By Sonam Rustagi
This past fall, Sonam Rustagi interned with the Biden-Harris Administration White House Council on Environmental Quality. She worked in the Conservation (Lands) team and supported the staff in their work with establishing protected spaces such as national monuments, researching and drafting memos for the Council on Environmental Quality Chairwoman Brenda Mallory, and working with other components within the White House Executive Office of the President to further sustainability and climate change initiatives. This internship provided a lot of insight into carbon initiatives related to land and forestry, which was useful for her graduate pursuits. Beyond the work of the internship, she enjoyed special experiences such as a nighttime tour of the West Wing and Oval Office, bowling in the White House, and meeting so many staff members dedicated to environmental priorities. She appreciated all of the support Dr. Lal and the rest of the team at the Lal Carbon Center provided while she completed this experience.