Immersion Alumni

Andrew DeCoriolis: Toward a More Lucid Career

Foresight Immersion 2007; Fellow 2007-8; Staff 2008-9

Andrew came to Foresight upon graduating from Oberlin College in 2007 with a BA/BS in Environmental Studies and Biology. After participating that summer in the organization's Urban Sustainable Design Studio (now called Foresight Immersion), he spent the next year as a Compton Foundation Fellow working on a self-designed project called "Bridge the Gap." The undertaking focused on developing in-depth knowledge of Chicago's local food system and seeking creative ways to connect local farmers with consumers underserved by traditional food networks. Foresight Executive Director Peter Nicholson served as Andrew's mentor for the initiative. Working on food access issues raised Andrew's awareness about how deeply and intricately connected our food system is to the various other sustainability issues. It challenged him to think deep and creatively on ways to improve these linkages.

Andrew joined the Foresight staff in June of 2008, and worked on a variety of projects, including public policy initiatives, food issues, organizing and co-leading the Immersion program, and an outdoor exhibit commissioned by the Notebaert Nature Museum, among others. Responding to an offer to relocate to the Bay Area, he left Chicago in 2009 to become Director of Public Programs at the Lucid Design Group, a company based in Oakland, CA, and founded by several of his Oberlin classmates.

Sustainability is an on-going part of Andrew's life in and out of work. He is constantly challenging himself to be a more conscientious consumer and conserve resources whenever possible. He is proud to work in a field that allows him to improve resource efficiency, being all too aware of the amount of greenhouse gas emissions and waste that can be attributed to poor building performance.

Lucid Design Group is a leading cleantech software company that provides real-time information feedback to "teach, inspire behavior change, and save energy and water resources in buildings." In his position, Andrew is involved with real-time resource monitoring on building energy and water usage, research efforts, business development, and with related customer educational efforts, particularly those at colleges and universities. The company's clients include Stanford University, Ikea, Google, and the Kresge Foundation.

Andrew believes his experience with Foresight really helped him "get his feet wet" and understand the processes and collaboration efforts that go into turning sustainability-related ideas into reality. Soon he will be attending a bicycle coalition-planning event in San Francisco and offer his input to the community on ways to improve cleaner transit options in the area.

To future interns and program students who pass through Foresight he offers this advice: "Be patient and go with it. Dig deep and challenge yourself."