Two graduates from Sustainable Development The 2025 class received the Gaffin Award for on-campus and off-campus leadership and service this spring. The award commemorates Stuart Gaffin, who taught sustainable development workshops from 2009 to 2019, spotlights contributions to the Columbia University community through recognition of leadership, engagement, dedication and impact in the spirit of sustainable development.
Harrison Gerson and Emin Taha illustrate this spirit throughout their four years in Columbia, taking on educational leadership roles in the classroom, serving clubs across campus, supporting and mentoring peers through empathetic leadership and long-term contributions to the Sustainable Development (SDEV) sector. We caught up with the award winners and heard about their experience with the program and what they’ve seen after graduation.
Q&A with Harrison Gerson
Originally from Rockland County, New York Lamont-Doherty Earth ObservatoryGerson majored in Sustainable Development with minors in Hispanic Culture at Columbia College. Gerson was attracted to an interdisciplinary approach and influenced the field of sustainable development. He is passionate about circular economy, sustainable tourism and climate conflict resolution. Outside the classroom, Gerson enjoys dancing, playing piano, learning language, gardening and traveling.
In addition to receiving the Gaffin Award, Gerson was also recognized as the recipient of the Honorary Award in Sustainable Development for his academic achievements and undergraduate dissertations.
Currently, Gerson is consulting with multiple sustainability projects. He manages the publication of the Bernard College’s Sustainability Bureau’s chapter on urban circular economy and works with the Raidrow Scholarship Foundation to develop and implement sustainability plans. Gerson is planning to complete a master’s degree in environmental policy.
How did you grow as a leader throughout your time in Colombia?
I learned how leadership occurs from the front, sides and back. As I entered my last year, I was able to retreat from the executive leadership role and see my peers leading. It was a great joy to see and guide them through their success.
What are the leadership achievements you are most proud of?
We are proud to work with the Sustainable Development Programme to develop a new Student Union for Sustainable Development. I am also proud of the work my Sustainable Development Capstone team has done at Cape May Point Science Centre. Being Capstone’s Project Manager really helped me to know and support my peers.
Outside of the program, I am proud of my influence through my cross-cultural homes, a dormitory with a special interest focused on social justice. Throughout my three years as a resident, I have hosted over 250 participants from intercultural Shabbat Dinners. Many people supported this event through the SDEV program. This meant a lot to me.
What extracurricular activities did you engage in beyond the classroom?
I co-led the Student Union for sustainable development and lived in a cross-cultural home for three years. I was the vice president of the Columbia Linguistics Club and played tenor drums with the Pep Band Glockenspiel. We also danced tap, hip hop, African and modern dance at Bernard, and acrobatics at Columbia Circus Collective!
What do you want SDEV freshmen to know when they leave Columbia?
They should enjoy themselves both inside and outside the classroom. My best learning came when I enjoyed class work and applied my experience through my work and contributions to global sustainability events.
What is your most exciting post-graduation experience?
For the first time in my life I feel I can explore the whole way beyond my educational environment as I want.
Emine Taha and Q&A
Taha grew up in Istanbul, Turkey, and moved to New York to attend Columbia University. She was first interested in sustainability in middle school, and was involved in sustainability efforts through writing, taking individual actions and helping peers reduce their environmental impact. That interest only grew over time, and Taha led him to pursue sustainable development as the main one. Outside of class, Taha also enjoys swimming in ceramics and open water.
Last month, Taha had the opportunity to graduate from Colombia with her younger sister Iman, who completed her studies at Bernard.
Over the next few months, Taha is most excited to explore Washington, DC. There, I work for the Brattle Group as an energy analyst. She will focus on energy and electricity market projects. It builds models, researches, and helps experts prepare reports for legal and policy cases.
How did you grow as a leader throughout your time in Colombia?
To become a Colombian leader, you need to know when to stand up for yourself and step up when opportunities arise. I have consistently acquired my first leadership role by filling the gaps. To navigate that transition, I had to stand on my ground, have an open, respectful conversation, and find a meaningful solution for my team.
On many committees, I was often the youngest or most experienced in the room, but I learned that leadership is about preparing, communicating clearly and knowing the value you bring. You don’t need to have the most experience to be effective. You need strong discussion, willingness to listen, and confidence to express your perspective.
What are the leadership achievements you are most proud of?
A few months after my term as chairman of Columbia University Impact Investment Network (CUIIN), we unexpectedly lost our club member and dear friend Sam Terblanche. It was a very difficult time and although I initially thought about resigning, I chose to hold the club and lead in a way that honored his spirit and values. To preserve space for the SDEV community, they partnered for Student Union for Student Union and honored him with large club events throughout the year. Personally, I made supporting young students a priority.
What extracurricular activities did you engage in beyond the classroom?
I joined Cuiin as a freshman and first joined the ESG Analyst program. I taught the program the following year and then became president of my third year Cuiin. In my sophomore summer, I became a Social Impact Fellow in Columbia and completed a one-year program. I was a member of the Social Responsibility Advisory Committee to Invest my Junior and Senior Years and served as a Waste and Reuse Think Tank for My Junior Springs.
He also contributed to the Consilience Sustainability Journal, was a consultant for Consult Your Community, and worked as a social media manager at GSAPP’s Natural Materials Lab.
What was your favorite class in the Sustainable Development Program? What is the reason?
My favourite class was climate change and law taught by Michael Gerrard. It gave me a much needed understanding of international climate policy and the US climate landscape, and helped me to better understand the implications of climate policy decisions. It also helped me very much in many of my interviews.
What tips do students want to complete their sustainable development programmes?
There are many ways you can take within the measure. I recommend that you look through the course list quite early on to figure out what interests you are. It also balances the skills classes with classes that delve deeper into topics of interest. It can also be helpful to talk to SDEV alumni and seniors who work in the area of ​​interest to understand which classes are most useful.
SDEV has a great department behind you that opens so many doors and supports you. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Join department events to get close to your peers and don’t forget that your professor is here to help you!
