Hannah Nistler, a Patel College of Global Sustainability (PCGS) alumna, has built a career advancing sustainability at the municipal level. Before starting her master鈥檚 degree in Sustainability, she gained hands-on experience through initiatives like We Are Neutral. She also worked on projects with the 色色研究所 St. Petersburg, during her undergraduate in Sustainability Studies, building her practical understanding of community-focused sustainability. At PCGS, she honed her skills in sustainable systems thinking, creative problem-solving, and the Food鈥揈nergy鈥揥ater Nexus, which guided her work at her most recent role as the Sustainability Coordinator for the City of St. Petersburg.
Her time at PCGS prepared her for real-world sustainability roles. Hannah credits Professor Culhane and the Food鈥揈nergy鈥揥ater Nexus program with teaching her to think across systems, tackle complex challenges, and design creative, non-traditional solutions. According to her, the college forced her to question conventional approaches, embrace nonconformity, and prioritize long-term impact and livability in every project.
While at PCGS, Hannah got a job in the City of St. Petersburg as Sustainability Coordinator, where her skills from Patel College were put to good use. Working on projects from community gardens and food forests to composting programs and energy initiatives, she applied lessons learned in the classroom to complex projects in the field. These lessons continue to guide her work today, helping her balance technical knowledge with people-centered sustainability strategies. PCGS also instilled in her an important philosophy: how to measure success.
Success is measured not only through outcomes but by progress, alignment with goals, and community impact.
Hannah Nistler
The relationships she builds with colleagues, community members, and collaborators are equally valuable, reflecting the college鈥檚 philosophy of people-centered sustainability solutions. Her approach emphasizes meaningful change over perfection and prioritizes impact that reaches a diverse cross-section of people.
Reflecting on her journey, Hannah offers a piece of advice to current PCGS students that reflects the college鈥檚 ethos: follow your passions, embrace opportunities boldly, and approach challenges with curiosity and resilience. To her, getting a Masters of Arts from PCGS in Climate Adaptation & Mitigation was not just about getting academic knowledge. It鈥檚 a transformative experience that turned what was once an early curiosity into a career dedicated to innovation, impact, and sustainability. The skills, experiences, and philosophy she gained remain at the core of her journey to building a more sustainable future.
Hannah鈥檚 journey illustrates how PCGS empowers students to turn passion into action. The college鈥檚 unique approach of combining interdisciplinary learning, hands-on projects, and a people-centered philosophy equips graduates to create meaningful, lasting impact. For those entering the program today, her story is a reminder that PCGS doesn鈥檛 just teach sustainability; it prepares leaders to innovate, collaborate, and make a difference in the real world.