Alumni Spotlight:
Eric Willadsen ’10
Major: English Literature and History
Hometown: South Windsor, Connecticut
Current Job: State Lobbying and Advocacy Associate for the Sierra Club
What I Do Now: I work primarily with our staff in our state offices, which are called chapters, in the Midwest. I help them devise state legislative strategies around our priority issues, including protecting the environment.
How the Hartwick Experience Impacted My Professional Life: I took an environmental history course during my time at Hartwick, where part of it was about researching our personal environmental history. During this time, I was able to reflect on the changes that had happened in my hometown. Once a pretty rural and agricultural town, it had transitioned into a more robust suburb over the course of my childhood. Having that personalized education was a powerful tool for thinking about the changes that are happening in our world and how to be engaged and involved in shaping our planet.
What Inspired Me to Follow this Career: Traveling abroad through international J Term courses was an opportunity that had a huge part in shaping my career. Upon coming to Hartwick College, I was uncertain what I wanted to do with my life. However, when I traveled to Ghana, I discovered some potential professional interests and opened my eyes to the diversity in the world and the opportunities we have to shape it. The liberal arts curriculum was also very influential on my college experience—it requires students to take courses not necessarily directly related to their major as a way for the horizon of learning to be broadened. In my junior year, I was required to take a seminar called “Energy Policy,” which ultimately pointed me in the direction I wanted to go in after I graduated.
My Favorite Aspect of My Career: Being able to build relationships with people from across the political spectrum. Environmental policy and conservation policy tend to resonate, especially on the state and local levels, across party lines in a positive way. It is important that there is a “meeting place” when collaborating with others; it can be a pretty empowering process.
My Advice for Current Students:
- Be able to communicate complex ideas and information in a way that is easily digestible.
- Networking is very important.
- Get involved in political processes in the country and practice civil engagement.
- Hone in on interpersonal skills and relationship building.
Spotlight by Stella Giustino ’25
