Congrats Fall 2019 MASD Grads!

Student Spotlight

Dec 24, 2019

Student Spotlight

Dec 24, 2019

We are proud to announce our newest MA in Sustainable Design graduates:  Ajda Mesic, Jazmyne Geis, Olivia Pedersen, and Whitley Mike!

Each has successfully completed eight courses ranging from Systems Thinking to Practice of Sustainable Design to Creative Leadership. In addition, each has completed an independent thesis project. You can see one project from each course, as well as their thesis projects, in their web-based portfolios.  Links to their thesis project presentations and web-based portfolios are shared below.

Jazmyne Geis
Transcending Maui’s Current Waste Paradigm: A Regenerative Materials Innovation Hub
Portfolio: http://jazmynegeis.com/sustainabledesign 

Ajda Mesic
Understanding How Socio-Cultural Norms Shape Consumer Behaviors: The case for ecological modernization of birthday parties
Portfolio: https://www.ajdamesicmasd.com/ 

Whitley Mike
Using App Design to Implement Behavior Changes to Protect the Southern Resident Orca (upload pending)
Portfolio: https://whitleymike.com/ 

Olivia Pedersen
A Daily Tool to Transition To a Sustainable Lifestyle
Portfolio: https://howcollaborative.com/sustainable-projects 


Like many of our students, these amazing women completed their MA while working and managing the many challenges that life can bring. We look forward to seeing the positive impacts that they will have on our world. You can learn more about them and their work on the Alumni page of this blog.

If you’d like to see your name on this list one day, please explore our fully online MA in Sustainable Design program!  The Early Action Deadline for Fall 2020 is January 15. 

If you’re not sure what it’s like to take courses online, we invite you to explore our Spring 2020 offering of Fundamentals of Sustainable Design, which is now offered as three 5-week units. 

You are also welcome to take our non-program offerings ISSP-SA Exam Prep and Introduction to Biomimicry.

Denise DeLuca / Former Director

Denise DeLuca is the Director of MCAD’s Sustainable Design program. She was co-founder of BCI: Biomimicry Creative for Innovation, a network of creative professional change agents driving ecological thinking for radical transformation. Denise is author of the book Re-Aligning with Nature: Ecological Thinking for Radical Transformation, which was illustrated by MASD alum Stephanie Koehler. She also teaches with the Amani Institute.

Denise’s previous roles include Education Director for the International Living Future Institute, Project Manager for Swedish Biomimetics 3000, and Outreach Director for The Biomimicry Institute. Denise is a licensed civil engineer (PE) and holds a master’s degree in civil and environmental engineering with a focus on modeling landscape-scale surface and groundwater interactions.  In addition, Denise is a Biomimicry Fellow and a member of the Advisory Council of The Biomimicry Institute,  Board Member of the International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP), on the editorial board of the Journal of Bionic Engineering, and an Expert with Katerva. Denise is based in Oregon.

contact:  [email protected]