Two graduating seniors from the Sustainable Development Class of 2025 were honored with the Gaffin Award this spring for their leadership and service on and off campus. The award commemorates Stuart Gaffin, who taught the Workshop in Sustainable Development from 2009 to 2019, and spotlights his contributions to the Columbia University community through the recognition of leadership, engagement, dedication and impact in the spirit of sustainable development.

Harrison Gerson and Emine Taha have exemplified this spirit throughout their four years at Columbia, taking on educational leadership roles in the classroom, contributing to clubs across campus, and supporting and mentoring their peers through empathetic leadership and long-lasting contributions to the Sustainable Development (SDEV) department. We caught up with the award recipients to hear about their experiences in the program and what’s next after graduation.

Q&A with Harrison Gerson

Originally from Rockland County, NY, which is also home to the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Gerson majored in sustainable development with a minor in Hispanic cultures at Columbia College. Gerson was drawn to the interdisciplinary approaches and impact the sustainable development field can offer. He is passionate about the circular economy, sustainable tourism and climate conflict resolution. Outside of the classroom, Gerson enjoys dancing, playing piano, learning languages, gardening and traveling.

In addition to receiving the Gaffin Award, Gerson was also recognized for his academic accomplishments and undergraduate thesis work as a recipient of the Sustainable Development Departmental Honors Award.

Currently, Gerson is consulting for multiple sustainability projects. He is managing the publication of a chapter on the circular economy in cities with Barnard College’s Office of Sustainability, as well as working with the Laidlaw Scholarship Foundation to develop and execute a sustainability plan. Gerson plans to pursue a master’s degree related to environmental policy.

How did you grow as a leader throughout your time at Columbia?

I learned how leadership happens from the front, side and back. As I entered my final years, I stepped back from my executive leadership roles and had the honor of watching my peers lead. It brought me so much joy to watch and guide their success.

What leadership accomplishments are you most proud of?

I am most proud of working with the Sustainable Development program to develop a new Student Union for Sustainable Development, which brings students closer to our faculty and provides excellent resources for peer mentorship and community. I am also proud of the work my Sustainable Development capstone team did for the Cape May Point Science Center. Being a project manager for the capstone allowed me to really get to know and support my peers.

Outside of the program, I am also proud of my impact through the Intercultural House, a special interest dorm focused on social justice. Throughout my three years as a resident, I hosted over 250 attendees for Intercultural Shabbat Dinners. Many supported this event from the SDEV program, which meant a lot to me.

Beyond the classroom, what extracurricular activities did you engage in?

I co-led the Student Union for Sustainable Development and lived in the Intercultural House for three years. I served as a vice president for the Columbia Linguistics Club and played the glockenspiel and tenor drums for the Pep Band. I also danced tap, hip-hop, African and modern dance at Barnard and did acrobatics with the Columbia Circus Collective!

What would you like SDEV freshmen to know as you leave Columbia?

They should have fun in and outside of the classroom. My best learning happened when I enjoyed my classwork and applied my experiences through my work and contributions to global sustainability events.

What are you most excited for post-graduation?

For the first time in my life, I feel like I can fully explore as I want beyond an educational setting, and I am so excited to make choices, impact the world and live!

Q&A with Emine Taha

Taha grew up in Istanbul, Turkey, before moving to New York to attend Columbia University. She first developed an interest in sustainability in middle school, engaging with sustainability efforts through writing, taking individual action and by helping her peers reduce their impact on the environment. That interest only grew with time, leading Taha to pursue sustainable development as a major. Outside of class, Taha also enjoys pottery and open-water swimming.

Last month, Taha had the opportunity to celebrate her graduation from Columbia alongside her younger sister, Iman, who completed her studies at Barnard.

In the coming months, Taha is most excited to explore Washington, D.C. where she’ll be working at the Brattle Group as an Energy Analyst. She will focus on energy and electricity markets projects—building models, doing research and helping experts prepare reports for legal and policy cases.

How did you grow as a leader throughout your time at Columbia?

To be a leader at Columbia, you have to know when to stand up for yourself and step up when opportunities arise. I got one of my first leadership roles by consistently filling in gaps where I saw a need, and was encouraged to take on a bigger role because of that initiative. Navigating that transition required standing my ground and having open, respectful conversations to find a solution that made sense for the team.

In many committees, I was often the youngest or least experienced in the room, but I learned that leadership is about being prepared, communicating clearly and knowing the value you bring. You don’t have to have the most experience to be effective; you just need strong arguments, a willingness to listen and the confidence to represent your perspective.

What leadership accomplishments are you most proud of?

A few months into my term as president of the Columbia University Impact Investing Network (CUIIN), we unexpectedly lost a club member and dear friend, Sam Terblanche. It was a very difficult time, and I initially considered stepping down, but I chose to stay and lead the club in a way that honored his spirit and values. We partnered with the Student Union for Sustainable Development to hold space for the SDEV community, and throughout the year, honored him in large club events. Personally, I made it a priority to support younger students, which Sam valued a lot.

Beyond the classroom, what extracurricular activities did you engage in?

I got involved with the CUIIN as a freshman, first joining their ESG Analyst Program. I taught the program the following year, and then became president of CUIIN my junior year. My sophomore summer, I became a Social Impact Fellow at Columbia, completing a one-year program. I was a member of the Advisory Committee on Socially Responsible Investing my junior and senior year, and served on the Waste and Reuse Think Tank my junior spring.

I also contributed to Consilience Sustainability Journal, was a consultant at Consult Your Community, worked as a social media manager at the Natural Materials Lab at GSAPP, and assisted research conducted by Lynnette Widder and Greg Yetman.

What was your favorite class in the Sustainable Development program and why?

My favorite class was Climate Change and Law, taught by Michael Gerrard. It gave me a very necessary understanding of international climate policy and the U.S. climate landscape, and it allowed me to better understand the implications of climate policy decisions. It also helped me immensely in many of my interviews.

What tips do you have for students who wish to complete the Sustainable Development program?

There are many avenues you can take within the major, I recommend going through the course list quite early on and figuring out what interests you. Also, balance skills classes with classes that dive deep into topics you are interested in. It’s also helpful to talk to SDEV alumni and upperclassmen who work in areas you are interested in to figure out what classes helped them the most.

SDEV opens so many doors and you have a wonderful department behind you that supports you. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, make sure to attend departmental events to get closer with your peers, and remember your professors are here to help you!