MBA/MS Students

The Erb Institute offers students a unique opportunity to develop a set of integrated skills for confronting the complex challenges of sustainability. To be successful, a student must have strong analytic skills and the ability to communicate effectively across traditional academic, political and industrial boundaries. Erb Institute students come from diverse backgrounds, and represent decades of unique experience in a wide range of countries, sectors and industries. This diversity provides a critical educational resource for students, and enhances our ability to develop leaders who are prepared to tackle sustainable development in any sector of society.

For a complete listing of Erb students, please visit the individual class pages linked in the menu at right or use the search below.

First or Last Name:    

Michelle Quibell – Resume

MBA/MS Program 2012

Michelle is interested in pursuing a career in energy information management, specifically as it relates to the deployment of smart grid and distributed renewable energy systems. Over the past summer, she worked at McKinstry Company, a mechanical engineering company offering energy efficiency and smart building services, where she evaluated and prioritized customer segments for the Energy and Facility Management group. The previous summer, she interned at the Institute for Building Efficiency at Johnson Controls, Inc. While there, she carried out in-depth research on mechanisms to scale up demand-response within the commercial sector and performed a financial analysis to assess the viability of bundling solar PV projects with energy efficiency contracts. For her masters project, she worked with Southern Company to assess their renewable energy investment timetable and strategy under various federal climate and energy policy scenarios. Prior to matriculating at Michigan, Michelle served as a research assistant and later as the climate field director for the Natural Resources Defense Council in Washington, DC. She worked closely with climate, communications and campaign experts to build momentum, visibility and support for sound environmental and economic policy addressing climate change. Michelle graduated from Yale College in 2006 with a B.A. in Environmental Studies. Outside of school, Michelle enjoys spinning and travelling.

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Gaurang Sethi

MBA/MS Program 2013

“To validly have a seat at the table, you have to bring experience. You cannot just take a seat because you are interested.” Fully believing in this adage, Gaurang is pursuing a career in the energy sector. He is mainly interested in developing a strategic and commercial perspective on energy opportunities whether for investors, aggregators, developers or operators. Being interested in energy even during his mechanical engineering days, he interned with TERI India, an energy consulting company. Then he joined Vestas, the wind energy major, as an Engineer-Sales Support and later transitioned to Marketing/Sales & Business Development, during which he developed a strong insight into the needs of Independent Power Producers and such other large investors in energy projects. He enjoys trekking, esp. in the Himalayas and in his spare time likes listening to music and watching bollywood movies.

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Leah Zimmerman

MBA/MS Program 2014

Leah was born and raised in West Michigan. After an adventure-filled conservation career in Siberia and the Russian Far East, Leah realized that she wanted to spend her efforts closer to home to protect the region's rich natural resources and to grow vibrant local communities. After graduate school, Leah intends to stay in nonprofit management, embracing NGOs' important role in stimulating business and government to make wise and timely decisions for the environment and local communities. She also believes that nonprofit organizations must carefully study and implement for-profit business strategies and practices to be more effective. Before coming back to Michigan, Leah served as Russia Program Director and Interim Executive Director for San Francisco-based Pacific Environment and worked as an independent consultant for Portland-based Wild Salmon Center. Leah received a BA in Russian and East European Studies from Yale University and studied Russian Language and International Relations as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar at Far Eastern State University in Vladivostok, Russia. In her spare time, Leah enjoys playing and coaching soccer, experimenting in the kitchen, backpacking, and riding her bike on quiet country roads.

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