Robert & Patricia Switzer Foundation

Fellowship Year: 2004

Academic Background: UC Berkeley - MS - (Energy and Resources)

Current Position: Sustainability Coordinator , City of Oakland

Garrett completed a Master's through U.C. Berkeley's Energy and Resources Group, where he focused on issues of community livability and sustainability. His work primarily explores the empowering process of local sustainability assessment and the integration of assessment data into planning and governance models. As the lead coordinator of a comprehensive sustainability assessment of the U.C. Berkeley campus, Garrett also established a new model for such initiatives and laid the groundwork for improvements at U.C. Berkeley for years to come. In addition to engaging key campus stakeholders, he offered a new course in Fall 2004 in which students participated directly in the assessment process. Garrett also worked closely with the City of Berkeley, helping the City to develop indicators for measuring progress relative to sustainability and mechanisms for integrating indicator data into existing decision-making processes. As an undergraduate at the Pennsylvania State University, Garrett served as student body president and graduated with a self-styled major in Environmental Energy Engineering. He is pursuing a career empowering people in U.S. communities to identify and act upon local opportunities to move toward social and environmental sustainability.

Expertise: Energy & Climate Change, Environmental Policy & Law