Posts

About Me

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Hello! I am Sonam Rustagi and I’m from Powell, OH. I’m a fourth-year pursuing a B.S. in Economics through the College of Arts and Sciences9. Currently, I am also in the process of designing my own major, titled Applied Environmental Studies, and am working towards Public Policy minor as well. As a student in the Honors program, I have loved the opportunity to take several interdisciplinary classes. With graduation quickly approaching, I am looking forward to partaking in so many exciting Ohio State traditions. 

Outside from my academics, I have been getting involved in several activities around campus. Currently, I am involved in BuckeyeThon and Cultivate Columbus. I am a research assistant at the Carbon Management and Sequestration Center in the College of Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Science.

After graduation, I will be gaining work experience with environmental policy and communication. In the fall of 2025, I will be attending law school and after that, will transition into a career in public service. OSU and the Eminence Fellowship provide so many enriching opportunities and I hope to continue expanding my academic and experiential learning experiences through involvement on campus.

 

Year in Review

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This past year has been a tremendously challenging for everyone. The COVID-19 pandemic has provided us with a very isolating shared experience. Thankfully, my family was able to stay safe and healthy during this time.

My classes over the past year have been immensely rewarding, even in a virtual format. Many of my classes, like AEDE 4320, AEDE 4310, and PUBAFRS 5800 have deepened my interests in environmental science and policy and allowed me to engage in thoughtful discussions with my peers. I also decided to take a fun class in the fall semester, one centered around gender in horror movies, and am excited to continue exploring my diverse interests through various elective options.

Despite the strange circumstances, I had an enriching experience at Ohio State. With consistent testing, coronavirus data dashboards, and eventually vaccine access (!), I think the university has done a great job of providing a safe campus experience that resembles previous years as closely as it can.

After this semester, I am looking forward to a virtual summer internship with the Department of State to continue honing my agricultural policy experience, conducting research, and spending time with my family.

 

G.O.A.L.S.

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  • Global Awareness: I was fortunate to attend an international service learning trip in Costa Rica to study sustainability and urban agriculture. Unfortunately, the trip was cut short due to the pandemic, but I was still able to learn a lot from the experience. It inspired a new love in me for the power of urban agriculture and small-scale sustainability efforts. I look forward to more international experiences once the world is a safer place.
  • Original Inquiry: This summer, I begin research under Dr. Rattan Lal’s supervision. At the Carbon Management and Sequestration Center, I conduct research on the economic value of soil organic carbon and the economic impact of crop mismanagement practices. I am excited by the practical applications of the research I conduct, and am drawn to the interdisciplinary nature of it.
  • Academic Enrichment: I am taking high level courses in the Economics major on the Honors Research track, as well as designing my own major through Ohio State’s Personalized Study Plan Option. I am also taking classes not typically found in my course of study to make use of the breadth of Ohio State’s course offerings. The most interesting elective I have taken so far is about the gender in cinema through the lens of horror films. I am looking forward to taking rigorous and unique classes at OSU over the next two years.
  • Leadership Development: I have been challenging myself as a leader through my work for a new organization, Cultivate Columbus. It has been a transformative experience to lead alongside my peers to create a service project that has a positive impact on OSU and the surrounding Columbus community.
  • Service Engagement: Refuge is an OSU club that provides mentoring and tutoring to refugee and immigrant high schoolers to make higher education more accessible. I am passionate about Refuge’s cause, and serve as their Mentee Development Chair to ensure that as many students as possible are able to connect with and learn from Ohio State Students.

Professional Aspirations

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My interest in public service has been bolstered by my experiences in the government. Since 2018, I have worked in the Ohio House of Representatives as a legislative intern for District 14 and District 46. Working on policy research reports, attending legislative testimonies, and interacting with constituents has been a very impactful experience.

In the summer of 2020, I handled my responsibilities as a legislative intern while also working as an Economic Development Intern with US Together, and prominent refugee services nonprofit in the Central Ohio area. For both internships, my original job responsibilities shifted to pandemic mitigation efforts, and I assisted with the government and nonprofit initiatives to serve residents during the pandemic.

In the summer of 2021, I will continue pursuing my interest in food security and climate change policy through an internship in the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs at the State Department. I look forward to learning more about bolstering food systems internationally, conducting trade negotiations, and mitigating climate change in the Office of Agricultural Trade Policy.