We are dedicated to advancing knowledge and fostering meaningful dialogue on energy and environmental issues that shape international policy and global development. Through our programming and initiatives, we create opportunities for students to develop specialized expertise while building the analytical and practical skills essential for careers in this rapidly evolving field. Our core commitments are below!
We identify and promote career opportunities across the energy and environment sector, connecting students with internships, fellowships, and full-time positions in government agencies, international organizations, private sector firms, and non-governmental organizations.
We facilitate substantive discussions on pressing energy and environmental challenges, from climate diplomacy and renewable energy transitions to environmental security and sustainable development, encouraging diverse perspectives and evidence-based analysis.
We foster a vibrant community of students, faculty, and professionals who share a commitment to addressing global energy and environmental challenges through informed policy-making and international cooperation.
President
Jade Gonzalez is a Pickering Fellow and second-year MAIR student studying Technology & Innovation in Europe and Eurasia focusing on the intersection of emerging technology and sustainable development. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2022 with her B.A. in International Relations and European History and she completed her honors thesis on transboundary groundwater governance. Previously, Jade was a Business Analyst for McKinsey & Company where she advised both public and private sector clients on supply-chain and logistics issues as well as how to leverage AI in the workplace. In addition to serving as President of the Energy & Environment Club, Jade is the Programming Chair for SAIS Student Government Association.
Vice President
Chiara Sutton is a second-year MAIR student focusing on Development, Climate, and Sustainability and Asia and Europe and Eurasia. She retains a B.A. in International Relations and Music Performance from the University of San Diego, where she conducted undergraduate research on the influence of hydrocarbon markets on Russian foreign policy. Having returned to higher education to specialize in global energy security in the context of the clean energy transition, Chiara’s current research focuses on the opportunities for and structural barriers to critical minerals recycling.
Director of Finance
Bharat Sharma is a Master’s student at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), specializing in energy, economics, and China. He has worked in the think tank space in India, where he contributed to research on foreign policy and strategic affairs, and has interned at the South African Reserve Bank, focusing on green finance and the role of central banks in addressing climate risks. Beyond his academic and professional pursuits, Bharat has designed and led peacebuilding initiatives that bring together youth from India and Pakistan. Originally from Alwar, Rajasthan, he grew up across different parts of India.
Director of Outreach & Public Relations
Nandini Sharma is a second year MAIR student with concentrations in Development, Climate, and Sustainability and Asia. She graduated from the University of California, Irvine in 2024 with degrees in International Studies and French, completing research about climate refugees, human development, and colonial impacts on language. Her research interests include environmental development and policy and the human impact of energy transitions.
Director of Operations
Brian Njoroge is a first-year MAIR student with concentrations in International Economics and Finance and Africa. He graduated from Duke University with a B.A in Public Policy and International Comparative Studies in 2020. He is a Sustainability Researcher, analyzing the private sector’s sustainability practices for the world’s 2000 most influential companies. Previously, he has worked at the intersection of digital innovation and climate resilience across Africa and Asia, and has held roles in health partnership development and consulting for micro-enterprises. His research interests include climate finance flows to low- and middle-income countries and renewable energy.
Director of Communications
Isabella Zárate is a Rangel Fellow and first-year MAIR student with concentrations in Development, Climate, and Sustainability and The Americas. She graduated from Baylor University with a B.A. in International Studies and Environmental Studies, and she completed her honors' thesis on climate communication and the importance of value -based messaging. Before attending SAIS, during her undergraduate studies, she has interned with the US Forest Service, local environmental non-profits, and a tech-centered non-profit, allowing her to focus her efforts on aiding marginalized communities gain access to educational tools and climate resources.
