5 questions with Minette: Meet a sustainable systems management alumna

Five Questions with Minette

Minette Saulog
Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Systems Management, 2018
Environmental Health Specialist at Saint Paul-Ramsey County Public Health
Minors: Environmental Science, Policy and Management (ESPM) from CFANS and Management from the Carlson School of Management

Describe your current job. What does it look like on a weekly basis?
My position is a two-year fellowship primarily working on special projects within the Environmental Health Division of Saint Paul-Ramsey County Public Health. These projects encompass everything from community outreach and engagement, resilience and sustainability evaluations, policy and planning, solid waste program administration and project management. My weeks consist of meetings with my team and other colleagues who I share active projects with, solo work which involves research, reviewing reports or compiling data for those projects, and time in the field to connect with organizational partners or attending events to engage with the public. 

With the COVID-19 pandemic, I am working from home and completing those tasks virtually, and most of the staff in our Public Health department have been redeployed to additional emergency response roles at the county. Since March, I have spent time as a City Liaison to suburban Ramsey County cities, and currently hold a leadership position for the Testing Support team that leads staffing and event coordination for weekly drive-through COVID-19 testing events.

What do you most enjoy about your current role?
I enjoy contributing to work that serves the public and aims to improve the quality of life for residents and families, and it is so rewarding to see the positive impacts and outcomes that take place as a result. I value connection and building relationships, and being in local government and the public sector gives me the opportunity to work in a uniquely collaborative and supportive environment.

What made you choose CFANS and the major?
Going into college, I knew that I wanted to work in an environmentally-related field. I started out as an ESPM major but quickly learned that I was interested in other areas such as business and sustainability studies. I found SSM my sophomore year (I believe that was the first year it was officially offered) and transferred for the perfect mix of interdisciplinary focus areas and because it more closely aligned with my interests for major coursework and professional work.

How did your experiences in the major help you in your career?
The systems thinking approach taught in SSM became second nature to me for how I make decisions and conduct my work as a professional. In local government there are a number of considerations and cause-and-effect possibilities that need to be evaluated whenever you roll out a new program, service or initiative. I consistently draw upon systems thinking skills and philosophy to look at the big picture of what I’m doing and understand the greater purpose that my work needs to fulfill, leading to more sustainable and equitable outcomes.

What class or which professor had the most significant impact on you?
The SSM capstone class during my senior spring semester was an amazing exercise for me in using technologies and concepts that we learned as theory, and applying them to real life. I was part of a group that conducted a renewable energy feasibility study for a Minnesota hops farm. It was great to see how sustainability is valued and prioritized by a local business, and our group had the opportunity to act as consultants to help our client find solutions. Omar Espinoza was the professor leading my capstone class (I remember having him for a few other classes as well), he was always so supportive of his students and often shared his own industry experiences to demonstrate the abundance of possible opportunities in SSM after graduation.