Shayna Pollock’s highlight while at UGA has been her experiences with the Roosevelt Institute, a student run think tank on campus. Currently serving as executive director of the institute, Shayna has learned the value of research and policy, which led to her presenting at a CURO symposium on the global pesticide trade.
Hometown:
Atlanta, GA
High School:
Woodward Academy
Degree objective:
B.S.E.S. in environmental economics and management and a B.A. in political science
Expected graduation:
Spring 2012
University highlights, achievements, awards and scholarships:
My involvement with the Roosevelt Institute, the student operated think tank on campus, has undoubtedly been the highlight of my undergraduate career. I currently serve as executive director. Additionally, Roosevelt was the catalyst for much of my other involvement. My exposure to the importance of research and policy led me to present at the CURO symposium in 2009 on the global pesticide trade as well as my current research project that maps the effectiveness of green building policies in encouraging LEED development.
Outside of campus, I was a Roosevelt Fellow at the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, a summer Fellow at the Chicago Transit Authority and an intern at Athens Land Trust. I also spent last semester on the Washington Semester Program. There, I interned at CEOs for Cities, where I still work part time.
Fortunately, UGA and Athens provide so many opportunities for involvement that I could not pick just one organization. I am also an officer for Students for Environmental Action, a member of Georgia Recruitment Team, and a volunteer for Bike Athens.
Current Employment:
I currently work for CEOs for Cities, a civic lab of urban leaders, as a research and communications intern. I am privileged to support inspiring city leaders throughout the country on a daily basis.
Family Ties to UGA:
I truly bleed red and black. Both of my parents as well as many aunts, uncles and cousins attended UGA. While I don’t have any family with me in Athens right now, Chabad at UGA provides a wonderful home away from home for me throughout the school year.
I chose to attend UGA because…
it is a big university and a small school wrapped up in one. I have the opportunity to cheer on the Dawgs with 92,000 other screaming fans and to sit in a 12-person class or work one-on-one with a professor.
My favorite things to do on campus are…
read and people watch on North Campus.
When I have free time, I like…
to bake, do yoga, curl up with a great book or just walk around downtown.
The craziest thing I’ve done is…
go white-water rafting in Switzerland. Even though I was freezing, the view from the bottom of the Alps was incredible, especially when contrasted with what I had seen from the top of the tallest peak the day before.
My favorite place to study is…
any coffee shop around Athens.
My favorite professor is…
Dr. Lewell Gunter in CAES. He has been my research mentor since my sophomore year, and he continually provides invaluable guidance. From the day that he took on my project on urbanism, even though it did not fall within his specified interests, he has dedicated himself to learning more about urban planning and to furthering my understanding of the research process.
Additionally, Dr. David Williams in the Honors Program is always an advocate for students. His support for Roosevelt Institute is unwavering.
If I could share an afternoon with anyone, I would love to share it with…
I would have lunch with Golda Meir, Jane Jacobs, Rachel Carson, Frances Perkins and Coco Chanel. How can you go wrong with a room full of inspirational women?
If I knew I could not fail, I would…
overhaul all of the major cities in this country to create more livable and accessible communities for people of all ages and income groups.
If money was not a consideration, I would love to…
travel the world. I have infinite wanderlust, but it gets expensive.
After graduation, I plan to…
go abroad to study successful city planning in the EU in order to bring a better understanding of model urban areas back to the U.S.
The one UGA experience I will always remember will be…
is leading a group of Roosevelt members to interview stakeholders in the Gulf about the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill last winter break. As a bit of a political science wonk, it was incredible to actually receive input from the people that our groups’ policies could potentially impact on a daily basis. I also enjoyed seeing younger students understand and embrace policy writing.
