In one of her Environmental and Natural Resources Economics (ENRE) classes at the University of Rhode Island, Anna Geubtner ’26 spent an entire semester analyzing the costs and benefits of offshore wind energy. The project wasn’t hypothetical; it reflected the kind of real-world problem solving that has defined her experience in the program.
Geubtner was initially drawn to the field for its interdisciplinary approach. “It’s all about finding the balance,” she says. “You’re solving environmental issues with economic solutions. We learn about sustainability problems, but also how to use economic models to actually address them.”
That balance – between theory and practice, environment and economy – has become a defining feature of her academic journey. Alongside ENRE, Geubtner studied Global Business Management, an area she chose based on her interest in international systems and applied business strategy.
“I’ve found my niche,” she says. “I’m really interested in energy and connectivity, such as how developing countries lack infrastructure to connect farmers to markets or bring electricity to rural areas.” She credits the combination of economics and business coursework with helping her see how different disciplines intersect. “It all comes together in ways I didn’t expect,” she says.
A hands-on approach
Within ENRE, Geubtner says she appreciated courses that emphasize real-world application. Her Cost Benefit Analysis class required her to apply course concepts across an entire semester-long project focused on offshore wind, an area increasingly relevant in Rhode Island and beyond. Experiences like this, she says, helped her translate classroom learning into tangible skills she could discuss in interviews and include on her résumé.
Similarly, ENRE’s capstone course gave her the opportunity to complete multiple research projects. “It’s another chance to work hands-on with a professor and produce something meaningful,” she says. “Those are the things students can really use to demonstrate their skills if they don’t yet have internship experience.”
Beyond coursework, Geubtner emphasizes the importance of ENRE’s small, supportive environment. “Because it’s a smaller department, professors have the opportunity to teach you multiple years in a row,” she says. “You actually build relationships past one semester.”
Those relationships became central to her experience. Faculty mentorship, she notes, helped her grow both academically and professionally. “They had full trust in me,” she says. “That gave me the confidence to take initiative and be creative.”
Geubtner became involved in the Department during her junior year, working on marketing and outreach initiatives and helping revive the ENRE Student Association. She also played a key role in organizing alumni engagement efforts, including working with Professor Simona Trandafir on a panel that connected current students with graduates in the field.
For Geubtner, those experiences helped strengthen the sense of community she found within ENRE. “It was amazing to see alumni come back and share what they’re doing,” she says. “It shows students the range of possibilities with the degree, and it builds a real sense of community.”
Her leadership and commitment to building that community did not go unnoticed. “Anna was a clear choice for the URI’s Excellence Award, which is bestowed to our outstanding graduating major,” says Emi Uchida, professor and chair of ENRE. “We also recognized her with the inaugural Weaver Community Award, presented in recognition of her contributions to build a supportive, student community. She spearheaded the ENRE Student Association, getting the organization officially recognized and recruiting new students, leaving URI a better place for future majors!”
That impact extended beyond student organizations and events. According to Uchida, Geubtner’s growth throughout her time at URI reflected the interdisciplinary strengths at the heart of the ENRE program. “Watching her grow into a confident, creative thinker who could connect economics, marketing and sustainability has been such a privilege,” adds Uchida, professor and Chair of ENRE. “We are proud to call her one of our own!”
Learning beyond the classroom
Geubtner’s academic experience also extended internationally. During a semester abroad at the Universidad de Sevilla, she took business courses in Spanish, completed a marketing internship with a bookstore, and taught English to local students.
The experience pushed her outside her comfort zone and broadened her perspective, both culturally and professionally. “It helped me see different ways of working and living,” she says. “Everything was a little slower paced, more balanced.”
After graduation this month, Geubtner plans to continue exploring career opportunities aligned with her interests in sustainability, energy, and global development.
Reflecting on her time in ENRE, she encourages prospective students to consider the program, especially those looking for a close-knit academic environment with real-world impact. “You can explore so many different environmental issues and really find what you’re passionate about,” she says. “And you’re not just learning about problems – you’re learning how to solve them.”