Grace Knauss, BA Environmental Engineering
Students at Drexel University know that the co-op program will give them
experience in the workplace. They expect to work on exciting projects,
interact with seasoned mentors, and apply what they’ve learned in the
classroom to real-life work. What they might not expect is spending one
their first days rushing an injured bird onto the New York City subway
for care. But for Grace Knauss, a rising senior on her third co-op, it’s
all in a day’s work.
Knauss, an environmental engineering major also pursuing minors in
writing and economics, is a member of the sustainability team at the
Javits Center, a convention center in New York City. The intersection of
urban setting and rural practices proved to lead to some pretty unusual
work experiences, including finding an injured bird outside of the building, the roof of which
serves as a wildlife sanctuary for dozens of local and migratory bird
species. She ended up taking it to the Wild
Bird Fund, a facility that specializes in avian care.
Though many students find their co-ops through Drexel’s co-op database,
Knauss found this one through Franco Montalto, PhD, professor of civil,
architectural and environmental engineering, who has worked with the
Javits Center on their green roof for nearly a decade. After taking a
field trip to the Javits Center, Knauss was introduced to the
sustainability operations member of the convention center and struck up a
conversation. After several emails and video chats, Knauss landed an
internship.
The Javits Center, one of the busiest convention centers in the nation,
hosts both private conferences and large events like ComiCon and the
NEST Climate Summit. The sustainability team at Javits works with both
the venue and its hosts to cut down on waste produced before and after
events. That’s where Knauss comes in. She helps the team track waste
produced during shows, looking out for recyclable and donatable items.
The Javits Center has a goal of diverting 80% of event waste by 2024.
And once a week, Knauss works on the convention center’s green roof and
food forest, called The Farm.
The experience so far has been just what she was hoping for. “This co-op
has impacted my career goals by giving me exposure with the field that I
want to work in,” she said. “By working with Brooklyn Grange [who
manages The Farm], I have been able to learn more about farming
operations from their farm managers, as well as expand my connection
network.”
When co-op ends in September, Knauss will be looking forward to using
the experience she has gained from all of her co-ops in her senior
design project and after graduation.
“I came to Drexel with a very clear vision on what I wanted to get out
of my three co-op experiences and through diligence, I was able to
execute that vision. That is what I find beautiful entering my senior
year," she said. "I’m able to look back on my experiences and feel proud
of my accomplishments. I wanted my first co-op to involve field work, my
second co-op to involve backend office work for engineers, and my third
co-op to directly relate to my career. All those became a reality, and
that reality is now my experiences, my resume, my successes. I would not
be where I am without the coop program. I have learned so much over the
years, and I am very grateful to have had this opportunity.”