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With an interest in meteorology and the impact of weather events on communities, Jazmine Pritchett MEM ’25 earned bachelor’s degrees in Geography and Earth and Environmental Science. She is pursuing a career that includes urban planning and found the dual Duke MEM and UNC MCRP master’s degree programs to be a good fit for her goals.

Prior to her internship with Environmental Law and Policy Clinic (ELPC) at Duke Law School, Pritchett’s work experience includes serving as the Education Coordinator for the Duke Environmental Justice Network, as a Graduate Research Assistant for The Environmental Finance Center (EFC) at UNC and as a Research Fellow for the Energy Futures Initiative. Pritchett enjoys using data models to advocate for policies that assist with community resilience. While at EFC, she assisted in preparing presentation materials and facilitated a meeting for a focus group on environmental justice and affordability data for water and wastewater utilities. The focus group included public utilities directors, who provided feedback on their understanding of environmental justice and how a dashboard could benefit their utility.

Pritchett also wrote a case study on the Division of Water Infrastructure’s (DWI) Asset and Inventory Assessment (AIA) grant application and implementation process for Edenton, N.C.,and contributed to the Paying for Nutrient Management report, where she authored the section on "Structures for Secure and Long-term Funding for Nutrient Management."

Pritchett is a self-described foodie, and outside of class and interning enjoys spending time outside with her boyfriend Gabriel and dog Jetta, as well as taking dance classes.

She shares her experience working with the ELPC team below:

Can you please talk about your path to Duke, and your decision to pursue a dual master’s degree?

I discovered Duke’s Environmental Management program during my junior year of college while researching graduate schools. Initially, I came across the program while exploring UNC Chapel Hill’s planning program and learned about the new dual degree offering between the two schools. I felt that this dual degree was an excellent opportunity to receive education from two strong programs in their respective fields, obtaining a technical background at Duke while pursuing a more policy-focused one through the MCRP. Duke offers a wide range of courses that align with my interests and also allow me to explore new areas. Back in 2021, and even now, I believe that the multidisciplinary opportunities at Duke provide a rewarding experience that will last a lifetime.

Why did you decide to apply to the Environmental Law and Policy Clinic, and did you find the experience valuable for your career goals?

The ELPC opportunity was offered through the Stanback Fellowship, which sparked my interest when I first began my MEM program. In any internship, I am drawn to positions that involve community interaction, data utilization, and a policy focus. When I saw the ELPC position was available, I knew it was the perfect fit, aligning with all my interests while also providing exposure to the law and policy side directly through the law school. Additionally, I was attracted to the fact that it would be a local opportunity, focusing on southeastern U.S. communities, an area I am consistently drawn to regarding climate and environmental impacts. At the end of the internship, I do feel like the experience was valuable for my career goals and was everything I hoped for and more. It is very rewarding that the work I produced during this time will actually be used in effective ways.

You mentioned you found the experience working with clients rewarding. Can you expand on this? How did you feel about your work overall?

In my past experiences, I have worked with local and state governments but had never engaged with communities on an individual level. It was rewarding to be welcomed into their spaces, where I could listen and share some of the work I felt might be useful to them for the issues we were addressing. I felt that my work was valuable, and I was able to receive direct gratification through casual conversations with clients and by listening to their feedback.

During our discussion, you mentioned an interest in weather events and understanding their impact on communities. Can you share more about your work around this topic?

I've been interested in weather since I was young, and it was my focus when I first started college. I initially wanted to become a forensic meteorologist, combining my interest in weather with a smaller passion for detective work, though I wasn’t sure of the exact path to get there. In my freshman year, I even did a project on the relationship between extreme heat events and crime. However, by the end of my sophomore year, I realized that the main pathways in meteorology often lead to forecasting, which I had no desire to pursue. Instead, I was truly interested in how reports and data can be used to understand the impact of weather events on individuals.

This interest was further solidified when I had the opportunity to work on a project with two civil engineering professors focused on predicting flood damage due to extreme rainfall events. Now, I seek out any opportunity to work on natural hazards and extreme weather events, particularly hurricanes and extreme heat. I'm currently pursuing the Natural Hazards Resilience Certificate at UNC and am part of a Bass Connections project on Risk Analytics and Innovation for Community Climate Adaptation.

What advice would you share with students who are considering applying to ELPC?

I believe that if you have any interest in a position, you should go for it, even if it doesn't completely align with your current interests. I had the opportunity to be part of a case I had never considered before, and now I'll be following it closely. It also can be intimidating to work with people facing real-life challenges but remember that you are supported and can trust yourself to produce great, effective work.

What are your plans after graduation?

I'm fully focused on finding a job after graduation, and I'm actually excited to be (hopefully) done with school for good! Fortunately, I have a diverse background, so while I’m not sure what my specific role will be, I think there will be a wide range of options out there for me to explore. I’m particularly interested in positions that focus on research, policymaking, and data analysis.