Stephanie Griffin. Photo courtesy of Stephanie GriffinStephanie Griffin is proof that graduate school can be a positive, fulfilling, and career-changing experience. A second-year Bren School of Environmental Science & Management student, Stephanie has also recently been hired as the Graduate Division's new Funding Peer.
Stephanie received her bachelor's degree in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland. She will graduate this June with her master's degree from the Bren School, focusing on Water Resources Management. Below she shares her unique experiences abroad and how those experiences brought her to study at UCSB.
Where did you grow up? Tell us a little about your family and childhood.
I moved around a lot as a kid (including several towns in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Texas, and Pennsylvania, all before I was 10 years old), although I'd say I grew up in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. I'm the oldest of four children, and my parents, siblings, and I live all over the world now. My brother's in a Ph.D. program at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, my sister is a chemist in Pittsburgh, and my parents and youngest sister recently moved to Mumbai! 
Is there any particular event that had a big impact or influence on you and helped shape who you are today?
Probably the biggest influence on me today is my service as a Peace Corps volunteer. Just after graduating from college, I left to serve as an environmental education volunteer in Mali. Unfortunately, after about six months, there was a military coup d'etat and a secessionist war in the country, and Peace Corps Mali was evacuated. I finished the remaining 20 months of my service in Senegal as an agroforestry volunteer.
My experiences living and working with subsistence farmers in West Africa really drove my passion for sustainable natural resource management. Not only did this shape my academic/professional focus, but my life as well; integrating myself into another culture and living off the land for over two years was an incredibly humbling and educational experience.
Tell us a little about your research and how you came to choose the topic.
My Bren Master's Group Project is investigating sustainable water supply sources for the south coast of Santa Barbara County (think, Goleta down to Carpinteria). We're looking at relative cost (financial and environmental), longevity, and efficiency of several potential supply sources. We're hoping our project will be able to provide local actors with useful tools for decision-making when it comes to determining water sources, rates, and conservation.
Stephanie, right, at the Santa Barbara Polo Club with UCSB grad students Melissa Maggass, left, and Tiawna Cayton, center. Photo courtesy of Stephanie Griffin
What has graduate student life been like for you?
Very busy! After having been out of school for a few years, I definitely miss having a regular paycheck and legitimately free weekends, but it's nice to have more flexibility in my daily schedule. I love the ability to take many classes and enjoy access to the UCSB resources here.
What do you like most about grad school and what do you like least?
Most: my peers. Being in an environment with others who are similarly passionate about learning about environmental science and sustainability is great. We all come from very different educational, professional, and social backgrounds, and I'm learning a lot from them. "Brennies" are pretty cool.
Least: feeling as if there are never enough hours in the day. Also, why don't we have a football team?
What has been a source of motivation or drive for you in your graduate studies?
One benefit of returning to school after some work experience is knowing which skills are truly valuable in the workplace. I'm taking advantage of the technical courses and workshops offered here, to compensate for my policy-heavy undergraduate curriculum.
Who are your heroes or mentors and why?
Some of my heroes are leaders in international development and sustainability: Norman Borlaug, Paul Farmer, Wangari Maathai. These, among others, were/are amazing innovators working relentlessly toward mitigating huge humanitarian issues. Reading some of their work as an undergraduate is what sparked my interest in international work and food security.
Bren classmates at an Environmental Defense Fund training in Chicago last May. From left, Hyemin Park, Mike Millstein, Stephanie Griffin, Erin Williamson. Photo courtesy of Stephanie Griffin
Name an accomplishment you are most proud of and why.
Learning the local language (Pulaar) of my village in Senegal! Because I was abruptly transferred there from Mali, I didn't go through training again – but that meant I also didn't get a language tutor. I was largely self-taught using the few Pulaar books available to me and starting random conversations with people. It was one of the most frustrating things I've ever done.
What do you do to relax?
I love any time outside. On weekends (and if I have time during the week), I go for long runs and spend time on the beach.
What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
I'm a band geek! I was the drum major in my high school's band, then joined the marching band at the University of Maryland.
What do you hope to be doing five years out of graduate school?
Working for either a firm or in policy, working on natural resource management. Ideally, I'd be in a position actively promoting food security.
Stephanie bouldering in Santa Barbara with other "Brennies" from the Bren School. Photo courtesy of Stephanie Griffin
Explain what you do in your role as Funding Peer Advisor.
As Funding Peer Advisor, I provide both workshops/presentations and one-on-one advising for graduate students looking to finance their education or research. I show fellow grad students some campus resources for both personal and academic financial needs, as well as excellent extramural resources and databases to help them continue their searches.
What are your goals as Funding Peer Advisor?
The peer advisors in this position before me did a great job of reaching out to different departments and compiling really useful information on funding resources. I'd like to continue their awesome work, as well as expand into greater personal finance literacy (e.g., budgeting, how to save money while a student in Santa Barbara) and understanding finances beyond grad school, for example 401(k) plans.
Do you have any advice for current grad students?
Enjoy Santa Barbara! It's hard to tear yourself away from academic and work commitments for a weekend, but once in a while, it's needed (not to mention more fun!). It's important to enjoy the beautiful natural beauty and culture of the city we're living in now.
Anything else you’d like to add?