The Center of Global Sustainability (CGS) at the University of Maryland's School of Public Policy is proud of our six graduating researchers and assistants! Thank you to all our graduates for your contributions to CGS’s work. We wish you all the best in your careers and post-graduation experiences. Learn more about the graduates and their important contributions to climate research and policy.
Rachel Bustamante
Rachel is graduating with a Master’s in Public Policy with a focus in environmental policy. As a graduate assistant with CGS, Rachel helped organize and market the CGS forums and organize two sections of the IPCC Chapter 6, coordinating with authors and tracking edits.
After graduation, Rachel will join the Earth Law Center (a nonprofit with a mission to 'transform the law to recognize, honor and protect Nature’s inherent rights to exist, thrive and evolve') as the Conservation Science & Policy Analyst.
Camryn Dahl
Camryn is graduating with a Master’s in Public Policy with a dual focus in environmental and energy policy. As a graduate assistant at CGS, Camryn helped manage social media platforms, conduct strategic engagement tasks, and conduct research for the China program’s global coal phase-out team.
After graduation, Camryn will be joining CGS full-time as a Faculty Assistant, continuing her work on communications and strategic engagement and supporting research across the Center.
Jared Williams
Jared graduated with a Master’s in Public Policy with a dual focus in climate and environmental policy. At CGS, Jared worked as a research assistant on three projects: US-China Methane Collaboration, Maryland Manufacturing Sector, and America is All In.
After graduation, Jared will continue working with CGS this summer, before moving on to another position within the climate policy field.
Xingchi Shen
Xingchi graduated from the University of Maryland with his Ph.D., specializing in energy and environmental economics and focusing on the economics of electrification and energy efficiency. In his doctoral dissertation, Xingchi studied how to promote the adoption of heat pumps using econometric methods based on a US national dataset covering 150 million residential properties. His studies provide the first empirical evidence of the subsidy effects on heat pump adoption and the heat pump-induced house price premiums, which help design effective policies to promote residential electrification. At CGS, Xingchi supported research efforts as a Ph.D. researcher with the China Program.
After graduation, Xingchi will join the Yale School of the Environment as a post-doctoral associate, continuing his research to help accelerate clean and just energy transitions in the US and China.
Wenli Li
Wenli graduated from the University of Maryland with a Master’s in Public Administration. As a research assistant for CGS, Wenli conducted data and policy analysis for the China methane emissions reduction project, coordinated three international technical workshops/expert dialogues on methane emissions reduction, and helped develop policy briefs, reports, and research papers.
After graduation, Wenli will continue working at CGS this summer. Her long-time goal is to become part of the power to address the climate change issues and make a greener world.
Haiwen Zhang
Haiwen graduated from the University of Maryland with a Master’s in Public Administration. At CGS, Haiwen worked as a research assistant, conducting data and policy analysis for the China methane emissions reduction project.
After graduation, Haiwen will continue to work at CGS for a while in the near future, and then plans to apply for an internship as a data analyst at the United Nations.
Xinzhao Cheng
Xinzhao graduated from the University of Maryland with a Master’s in Public Administration. Xinzhao worked as a research assistant on three separate projects at CGS, collecting and analyzing policy information, checking multi-model data, and organizing citations.
After graduation, Xinzhao will continue to work on her current projects at CGS before moving on to pursue a career in the climate field.
Jiehong Lou
Special congratulations to Dr. Jiehong Lou who received her Ph.D. in 2020, but was ceremonially awarded her Ph.D. by CGS Director Nate Hultman at this year's University of Maryland School of Public Policy graduation. Jiehong is now an Assistant Research Professor at CGS, focusing on quantitative approaches to climate finance & SDGs.
