Imani Dorsey, a 2018 graduate of the Trinity College of Arts and Sciences at Duke with a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Sciences & Policy, recently shared insights into her Duke journey and postgraduate path. 

After an eight-year stint as a professional soccer player, Dorsey recently returned to Durham as the Duke Athletics climate and sustainability coordinator. 

What do you do as an athletics climate and sustainability coordinator, and what is your Favorite part of the job?

I work as a liaison between Duke Athletics and the Duke Office of Climate and Sustainability, incorporating sustainability initiatives into Athletics under the Duke Climate Commitment. My work focuses on three main pillars: operations & physical environment; education, engagement, & partnerships; and innovation & leadership.

Operations & physical environment focuses on where we can operationally reduce our impact through energy, waste and water. For example, Jack Coombs Field, home of Duke baseball, recently underwent a renovation that included LED lighting installation, reducing energy consumption and utility bills.

Education, engagement & partnerships focuses on using the platform of Duke Athletics to promote climate awareness and action. Oftentimes the operational aspects of the work pair nicely with opportunities to engage, educate and partner, like our gear drive collections. 

I love that I have freedom and flexibility to accomplish so many different tasks. I was a student-athlete – I played on Duke’s soccer team and then eight seasons professionally. My experience as a professional athlete and advocate helped me develop a strong understanding of stakeholder and community engagement and advocacy. I get really excited to think about the impact athletics can have on social justice and sustainability. 

What skills did you gain or experiences did you have at Duke that have been most beneficial in your graduate life?

It is wonderful to look back and see where I am now in comparison to when I was as an undergraduate. Obviously, I thank the Nicholas School for my strong foundation and understanding of environmental science and policy. But, even more so I learned to explore and be curious about everything.

As a student-athlete, I tried to take advantage of as many programs and attend as many events as I could, like going to the Duke Marine Lab for two summers.

What excites me about returning to Duke is the access to all the incredible resources, experiences and education that is available right at our fingertips. Sometimes it feels overwhelming, or you do not know where to look, but lean on the Nicholas School advisors to get you connected and searching in the right direction. 

I did a lot of learning from professors, and I developed strong mentors like Lori Bennear, Jay Golden and Prasad Kasibhatla

Why did you choose your major? What advice would you give to a first-year student who was considering environmental sciences? 

I liked the freedom that the Environmental Sciences & Policy major provided and how interdisciplinary it was. I didn't know how I wanted to engage in environmentalism, I just knew I was passionate about it.

The Nicholas School helped me build a foundation to pursue a career in sustainability. Social impact is increasingly integrated into how companies work, which can lead to sustainability-specific jobs.

My advice is to stay curious, lean on professors and advisors, pursue what you're interested in and trust that the right opportunity will come, even if it's not the first job you get. 

What was your favorite class or experience During your time at NSOE? 

Working with the team with Lori Bennear and Jay Golden. We went to Block Island to see the country's first offshore wind farm in person and speak with one of the project leads! It was a really cool experience. We were a small team and became close throughout the semester. 

 

Group of six people wearing Duke hats smiling in front of a wooden fence along a coastal path, with wind turbines visible in the ocean behind them under a bright blue sky.