Students Working Towards a More Sustainable Future for All
Andrew McKinnell
As a Student Climate Fellow, Andrew wants to equip the next generation of students with the industry insights and experience needed to succeed in the green economy. He firmly believes that effective climate action demands collaboration across social, scientific, and fiscal fronts, and as a result he works to educate students about the numerous career paths that are part of the climate solution, regardless of their major. His goal is to institutionalize a sustainability internship pipeline that gives students the work experience in sustainability that is often difficult to acquire at the community college level.
Beyond his career education work, Andrew is spearheading MiraCosta College's participation in the Clean California Community designation, representing the student voice in climate action negotiations alongside administrators and faculty.
About Andrew
Andrew McKinnell is a second-year Economics student at MiraCosta College. Andrew serves as the Inter-Club Council Chair, overseeing the growth and funding of sixty campus clubs, and as the President of the Political Action Club, spearheading student advocacy initiatives. He applied to the Chancellor's Student Climate Fellowship to learn how statewide institutions address the climate crisis systemically, to develop sustainable initiatives on his campus, and to create sustainability internship pipelines, career development workshops, and climate career panels for students to gain the industry insights and experience needed to succeed in the green economy.
He is currently preparing to transfer to a 4-year university to pursue a bachelor’s in Economics with a focus in the Environment and Global Development. After graduation, he wants to attend graduate school for a master’s degree in Climate Finance. He intends to work as a United Nations Sustainable Development Officer, restructuring energy markets to expand renewable energy access in disadvantaged regions. Andrew’s goal is not simply to lead within the climate movement, but to redesign the financial architectures that quietly govern it.
Events and Initiatives
Climate Futures:
Sustainability Career Panel
Tuesday, April 21 from 2:30-3:30 PM
MiraCosta College, OC Room 3601
Clean California
Community Designation:
Andrew is leading MiraCosta College's pursuit of the Clean California Community Designation. He will present a formal proposal to administrators and faculty on Thursday, March 26th.
Fellowship Highlights
Branching Out:
Exploring Green Careers
Effective climate action demands collaboration between academic disciplines.
That was the core message of “Branching Out: Exploring Green Careers”, an event hosted in partnership with MiraCosta College’s Career Center. During the workshop, Andrew explored the different ways a student’s career, whatever that may be, can be part of the climate solution. Students left with a clearer sense of how their skillsets translate into the green economy.
Stanford's Global Sustainability Challenge
Student Climate Fellows Andrew McKinnell and Trinie Ngo represented the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office at Stanford University’s Global Sustainability Challenge, learning from climate innovators across North and South America. This experience inspired them to approach their own projects with a new creativity and ambition.
