannah’s Haus Beaufort, NC.

Roian:  Life size jenga was the most memorable. Having Don Wells hit me over the head with yoda-like wisdom and connecting in deep thought with fellow students till late in the evening. Watching the Durham Bulls baseball game made me question my aversion to baseball, and walking in Rachel Carson’s footsteps will never be forgotten.

DEL: What do you hope to achieve by going through the DEL Program?

Roian: To embrace this concept of leadership and build a base of knowledge and understanding that I can use to further my contributions to our field. I also want to explore the 2 other pillars of focus of the program that I am less familiar with- Policy and NGOs.

DEL: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Roian:  Either continuing with my consulting, ED of a nonprofit , or VP of Sustainability for a major brand.  Wherever I land, it will be in capacity of serving the planet and future generations for preservation of our ecology and natural resources.

 

Written by Anthony Garza, DEL-MEM staff