The Chapter Collective: Fall 2025
Opening NoteDear Plant Futurists,
On the way home from visiting our schools in Tennessee and North Carolina, I was reflecting on how this journey has been so epic with you all. This summer we saw the largest number of students in our network graduate, with several stepping into awesome jobs. Now, with a new era of leaders coming into our community, I feel so much gratitude.
When I first reached out to you, maybe it felt a little “salesy” coming from LinkedIn or an email. But if you’ve engaged this far, you know Plant Futures is just a framework to design your roadmap to your dream job and make lifelong friends. Sam and I started this after running out of time as students ourselves. We recognized the power of building positive friendships with people who care about climate change and social justice and having fun in the process.
When I sent you your leadership offer, it wasn’t about counting events or tracking how many people came to a meeting. It was simply an invitation. A way of saying that Sam and I, and all of the amazing leaders across this network are in your corner for life
Sam and I have also been fortunate to cover sustainability at a variety of music festivals this summer. Our vision is to one day activate a way to get all of you to these events and uplift the world we want to see together.
Get to Know our Chapter Leaders:
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Plant Futures Duke Kushan University Chapter
at Shanghai Veg Expo
By Marielle Williamson
As Broadway’s play Chinglish highlights, 关系 (guānxì), also known as the art of building relationships, is one of the most important concepts in Chinese culture. Unlike in the U.S., where you might directly ask your canteen manager for plant-based defaults, or your math teacher for extra credit, in China you first invest in the relationship. Safe to say, lots of lessons have been learned.
From Harvest to Table at Ideagarden
Our Sonoma State Chapter was able to spend the afternoon at Ideagarden.
Following a garden tour and summer bounty harvest, the group prepared and shared a delicious meal while discussing plans for the chapter and exploring each other’s diverse ethnic and cultural connections to food.
Celebrating Our Alumni: Class of 2025 Spotlight
DePauw chapter leader recently graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Biology and a minor in History. This fall, she will begin pursuing a Ph.D. in Plant and Soil Sciences at the University of Kentucky
Sam Rappin
Sam Rappin is a Sustainability Analyst at Schneider Electric in Boulder, CO, where he is part of the Sustainability Leadership Program—a two-year rotational program focused on decarbonization, corporate sustainability strategy, and climate innovation. The former Chapter president recently graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in Environmental Studies and a minor in Entrepreneurship.
Kicking off Recruitment!
