Alumni Spotlight: Li Guan, '15

Li Guan, Graduate of the class of 2015

Environmental Studies Major and Economics Minor 

Current Job

In June of 2016 Li joined Amazon working with the social responsibility team as a social responsibility program manager in Shenzhen, China, doing social audits and engaging with suppliers focusing on improving issues around ethics within the supply chain. Li credits getting this job through a valuable connection she made during her time at Macalester. In 2015, the US Director of Social Responsibility from Amazon visited Macalester to give a Ted Talk like presentation. At the time she was doing freelance work with organizations like BSR and the Atlantic. After her presentation, Li did an informational interview with her and they connected on Linkedin. Eventually she posted a job and Li wrote an email expressing interest, and later got the job. 

Memorable Sustainability Projects While at Macalester 

Li Guan graduated in 2015 with a major in Environmental Studies and a minor in Economics. Looking back at her time at Macalester, Li fondly remembers starting an Empty Bowls event on campus with art professor Gary Erickson. Empty Bowls is an international project to fight hunger. Guests were served a simple meal of bread and soup and were able to choose from a large selection of ceramic bowls made by students in one of Gary's classes. The proceeds went on to benefit Second Harvest Heartland. Li was also an active member of MacCARES and participated in dirty trainings, educating first years on how to recycle correctly on campus. 

While at Macalester, Li worked with the Civic Engagement Center coordinating volunteer opportunities and helping to organic events within the center's environment and sustainability service area. Through this job Li was able to work with many community partners throughout the Twin Cities such as Urban Roots, Great Plains Institute, Youth Farming, and the Great River Greening. One of the biggest benefits of working at the CEC was that it allowed Li to develop her communication skills both orally and written, forcing her out of her comfort zone. 

After college Li worked as a Sustainability Intern for Metro Transit. While at Metro Transit she worked on project management, specifically attempting to reduce waste and water contamination at Metro Transit's facilities, which at the time included 5 large bus garages, support facilities, and office buildings.

Sustainability in Daily Life 

When asked to offer advice for students who are interested in a career in sustainability, Li said that students should allow their time at Macalester to help them figure out where their true passions lie. Figuring out what your are interested in only emerges after a lot of trial and error. You need to put yourself  out there and have new experiences to see what it is that you enjoy.