Savannah Obert-Pfeiffer

Savannah Obert-Pfeiffer is a full-time Place-Based Stewardship Education Specialist with the Northeast Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative (NEMIGLSI), where she connects K–12 educators with local partners to support hands-on, community-driven sustainability projects. Based in Alpena, Michigan, Savannah helps teachers plan field experiences, align stewardship projects with curriculum standards, secure funding, and build partnerships that bring real-world sustainability topics into the classroom. Projects range from water quality monitoring to composting programs and reusable lunchware campaigns led by students.

Since graduating from Michigan Tech’s Sustainability Science and Society undergraduate program in 2023, Savannah has built a career at the intersection of environmental education and community engagement. She began with a seasonal restoration role at The Nature Conservancy, where she gained valuable field experience and community engagement skills. She has since completed professional development in leadership and environmental education, including certifications through Project WILD, Project Learning Tree, and MSU Extension.

Savannah credits the interdisciplinary nature of her Sustainability Science and Society degree, as well as faculty mentorship and research opportunities, for preparing her to lead collaborative, place-based initiatives. She encourages current students to develop people skills, take initiative, and tailor the degree to their interests through internships, coursework, and faculty-led projects. Her work highlights the many career paths available in the field of sustainability—from education and nonprofits to community outreach and program coordination.

Whether she’s helping kids test water quality or guiding teachers through curriculum planning, Savannah is living proof of how a degree in Sustainability Science and Society can blossom into a career rooted in purpose, education, and lasting community impact.

Advice for Current Students: Make the Degree Work for You

• Savannah sees a wide range of possibilities for graduates in sustainability-related fields, from education and nonprofit work to policy, communications, and outreach roles
• Check job boards like: North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), Conservation Job Board, and MAEOE
• Social Sciences Newsletter

“I am a connector between local schools and community partners,” Savannah explains. “The NEMIGLSI network’s goal is to get students’ hands in the dirt, feet in the water, and hearts in their communities.”

Updated September 2025