Dave Fribush

Dave Fribush is pursuing a master's degree in Sustainable Systems.  He is enrolled in the dual-degree program administered by the Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise and plans to graduate in 2010 with an M.S. from SNRE and an M.B.A. from the Ross School of Business.  Originally from Pittsfield, Mass., Dave earned his undergraduate degree in economics from Wesleyan University.

Name:  Dave Fribush
Age:  I am on the "Chronologically Advantaged" e-mail list.  Enough said.
Hometown:  Pittsfield, Mass.
SNRE degree sought:  M.S. and M.B.A.
Projected semester/year of graduation: 2010
Undergraduate degree: Wesleyan University, Economics

Why did you pick this particular field of study? Why were you drawn to this field?
My trip back to graduate school began when I went to hear Amory Lovins give a talk in San Diego several years ago. He presented what was to me a radically new idea of how environmentalism and business were perfect partners. Nowadays, "green business" is all the rage, but amazingly even a few years ago this was not the case.

Amory's talk inspired me and created the hazy outlines of a career change towards working at the intersection of environment and business. As I investigated graduate school options, I saw that a dual degree with SNRE and the business school made perfect sense for my interests. The science background from SNRE would give me the needed knowledge and credibility on environmental issues, while an MBA would do the same when making the business case.

 
What do you like best so far about your program?
I love the built-in checks and balances of being a dual-degree student. I think it is easy, in any given graduate program, to become a bit insulated in one point of view. I find my SNRE perspective gives me a more balanced view at the business school, and vice versa.

I also continue to be impressed by the quality of the professors, fellow students and visiting speakers. Last year's visit by the Dalai Lama to give us a talk on sustainability was certainly a highlight.

Describe your research interests and experiences at SNRE.
My goal is to be as effective as possible in the development and practical implementation of environmental solutions that are scientifically and financially sound. The Sustainable Systems track at SNRE is a great fit with that goal. Greg Keoleian's Industrial Ecology class is amazingly thorough, and the one I relied on the most during my summer internship. Tom Gladwin's Systems Thinking class and Andy Hoffman's Competitive Environmental Strategy class are also excellent. I find myself using the skills developed in all of these classes as I move forward on my masters project in energy efficiency.

What will you do after graduation?
The million-dollar question. I still have two more years here, and the field is changing so rapidly that it would be premature for me to say. 

What advice do you have for incoming SNRE students?

• Consider a dual degree. Environmental issues do not exist in a vacuum, and are inextricable from issues of policy, business, economics, psychology, etc.  I believe a joint degree will make you more effective in addressing environmental issues, as well as broaden your appeal in the job market. It also gives you an extra year to explore the vast resources at the University of Michigan. Yes, it's another year and a lot more money, but the time goes by amazingly fast and the money, well, it's a consideration, but you can make it work.
• The most precious resource in graduate school is time. In addition to the workload, there are so many opportunities and activities at SNRE and elsewhere on campus that it is easy to get spread very thin. Protect some free time in your schedule to relax.    
• Make time to get to know your classmates and professors. It's surprisingly hard to get to know people in graduate school because everyone is so busy. Yet it's probably the most educational part of any school experience. I'm still working on this one.

What is your favorite environmental-oriented web site and why?
Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI - www.rmi.org). Amory Lovins is my hero and you can find just about every paper he has written there, along with a lot of other great resources developed by RMI. It's an organization that continues to be a thought leader at the intersection of business and environment. I highly recommend a video on the site - RMI 25: A retroFUTREspective.

How do you relax when not studying?
Runs/walks in the Arb, playing music, yoga and The Daily Show have been keeping me reasonably sane. Though it is only the start of the school year....