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ABOUT EPN

Ohio is home to thousands of environmental professionals who work every day to make the world a better place. The Environmental Professionals Network (EPN) is a service of the School of Environment and Natural Resources that seeks to connect, grow, and inspire environmental professionals through in-person and online formats.


Hallie(left) and Harrison(right)

In person, the EPN hosts monthly programs, workshops, and field trips that cover a range of pertinent environmental and sustainability topics, including topics related to wildlife, energy, water, policy and justice, among other key areas. Typically, EPN programs occur during the breakfast hour on the second Tuesday of each month at the Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4H Center in Columbus, Ohio. Each June and July, the EPN organizes field trip programs to explore exciting environmental initiatives around the state. All EPN programs feature exceptional speakers who are leaders in their fields. Sign up for an upcoming EPN program today!

Online, members of the EPN can access a variety of networking services, including a directory of nearly 2,500 of their fellow Ohio-based environmental professionals. Professionals are thus connected in a "community" of people who share their passion for our world and its environment, natural resources, people, and communities -- local to global. The EPN team is built to help you grow professionally and be more effective in your job, and be inspired about your career. Register an account to become an EPN member today; it's free, quick, and easy!

Image of an abstract calendar with gray background for future EPN events

Image of an abstract calendar with scarlet background for past EPN events

Image of an EPN YouTube channel with gray background and red YouTube play button


An abstract image with connected web of different organisms

See how EPN events have grown our network:

Networks create pathways for solutions to arise to environmental and sustainability challenges. Consistent, open, and diverse relationships designed to build and facilitate trust, deepen knowledge, and build a shared understanding of complex issues are necessary for Ohio, our region, nation, and planet to rise above our individual and collective challenges. Learn More >>


Alumni Career Spotlights

Image of 1973 SENR alum, Chris Yoder

Amy Wald
Sustainable Business and Wildlife Management '17
Founder and President, Greenluxe, Inc.

Amy completed her undergraduate degree in sustainable business and wildlife management in SENR in 2017 and is now a leader in sustainable hospitality and tourism. At Greenluxe, Inc., Amy educates and empowers hospitality and tourism professionals to embrace environmental stewardship while enhancing their financial performance, including here in Ohio. Amy will be a speaker at EPN’s February 11th, 2025, program on sustainable tourism in Ohio.

Image of 1973 SENR alum, Chris Yoder

Sonam Rustagi
Economics and Environmental Social Sciences '23
Master of Science Student, SENR 

Sonam is currently a second year Master's student at The Ohio State University, with a research focus on climate change and agriculture. She spent 2024 at the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Her research focuses on local causes including the Franklin County Local Food Council, Three (a women's resource center), and Columbus Food Rescue. After completing her Master's degree in Spring 2025, she will head to Harvard Law School in the fall to get a JD. After law school, she hopes to work at the intersection of climate change, trade, and agriculture using a legal skill set. 

 

Image of 1991 SENR alum, Mark Dilley

Chad Duplain
Forestry, Fisheries, and Wildlife ‘16
Director of Corporate Relations - Midwest, The Nature Conservancy

In his 7 years at The Nature Conservancy (TNC),Chad has worked to connect the organization's key outcomes to partners, forging on-the-ground results for people and nature alike. He helps TNC reach their most ambitious 2030 goals, across 80+ countries and all 50 U.S. states, at the intersection of global climate change, biodiversity loss, and forging healthy communities. He focuses on engaging corporations across key sustainable lever points, building dynamic global teams, and matching the innovation and scale needed to catapult the corporate sector towards action. Chad has worked closely with C-Suite leaders from Fortune 100 and 500 companies to drive ambition to impact for our climate, conservation, and communities.

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ANNUAL REPORTS

EPN Annual Report 2023-2024 with text and images of EPN members EPN 2022 - 2023 annual report with text and images of EPN members

 

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TOPIC AREAS

Air Quality
Education, Health, and Policy
Energy, Materials, and Sustainability
Land Use
Water
Wildlife
Environmental Career Ambassador
Events