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Prepared for Career in Natural Resources
March 1, 2016
Vanessa Waller (C’15)
Associate Consultant at Raftelis
After graduating from Principia, Vanessa completed a master's degree in environmental managment at Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University. Hired right out of graduate school by Raftelis, Vanessa does financial modeling of rate structures for utility projects. "Since our speciality is consulting for water utilities, it's a great fit with the water management focus I had at Duke, as well as my degree from Principia," she says.
Vanessa thrives on tackling large-scale environmental problems and finding innovative solutions through an interdisciplinary lens, so her major in environmental studies with a minor in sustainability fit her perfectly. For her senior capstone, Vanessa researched water quality in the Village of Elsah, conducting and analyzing water tests at various points within the village’s wetland. At graduation, she was recognized with the Mueller Environment Award for leadership in fostering better stewardship of the environment and the Phi Alpha Eta Award for the highest GPA in the College Class of 2015.
College wasn’t only about academics for Vanessa, though. She ran with the cross-country team, played flute in the College orchestra, and served on the Christian Science Organization Board and her house board. “These activities added so much to my college experience,” she says. “I love how Principia’s culture encourages students to get involved.”
During her time at Principia, Vanessa interned at the U.S. Green Building Council-Illinois Chapter and volunteered at the Morton Arboretum Soil Science Laboratory. She also traveled to Dominica on a Principia study abroad. Each of these experiences brought greater clarity about next pursuits, leading her to graduate school and current job.
“I loved my years at Principia,” Vanessa says. “I was challenged academically and experienced much spiritual growth. The progress I made while there continues to give me confidence that I can meet each new challenge in my career.”