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Jessica Prata ’01 took what she calls a nonlinear career path after Colgate, where she majored in history, to her current position as sustainability officer at New York-Presbyterian Hospital (NYP).

For Prata, it was about “accessing her passion” and discovering what kind of work environment best suits her.

She found that environment at NYP, the largest employer in Manhattan with 18,000 people, where she is working in the forefront of the sustainability effort as it relates to health care.

“Healing environments and healing people are very symbiotic and should be reflected as such,” she said. “It’s exciting work.”

Jessica Prata ’01 secured her first job at New York Presbyterian Hospital with the assistance of a ������ alumnus.

Prata talks about sustainability and the varied career opportunities it presents in the latest of ������ Conversations, the podcast that highlights members of the campus community.

There are no predefined paths for securing jobs related to sustainability, she said. In her position, it is her ability to relate to many different people and coordinate a multitude of details that helps her be successful.

She works with teams from throughout NYP on initiatives such as a mixed recycling program that is now saving the hospital $30,000 a month.

Monitoring such programs is important, and Prata helped establish an infrastructure that allows for better tracking. She also works on education efforts and on tapping into employees’ grass-roots efforts.

Prata was named the hospital’s first sustainability officer in January 2009, a position that reflected a new need at the hospital and in health care in general.

“Hospitals and organizations need a point person to push forward what ‘greening’ is going to look like at that specific organization,” she said.

An alumnus helped Prata land her first job at NYP, a story shared by many ������ graduates. And like many alumni, she is eager to give back and help current students through such events as the Real World career conference, where she recently spoke to seniors.

“It’s about taking advantage of the opportunity that ������ consistently puts forward to students and alumni to get together, to mingle, to connect,” she said, adding that she is an active member of the New York City alumni and Women at ������ groups.

To hear the full podcast interview with Prata, to listen now or right-click and
“save target as” to download file. You also can go to the ������ Conversations  or iTunes  for more download options.