What Job Can You Get as a Community and Environmental Planning Major?
What jobs can you get as a student in the UNH College of Life Sciences and Agriculture? How does college help prepare you for your career and future? Meet Will Cleaveland '26, a community and environmental planning major with a dual major is sustainability and a minor in sociology. Learn more about his transformative experience at UNH that included studying abroad in Greece and finding community with the , and how the career resources on campus helped him find a role on a regional planning commission for after UNH.
How does UNH support students looking for jobs?
The UNH Career and Professional Success office provides a variety of support services to students looking for jobs and internships, from a job search platform to one-on-one appointments. There is also career and success support integrated into each college, such as the .
Interview with William '26
1. Looking back at your UNH experience, what has been your favorite academic memory?
My favorite academic memory at UNH was my study abroad trip to Greece, which I took in the summer between my junior and senior years. On this trip, we got to explore incredible ancient monuments, as well as learn about the fascinating history of ancient Greece. This trip shaped my understanding of the development of cities and public spaces, and the relationship that these structures have with politics. This understanding will benefit my future career in planning and community development.
"My favorite academic memory at UNH was my study abroad trip to Greece. On this trip, we got to explore incredible ancient monuments, as well as learn about the fascinating history of ancient Greece."
2. What has been your favorite student life memory?
I started playing on the during my sophomore year at UNH. Until this point, I had never played the sport, and I didn’t even know the rules or really anything about how the game worked. It has been incredibly rewarding and fun to learn the sport and improve my skills throughout my time here. The team was very welcoming to me as a new player!
3. How have you received support from faculty and staff at UNH?
It really felt like everybody at UNH was willing to help me at every step of my experience. The coordinators for the community and environmental planning program, Mary Friedman and Marsha Tonkovich, were instrumental in connecting me with opportunities throughout the university to advance my knowledge outside of the classroom. Additionally, Associate Professor Michael Leese, who led the study abroad trip in Greece, was a fantastic resource throughout the study abroad process.
"It really felt like everybody at UNH was willing to help me at every step of my experience."
4. What are your plans for after graduation?
I will be working for the Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission as an associate planner!
5. How did your plans for after graduation come about?
was an extremely helpful resource throughout the job search process. At every stage, from drafting my resume to preparing for interviews, they provided insights and helpful advice. Additionally, doing a community and environmental planning internship for credit allowed me to gain valuable experience as an intern in the planning field while earning credit toward my degree.
" was an extremely helpful resource throughout the job search process. At every stage, from drafting my resume to preparing for interviews, they provided insights and helpful advice."
6. How did UNH and COLSA help prepare you for your future career?
UNH and COLSA were instrumental in shaping my knowledge of planning, project management, and futures thinking. The community and environmental planning program taught me how to think broadly about the future of our communities and how to predict and measure a wide range of outcomes. The sustainability dual major taught me to think about complex problems in terms of systems, and to develop skills to create meaningful, lasting change that benefits everyone.
"The community and environmental planning program taught me how to think broadly about the future of our communities and how to predict and measure a wide range of outcomes."
7. What advice would you give to your first-year self?
You don’t have to wait for the right program or opportunity to present itself to start working on something meaningful. There are so many opportunities to create your own path here and everyone is willing to collaborate with you to create opportunities that fit your interests.
"There are so many opportunities to create your own path here and everyone is willing to collaborate with you to create opportunities that fit your interests."
8. What’s the best thing about UNH?
The best thing about UNH is how helpful and collaborative all the faculty and staff are. Every time I had a question or concern, I could reach out to anyone, and they would go out of their way to help me. It felt like everyone in every area of the university was working together to make my experience positive and create opportunities to advance my learning.
"It felt like everyone in every area of the university was working together to make my experience positive and create opportunities to advance my learning."