Welcome to the Social Impact Podcast, brought to you by the Loeb Center at Amherst College and hosted by Ella Simons ’26!
In each episode, I sit down with a student or alum to explore their personal career journeys, the choices that have shaped them, and the insights they’ve gained along the way. Whether you’re curious about purposeful work or looking for inspiration in your own path, tune in for fresh perspectives and meaningful conversations. Stay tuned for new episodes dropping soon!
The transcription below has been edited for clarity.
Ella:
Hi there everyone, and welcome to another episode of the Social Impact Podcast from the Loeb Center! I’m your host, Ella Simons, and in this week’s episode, I sat down with senior environmental studies major, Malva Wieck. We touched on the changing job market, finding exciting internships and how following your curiosity can lead you to unexpected opportunities. So sit back, relax and enjoy the conversation.
Hello, Malva, how are you?
Malva:
Hi! I’m doing well. You know, the sun is shining, winter’s finally gonna be over, hopefully. So I’m feeling pretty good. God, it’s been a long winter, I’m like the groundhog just came out, and his shadow, I guess, is going on forever, but not anymore.
Ella:
So true! So can you introduce yourself to the people listening?
Malva:
Sure. Hi, people on the internet or wherever you’re listening from, my name is Malva, and I’m a senior environmental studies major here at Amherst. I don’t know if you guys want hobbies or just that. But yeah.
Ella:
Okay, so how did you decide on environmental studies?
Malva:
Yeah, growing up, my mom is Swedish, and so I spent pretty much all of my childhood outdoors. There were no fancy technologies we have now, like the iPhone. I mean, you know, there was back then, but [I] just spent time outside. So I think just having a deep, physical connection to outdoor spaces [which] created kind of a reverence for them, that I wanted to protect those spaces. And I came to Amherst and just naturally gravitated towards those courses and found that I just was really intellectually stimulated, and I cared a lot too about the content matter in those courses. So that’s kind of how I naturally found my way to that major.
Ella:
Yeah. So did you start out knowing that you wanted to major in environmental studies?
Malva:
Oh God, no, no. I graduated high school, and I was like, I have no idea what I want to do with my life. And I was like, Amherst is the perfect launching point, because with the open curriculum, we could take anything and everything. So I took geology classes and architecture classes and art history classes, but I just kept coming back to enviro. And then by the end of my freshman year, I was like, all right, I’ve amassed enough credits. This may be a really good major to actually kind of commit to, and the rest is history.
Ella:
Yeah, wow. Very cool. So have you had any experiences outside of academics, in the environmental studies world?
Malva:
Yeah, that is such a good question. I mean, this isn’t really like an academic [experience], but it’s kind of more for funsies, which is the outing club. That’s been a really cool space to kind of talk about equity and access to nature on a student level, or a personal level. So I was involved in that club in my younger years, my sophomore, freshman year, on the e-board. And that was really, really enjoyable, because, like I talked about with equity and access, the club is free. Everyone can do any of those activities. I didn’t really realize how important the physical aspect of getting people in nature was until I came to Amherst and kind of got to witness that second-hand. And that was kind of a very transformative and enjoyable process of being able to kind of not physically leave a mark, because it is like, you know, you’re just helping facilitate a club. But [I was] able to get people out there and expose them to the same things that I loved and I enjoy. That may be kind of a circuitous answer to your question, but it’s very impactful.
Ella:
Yeah! So what kind of overlap do you see between social impact and environmental studies?
Malva:
My gosh, I feel like almost all of environmental studies is social impact, because at the end of the day, everyone is living on this planet, and everyone is going to be, [though] the consequences and levels vary, impacted by this new epoch that we’re entering–and climate change. And so I feel like advocating for a more equitable planet and a healthier planet is advocating for better social impact for everyone. So for me, environmentalism is just an extension of, I think, of what a lot of social impact work is, which is making sure the general population and public are happier and healthier, and that’s kind of where I see the two topics being married together.
Ella:
Totally. So in our emails, you mentioned that you’ve been to Nome, Alaska, and Kyoto. So how did you end up there?
Malva:
So as I mentioned, coming into Amherst, I had no idea what I wanted to do. And I’m very, very fortunate to have very supportive parents who’re just like, apply for absolutely anything that sparks your interests and piques your interest. So that’s honestly exactly what I’ve done these last four years is just like, I’ll be reading the Daily Mammoth–for any of my listeners who don’t know what that is, it’s just kind of like a daily email chain that Amherst sends out. And it’s a gold mine of opportunities there. And so every morning at 8 am I will get up, maybe a little bit later than 8 am, actually. Yeah, on weekends, it’s definitely closer to noon or something. But I’ll go through and I’ll read the opportunities that are listed there. And I found out about the Nagle Fellowship for Asian Art and Culture, and that is what led me to Kyoto. I took an art history course with Yale Rise about the art and architecture of Southeast Asia, and just fell in love with kind of the storytelling aspect of it, and decided to put my foot in the door, apply for that fellowship, and was fortunate enough to get it, and Amherst funded me to travel to Japan for a summer where I would did a lot of landscape photography and studying, kind of the modern environmental consciousness of the society, which was amazing. And then for the Nome trip, that was a National Science Foundation Arctic research vessel cruise that I was able to be a part of through the geology department.
And you may be picking up, well, I’m not a geology major or an art history major, but really I found here at Amherst, if you just get to know your professors, and if you’re just curious and kind of wanting to kind of study what they’re studying, or just have a genuine curiosity, that goes so far. So I applied for that NSF foundation experience, and they flew me up to Alaska, and we did, like, a week-long cruise on this research vessel that I was talking about. Oh my gosh, it was fun, but I did not realize how bad those things like roll in the water with the waves and so seasickness was definitely something I got a little bit too familiar with. But yeah, I’ve been incredibly fortunate and I would say honestly, lucky. And I would say to anyone listening, just even if you think you may not get it or it’s too difficult, just apply, because the worst that can happen is you get a “no” and then, okay, you move on to the next thing.
Ella:
That’s a really good attitude to have about rejection.
Malva:
Yeah, I’m definitely practicing that now senior year with all the applications and stuff. So yeah, trying to stay positive.
Ella:
Yeah, I can imagine. What direction do you think you’re gonna go in post graduation?
Malva:
So, as I mentioned, or may have hinted to, I love fellowships. I think they’re like the perfect balance between academics and travel and kind of self-growth and exploration. So I’ve applied for a Fulbright, specifically teaching English in Greece, and I am anxiously waiting. My fingers are like, clawing the desk here to hear back about that. And that should be at the end of March, early April. So if I’m fortunate enough to be selected for that, I will hijack it over to Greece. But if not, I think I’m gonna do a gap year, probably work and live at home, just kind of catch a breather after these last very four academically rigorous years here at Amherst, and then hopefully do grad school, probably abroad. I’m looking at Sweden, because I’m a dual citizen, which is gonna be a little bit more affordable than it would be in the US. And I think I should do something in the environmental policy route, because I really, really liked seeing the kind of firsthand work delegates and senators were able to do on the recent Social Impact Career Trek that I was on with the Loeb Center.
Ella:
Wow. So how, how has the idea of social impact kind of guided you through all of this? Because it sounds like a lot of what you’re interested in is in the social impact space.
Malva:
Yeah, I would say again, it kind of boils down to childhood. Not only that, but also just kind of thinking about my own kind of goals and life values that I hold. But I’d say my parents raised me with the idea of, if you can be a public servant, that’s a very noble and also rewarding cause. And there’s been an increasing amount of dialog I’ve heard from peers or advisors, or mentors in the various career exploration fields, talking about how if you can find something that you feel you’re accomplishing good for, and you’re working for, quote, unquote, a better cause, you’ll feel very fulfilled. And I know myself, and I know that I like to stay very, very busy, and I like to have, you know, 10,000 things going on at once. And if there’s a sector that always needs it, it’s social impact. But my goal in life is just to kind of leave a little bit more good, as cheesy as it sounds, than bad. And I don’t know, finance just didn’t do it for me. I did Intro to Econ, and Kate Sims is an amazing professor, but just wasn’t for me. And I figured, dang, if I wanted to go the investment banking or consulting route, I probably have to be a little bit better at that. You know, my dad’s an LSE grad, so he’s probably like, “ahhh.” That’s the London School of Economics, for those who don’t know the acronym. But unfortunately, that kind of didn’t matriculate down to my own preferences.
Ella:
That’s very fair. I also withdrew from Intro to Econ, because I couldn’t do the math.
Malva:
Yeah, no, it’s tricky. It’s a lot more math. I was like, “Okay, it’s gonna be like graphs and stuff.” It was not.
Ella:
It was not, oh, no, no. So I guess since you’re graduating, what advice as a senior do you have for students who are going to be here for another couple of years?
Malva:
I think my biggest kind of overarching piece of advice would just be, take advantage of everything that Amherst offers. I went to a public high school in rural Kentucky, which was an amazing experience. I’m very thankful for that, but just the amount of support and the amount of honestly, money and time that Amherst invests in the opportunities for students here is just insane. So I would say, read the Daily Mammoth, ask your professors about opportunities, just chat with your peers. Use the Loeb Center. And again, if something seems interesting, go for it. I’ve talked to so many of my friends and peers who have said, “Oh yeah, I found this opportunity, but I didn’t think I’d get it, so I never applied.” And I would say, really, just take that extra five to 10 minutes out of your day to just sit down, gather yourself and look to see what the College is pushing out on its various social media sites or in emails. Because a lot of times there will just be so many opportunities being pushed towards you that I would say, just go for, which I know, again, sounds kind of cheesy, but really just be aware and pay attention to just how much Amherst is offering up. We are very lucky with how many opportunities we have here.
Ella:
Yeah, definitely. It’s really amazing, especially compared to so many other schools.. But also, do you have any specific techniques you used to find internships and fellowships?
Malva:
Again, this is kind of a cop out, but word of mouth, I would say, is very, very important. I did two major internships or fellowships during my summers here. My freshman summer, I didn’t do anything. I just took a breather and break, which I want to tell the listeners that’s totally okay to do, too. I definitely needed it after that first very rigorous adjustment year here at Amherst. My sophomore summer, I was here on campus working as the communications intern with the Office of Sustainability. And I found out about that, because I’d got to know Wes Dripps, the director in the Office there, and he had recommended the position. He was like, “Oh, this would be a great fit for you, you should apply.” But also just again, searching things that I was interested in on various databases, which could be from Amherst, like in Workday. But same goes for career positions: if you’re on LinkedIn, if you’re on Handshake, or, any of these new apps or websites to get opportunities, search and be proactive. And then with the Nagel Fellowship, which I did my junior summer, as well as the NSF one, that was also through word of mouth, with building relationships with professors, you know, making those connections that when the time came I could, ask like, “Hey, do you guys know of anything this summer,” they felt comfortable and happy to, I think, support me in that way. So definitely be incredibly kind, and I would say, also open and even friendly if it calls for, with your professors or those working to support you here.
Ella:
That seems like a big takeaway.
Malva:
Yeah, definitely a smile, and just a couple questions like, “How are you? How’s it going?” Goes a long way. I would say.
Ella:
Well, I’ll be implementing that. So this might be kind of a strange question, but where do you see the job market going? In terms of credit events, AI, the administration… what are your predictions?
Malva:
Definitely not a strange question at all. It’s something I’ve been wrestling with ever since Trump was elected again. I think that when it comes to the federally funded stuff, I know there’s been conversation and dialog around if Fulbright is even going to happen for this year and next year, and so I think that it creates a level of uncertainty that is kind of unprecedented in a way, because I know we’ve had presidents and elected officials before who have been kind of more anti-environmental, that hasn’t really been a priority for them, but this administration definitely feels like they’re just cutting a lot of public service or social impact kind of opportunities. So I would say that I am cautiously optimistic, that I hope and I know that in the next four years that there will still be a need for environmental positions. And even now, I would say the work required only grows, because I think the urgency is increasing. So I think that there’s obviously going to be a lot of people furloughed or being cut down, or positions being kind of shrunk, but I think the core of the environmental movement, or social impact movement, is going to continue. And I think we just have to fight the good fight even stronger now. But I will say it’s been very depressing and kind of also scary to see a lot of people higher up in their careers and very well-established who have Masters, PhDs, you know, 20 plus years under their belt of really good hands on work just being fired for, honestly, no reason at all. So I think uncertainty in life is always a given. But it definitely feels very scary to be entering this era as an Amherst grad and as an environmentalist, for sure.
Ella:
But like you said, there are a lot of people who I’m sure support you, and the direction you’ve chosen despite current situations.
Malva:
I am hopeful, and I am sure that he will not have a third term and that we’ll get right back on track for some climate justice soon, which I’m hungry for. So that’s good.
Ella:
So I guess kind of as a last question, how do you keep yourself motivated during school?
Malva:
Well, I think it’s a lot of caffeine. I think what motivates me? And again, this kind of sounds like a cop-out answer. But I think just remembering how lucky I am to be here, and what an absolute privilege and opportunity it is to have so many resources just at my feet. In previous years, if there was a reading I didn’t want to do, or if there was an econ problem set that I was like, “Oh, this is just killing me,” I would honestly think back to how much work and sacrifice my parents personally put in to make sure I got here. But also, just as a feminist and as a woman, just how many generations before me sacrificed to make sure that I could be here to do something like this. And that all sounds very big and very meta, but just on a day to day basis, just reminding myself that by going to Amherst and taking these courses, I will end up a better and wiser and more empathetic person. And that really motivates me, because it’s never this specific reading, like, you may grow a lot from reading out a chapter of Thoreau or something like that, but it’s the conversations and the dialog and it’s the kind of intellectual banter that really just elevates the experience here and elevates who you are as a person. I’ll get off my soapbox now, but [that’s my] very long winded answer to what motivates me to keep up when the problem sets get to be a little bit too much.
Ella:
Yeah, that was actually very beautiful. So do you have any kind of last parting words that you’d like to share?
Malva:
Man, soak it up. Soak it up. Soak it up. Soak it up. As a soon-to-be-graduating senior, they say high school is over and like the blink of an eye, and college is over even faster. And I know when you’re in it, it may seem like there’s weeks and weeks and weeks left. But really, an experience at Amherst is such an ephemeral and wonderful thing. As much as sometimes the late night office hours and all nighters to finish essays suck, it is just so rewarding. And so for me, it’s been an amazing experience. So I know that may not be the case for everyone, but just honestly, enjoy where you are right now. Don’t try to live too far in the future and just really be appreciative of where you are.
Ella:
Well, thank you so much for being so comforting, and very wise, too. I really appreciate it, and I’m sure everyone else does too. So thank you.
Malva:
It was great talking to you, of course. Thank you so much.
Ella:
That’s a wrap on today’s episode, thanks so much for tuning in. If you enjoyed this conversation, stay with us, because there’s plenty more coming your way from the Loeb Center. See you next time!
