At Sustainable San Mateo County, we have a long history of empowering youth to build a sustainable future. Since 2019, SSMC has trained 102 interns. Students have played a vital role in developing our Indicators Reports, which spotlight local sustainability challenges and solutions, and have contributed fresh ideas to our Ideas Bank. They gain hands-on experience in stakeholder outreach, real-world problem-solving and data and policy analysis.
This internship also opens doors: interns build professional networks, sharpen their skills and receive personal references to help launch their careers in sustainability and public policy.
We’re excited to introduce this year’s incredible students! A big thank you to our generous sponsors who make this program possible. Interested in supporting the next generation of changemakers? Contact us at sponsor@sustainablesanmateo.org.
Sustainable Cities Students
We are proud to welcome three students from Stanford University who are part of the “Sustainable Cities” course taught by Rick Kos. The students have worked with SSMC to design a project focused on addressing the uneven distribution of tree canopy across San Mateo County – that is having real health consequences – and that will contribute to SSMC’s 2026 Indicators Report.
Studies show that access to shade and green space is associated with lower temperatures, reduced heat stress, improved cardiovascular and respiratory health and better overall quality of life. Yet communities facing the highest heat exposure, traffic pollution, asthma burden and economic stress often have the least canopy coverage. As climate change intensifies extreme heat events, these disparities are becoming more visible.
The core question the students are answering is where do tree canopy gaps in San Mateo County overlap with the communities most affected by heat, poor air quality and decades of disinvestment, and thereby helping to identify the neighborhoods where new trees would do the most good.
The students are developing maps to identify where low urban tree canopy overlaps with heat exposure, health burdens and socioeconomic vulnerability in San Mateo County. This data will equip city and county decision-makers with actionable, data-driven insights that move beyond general advocacy toward targeted implementation.
Sebastian Andrews
- A grad student at Stanford University
- Graduating in June 2026 with Master’s in Earth Systems
- Passions: state and local climate policy, mountain biking, cycling, jazz piano and music
Atessa Anoshirvani
- A Junior at Stanford University
- Majoring in Earth Systems and minoring in Human Biology
- Passions: environmental justice, climate communication, planetary health, hiking, swimming and knitting
Rebecca Monge
- A grad student at Stanford University
- Graduating in June 2026 with Master’s in Earth Systems
- Passions: restoration, environmental justice, soil and water science, poetry, taking public transit and trying new restaurants in the Bay Area
