Turning your major into a career: A journey from CFANS to law school

By Elena Mathern, BS ‘25, Environmental Sciences, Policy, and Management

Choosing a major can be the first step in the sometimes daunting process of discovering your career path. Amidst the pressures of classes and the ever-changing college environment, it’s important to reflect on your journey. Follow along with a recent CFANS alumna’s story to discover how she navigated her college experience and found the path toward becoming an environmental lawyer.

Envisioning herself in law 

With roots in Long Beach, California, Gaby Gutenkauf ventured to the University of Minnesota to experience studying out-of-state. In CFANS, she majored in Environmental Sciences, Policy, and Management (ESPM) focusing on policy, planning, law, and society. Additionally, she minored in Corporate Environmental Management. After graduating in 2022, Gutenkauf returned to her home state and enrolled in law school at the University of California, Davis, where she will soon begin her second year.

While pursuing her ESPM degree, Gutenkauf gained work experience through environmental consulting and sustainability governance internships, which broadened her career interests. She worked as an environmental consulting intern during her junior year and found that although the experience was valuable, she is passionate about making a deeper environmental impact. As a senior, she was hired as an Environmental and Sustainability intern for Great River Energy. In this role, she learned about renewable energy policy and how it impacts environmental decisions. 

Gutenkauf’s internship experiences prompted her to continue exploring careers in law and policy work. This interest led to a pivotal conversation with a Minneapolis water lawyer. “I had reached out to a couple of lawyers in Minneapolis and ended up talking to an attorney in water law in Minneapolis. The things that she was doing piqued my interest. After hearing her experience, I could see myself doing that,” she said, evolving her belief that her work could be most impactful in a legal career.

When reflecting on her inspirations for going to law school, Gutenkauf said, “I think that my main drive to go to law school came from my classes, and overall learning more about how things work in the world, and therefore my belief that I could be most impactful in achieving what I wanted in my career in the legal field.”

A course that made an impact

Reflecting on her experience as an ESPM major, Gutenkauf highlights her capstone class, ESPM 4041W Problem-Solving for Environmental Change. In this course, Gutenkauf's group participated in city planning in St. Paul and presented their final project to city officials. "I got to present in front of the city council, and I felt like a real professional. To be able to make recommendations for their plans based on my knowledge as a student was a powerful experience,” said Gutenkauf. This opportunity not only showcased the practical applications of her studies but also underscored the impact that students can have on real-world environmental challenges.

A leader on campus

While at CFANS, Gutenkauf was involved in campus programs and organizations. During her senior year, she participated in the CFANS Policy Engagement Program, which brings together students interested in natural resources, agricultural, and environmental issues with policy leaders from throughout Minnesota. “I loved this program! It was precious to hear from professionals in the policy sphere,” said Gutenkauf.

She was also part of the UMN Environmental Student Association and served as president during her senior year. Now as a law student, Gutenkauf has been elected the Environmental Law Society Co-Chair for the coming school year. “I enjoy fostering communities of environmentally interested students, and I can't wait to continue doing that in law school,” she said.

Building on her CFANS foundation

This summer, Gutenkauf is working as a law clerk for Monterey Waterkeeper in California. She attributes her CFANS degree for giving her an edge. "My boss mentioned that I had an advantage over other candidates because of my background in environmental science and policy," said Gutenkauf. "My degree in ESPM provided me with the foundational knowledge necessary for the job.” The Policy, Planning, Law, and Society track in the ESPM major also honed her transferable skills in technical reading and writing, which are invaluable in the workplace and law school.

Gutenkauf’s journey shows how a major in ESPM can be a springboard to a career in environmental law. She aims to follow her passion for helping communities achieve environmental justice. She has observed that as she delves deeper into legal work, civil justice and environmental issues increasingly intersect in broader legal conversations. “I am looking forward to furthering my legal education while taking opportunities to learn about and advocate for environmental justice,” she said.