Blog

The Power of One: Melissa Lee and The GREEN Program

}

Jun 1, 2015

At only 25-years-old, Melissa Lee has accomplished what many strive for but never achieve. She has fulfilled a dream, started a successful business and made a real, lasting impact on the world. 

cjt65ia5p0008q3i5bwvzcdsx 15675764 10207703827336987 5879153170640049125 o

While studying communications at Rutgers University, New Brunswick campus, Lee and some friends started the Rutgers Entrepreneurial Society. “We were frustrated with the notion that classroom learning was sufficient for making it in the professional world and decided to look for another platform where students could gain skills to thrive post graduation,” explains Lee. “We managed our school work, other jobs and internships on top of our work with the Entrepreneurial Society, which eventually led to the creation of The GREEN Program.”

Now based in Philadelphia, The GREEN Program designs short-term immersion programs for undergraduate and graduate students in places across the globe where sustainability and environmentalism are thriving. “We are linking textbook learning to career acceleration,” says Lee. The accredited program takes students on location for 8 to 10 days of complete immersion. Students learn from adventure and hands-on industry experience instead of from a textbook and they earn undergraduate and graduate level credit for classes.  Unlike the typical abroad courses offered, students don’t have to commit to the time and financial resources required for an entire semester or month abroad. They gain practical skills and life experience in a short amount of time. It is a model that has worked incredibly well.

cisc88e9h00c6gzgzsqsg53x5 11227886 10153490838184575 6826016061804903207 n

Students that participate in The GREEN Program are able to use the knowledge they learn behind the scenes of the world’s leading clean energy and sustainability initiatives and apply it to their academic and professional lives. “98 percent of the program participants report that The GREEN Program helped them in their professional endeavors. They credit the program with many aspects of their professional achievement,” contends Lee. 

Although Lee began The GREEN Program with her peers in college, most of them have moved on to pursue other projects. “It’s just me now but our team is always evolving and the strongest it’s ever been. I owe that to our dedicated team who has grown with the company over the years. This company is my baby and I have taken it on full time,” says Lee.

Her perseverance has paid off. “We have students that come from 250 different universities in 70 different countries,” she states.

cisc7lqjf006agzgznz0x1df7 11108668 10153490832464575 8709111849859181635 n

The alumni of the program are carrying on Lee’s entrepreneurial spirit and starting their own sustainability groups and initiatives on campus and helping to spread the word about The GREEN Program. “We have strong supporters around the world who believe in our educational model,” Lee explains. “A lot of our students have spoken about their experience and are helping more students get involved.” Potential participants also learn about The GREEN Program from professors and faculty at their colleges and universities who have heard about it or witnessed a student participate in the program.

Lee continues to support the alumni of The GREEN Program through networking opportunities. “We just ran our first event, bringing together leading companies in sustainability and linking them with our alumni,” she says. “This was the first time we physically brought these two worlds we work with together in the Philadelphia area for networking and recruiting purposes. It was a successful outcome and experience so we are planning on making this an annual tradition for our alumni, professional networks and team.” 

cism4gnxd007tooi59p2drekx pexels photo 90425 1

Lee has big dreams about what the next decade has in store for her and The GREEN Program. She states, “We want to continue branching out to new programs in travel and training the next generation’s thought leaders to study and gain first-hand experience to the issues that matter most to the world. We plan to figure out what this generation of millennials needs to be exposed to and get them there, introducing them to the social issues that matter and continuing to bridge the gap between university study and professional advancement. Our program model will continue to act as a supercharger to their purpose and passion towards making a real impact for this world wherever we can help them go with their careers.” 

See the original article here: http://www.nasouthjersey.com/SJER/June-2015/The-Power-of-One-Melissa-Lee-and-The-GREEN-Program/ 

Read Another Article

Honoring Kate Slattery & Highlighting the Shine On Scholarship for Women’s History Month

Honoring Kate Slattery & Highlighting the Shine On Scholarship for Women’s History Month

In honor of Women’s History Month, The GREEN Program is happy to highlight Kate Slattery – a mechanical engineer and photovoltaic designer for SolarCity who challenged herself and others to work toward a global mission of renewable energy and sustainability. We are honored to work with Kate’s family and GivePower to share Kate’s story and provide the Shine On Scholarship to TGP students in memory of Kate. 

read more
How an Online Sustainability Program Helped Jaedyn Medrano Become an Intersectional Sustainability Advocate

How an Online Sustainability Program Helped Jaedyn Medrano Become an Intersectional Sustainability Advocate

This blog features the virtual Nepal Ethics of Sustainable Development Alum, Jaedyn Medrano who says, “this program taught me how to think about a project holistically, and it has guided me along the path to being a better cultured and inclusive young professional.” She is set to graduate with a double major in Renewable Natural Resources & Ecological Restorations in December of 2022.

read more
Defending Reproductive Rights in the Battle for Climate Justice

Defending Reproductive Rights in the Battle for Climate Justice

Reproductive Justice is Climate Justice. The GREEN Program stands to defend the reproductive rights of all women and people who give birth to access safe reproductive health care. We must do more to educate others and understand the interconnection between Reproductive Justice and the Climate Crisis. It’s important to draw the connections between climate change, pollution, and reproductive rights.

read more
An International Graduate Student Embraces Nepali Culture by Studying Abroad through Shine On Scholarship

An International Graduate Student Embraces Nepali Culture by Studying Abroad through Shine On Scholarship

On one hand, I believe that every student should be given a chance to study abroad at least once in their life, because it teaches us things that textbooks cannot: adaptability, resilience, curiosity, empathy, just to name a few. Whether good or bad, bursting our bubble and learning about our world will inspire us and open our minds. On the other hand, the people we interact with benefit from the diversity, because all of us bring unique perspectives to the table. Perhaps we share an idea that no one has thought of but could be key to solving a problem; we fuel the aspirations of someone who is facing similar difficulties; or help take down stereotypes.  

read more
Remembering Juneteenth and the Fight for Environmental Justice

Remembering Juneteenth and the Fight for Environmental Justice

n June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, TX, and announced the end of the Civil War and the end of slavery. It is on this day every year since that we celebrate “Juneteenth” as the end of slavery in the United States. It is a day that we celebrate ancestors and leaders who fought to be liberated. We celebrate their power, resiliency, and tenacity. 

read more
LGBTQ+ Leaders and Organizations in Sustainability to Know About this Pride Month

LGBTQ+ Leaders and Organizations in Sustainability to Know About this Pride Month

The GREEN Program loves to celebrate love, and there is no better way to do that this month than by recognizing a few LGBTQ+ leaders and organizations that are making a difference not just in their own communities but for our planet altogether. Read below to learn more about some people and spaces that are working together to promote a better world that focuses on inclusion and equality.

read more
Meet 8 AAPI Leaders in Sustainability: Across the Globe and At Home

Meet 8 AAPI Leaders in Sustainability: Across the Globe and At Home

The month of May is known to many as the end of classes and the start of Summer, but May is also known as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Our team at TGP wanted to take a moment to recognize the contributions and influence of AAPI Americans throughout history, culture, and achievements both on a global scale, and from those who are a bit close to home. We also encourage you to learn more about AAPI Heritage Month and get involved through additional resources.

read more
From a Start Up to a Sustainability Study Abroad Program: How Patrick Applied his Passion for Renewable Energy in Iceland

From a Start Up to a Sustainability Study Abroad Program: How Patrick Applied his Passion for Renewable Energy in Iceland

When Fall 2021 rolled around and I saw the TGP scholarship opportunity, I thought I’d apply not expecting much. When I found out that I actually got it, I was like “I guess I’m actually doing this!”. I was a little nervous and anxious but also so excited for the opportunity! I was also grateful that the enrollment process was very smooth for me with no significant challenges along the way.

read more
Boston University Student Gains a Unique Perspective for Renewable Energy & Sustainability by Studying Abroad in Iceland

Boston University Student Gains a Unique Perspective for Renewable Energy & Sustainability by Studying Abroad in Iceland

Global experiences have definitely shaped me into the person I am today through increased cultural awareness and sensitivity. Getting to really know a great group of diverse individuals from all over the world has not only shaped my perspective on current world issues, but has also allowed me to take a glance at certain topics from another angle and point of view.

read more
A Construction Science Major Turns Lessons into Opportunity after a Sustainability Study Abroad Program 

A Construction Science Major Turns Lessons into Opportunity after a Sustainability Study Abroad Program 

AJ Ewing spent his past Winter Break a little bit differently than most students, by studying abroad on our GREEN Nepal program. As a Construction Science major, AJ notes that he was nervous coming into the study abroad program having no prior experience in sustainability or electrical/solar grids, but he was excited and eager to learn. As soon as he arrived, all his nerves were gone as he was welcomed by our team and ready to dive in. Now, he can honestly say that when he thinks of The GREEN Program, he thinks of “family away from home.”

read more
How a Geologist Made His Sustainability Dream in Iceland a Reality through a Study Abroad Scholarship

How a Geologist Made His Sustainability Dream in Iceland a Reality through a Study Abroad Scholarship

As someone who is in a field with a limited representation of ethnic minorities, TGP created a neutral ground where there was a range of diversity on different levels. My GREEN Program experience in Iceland wasn’t just about the adventures and cultural immersion, but about the education too. I thoroughly enjoyed the lectures because I saw how passionate the different lecturers were about their work and research which is truly inspiring. As a geologist, learning more about the wonder that is Iceland in Iceland was definitely a dream come true.

read more
Get to Know GREENie: Maryam Aida Tidjani

Get to Know GREENie: Maryam Aida Tidjani

Maryam Aida Tidjani got to experience a brand new kind of GREEN Program during the hard times the world was facing, a 100% Virtual and Online experience. Initially planning on traveling to Peru in 2021, the global pandemic continued to shift things around and we had to pivot all travel programs to Online experiences.

read more

Subscribe to The GREEN Program newsletter & updates

Loading...
Skip to content