An early exposure to the impacts of climate change is often all it takes to dedicate one’s life to the cause. In Liam Cooper’s case, it was an awareness that the severe weather events caused by climate change put his father’s life as a rescue helicopter pilot at greater risk that set him on his current path in environmental law.
Cooper is one of this year’s Columbia SPS CUNY Fellowship recipients and a student in the M.S. in Sustainability Management (SUMA) program at Columbia University School of Professional Studies (SPS). In addition to completing numerous environmental protection-focused internships, Cooper graduated from the Macaulay Honors program at Baruch College with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and minors in Environmental Sustainability and New York City Studies as valedictorian of the class of 2025.
In the following interview with SPS, Cooper shared the experiences that brought him to sustainability and environmental protection work, and how SPS is helping him achieve his career goals.
Can you tell us a bit about your background and what led you to the sustainability field?
I graduated from Baruch College this past May. My previous internships have included posts at the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Office of the New York State Attorney General’s Environmental Protection Bureau, and Environmental Defense Fund. I also conducted air quality research in India and completed my senior thesis, in part, here at Columbia’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
I’ve had an interest in environmental science, sustainability, and climate change from a very young age. My father was a rescue helicopter pilot with the Coast Guard and when I was a kid he explained to me how climate change was increasing the severity and intensity of storms and hurricanes, thereby impacting his and others pilots’ safety. This struck me, and I’ve wanted to pursue a career in the sustainability field ever since. Sometime in high school, as my political identity began to form, I decided I wanted to pursue environmental law. Specifically, corporate compliance and enforcement spoke to me.
What drew you to the Sustainability Management program and the Columbia SPS CUNY Fellowship?
Baruch College, at the time, did not offer an environmental science major. So, I chose to study biology to build my STEM foundation. While I enjoyed the material, this meant I lacked coursework in various environmental science areas—most of my environmental science knowledge stems from my internships. Before going to law school, I decided I wanted to learn more about the energy sector, the climate system, circular economy, environmental policy, and other sustainability-related topics. That’s what drew me to the SUMA program.
When researching the program, I really enjoyed the lengthy list of course offerings and ability to learn from leaders in the space, such as Director Dr. Steven Cohen. Initially, I was looking at various graduate programs, including the M.P.A. in Environmental Science and Policy program at Columbia. However, upon learning about the Columbia SPS CUNY Fellowship from my thesis advisor, Dr. Ana Gonzalez-Nayeck, the M.S. in Sustainability Management program, alongside the fellowship, became my number one graduate program choice. The perks of the fellowship are unmatched. Specifically, the full-tuition scholarship has financially helped me so much. On top of that, the fellowship has offered a small community within Columbia’s large campus. I actually got the call from Dean Zelon Crawford that I got the fellowship while I was here on campus for my thesis, so that was extra special.
How has the Columbia SPS CUNY Fellowship shaped your academic and professional journey so far? Are there specific experiences, courses, or opportunities through the fellowship/program that have stood out to you?
The fellowship has been great at providing a community within Columbia’s large campus. The fellowship faculty and staff are all so amazing and organize special outings for us alongside the HBCU Fellows as well. We have bowling nights, dinners, and networking events exclusive to us Fellows. It’s been so great to be a part of a supportive, close-knit environment. Even though CUNY is in New York City, the grandeur and status of Columbia always felt so far away, so it’s nice to share this experience with other CUNY grads.
How do you see your studies at SPS connecting to your professional goals or the communities you hope to serve?
My studies have completely contributed to my professional/career goals. Through SPS, I’ve been able to take courses such as International Environmental Law, Earth’s Climate System, and Consumerism and Sustainability that have heightened my understanding of environmental issues while also preparing me for a career in environmental law. Outside the classroom, I am consistently engaging with climate and sustainability professionals and learning from the best-of-the-best. It’s been an amazing experience so far!
What are you hoping to do next?
Upon graduation, I hope to enroll in law school for environmental law. I see myself in private practice for a while and then switching over to NGO work.
About the Program
The Columbia University M.S. in Sustainability Management program, offered by the School of Professional Studies in partnership with the Climate School, provides students with cutting-edge policy and management tools to help public and private organizations and governments address environmental impacts and risks, pollution control, and remediation to achieve sustainability. The program is customized for working professionals and is offered as a full-time and part-time course of study.
The program fosters creativity and adaptability by equipping students with the skills to tackle real-world sustainability challenges through an interdisciplinary approach from the world’s premier sustainability academics, researchers, and practitioners. The up-to-the-minute curriculum and flexibility prepare graduates for careers in the dynamic and rapidly changing field of sustainability.
Learn more about the program here.
About the CUNY Fellowship
In 2024, Columbia University School of Professional Studies (SPS) launched a new fellowship program, the Columbia SPS CUNY Fellowship. Building on the success of the Columbia HBCU Fellowship, this program at SPS aims to provide high-achieving recent CUNY graduates access to Columbia’s vast academic, professional, and community resources.
