Faculty Spotlight: Nicholas Rollard
Adjunct Professor Nicholaus Rohleder in the School of Professional Studies will teach “The Theory and Practice of Life Cycle Assessment” this fall.
Nicholaus Rohleder is an adjunct professor in the School of Professional Studies and co-founder of Climate Commodities, a technology-based commodity merchant focused on advancing the climate economy.
In addition to his role at Climate Commodities, Rohleder is Co-Chief Investment Officer of New American Energy, a private investment firm and foundation focused on the economic impacts of climate change. energy transition In the United States. He serves on the boards of: Clean Earth Acquisitions Corp, EnergyLink, Ardor Capital, American Hydrogen and Renovare Environmental.
In addition to his professional commitment, Rohleder is a member of the Alumni Board of Directors of Columbia University’s Earth Institute and Climate Institute, a member of the Energy Policy Now podcast production team at the University of Pennsylvania, and a member of the Department of Energy. Technical Leadership Council of the Tulsa Innovation Lab.
He holds a Master of Environmental Studies with a concentration in Environmental Engineering and Technology from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Science in Sustainability Management with a concentration in Environmental Finance from Columbia University, and is a former Forbes 30 Under 30 recipient.
What initially motivated you to pursue the field of sustainability?
I grew up in a family in Tulsa, Oklahoma, mostly employed in the oil and gas industry. Growing up, I learned the business by doing manual labor in the oil field and saw firsthand the damage the industry was doing to the environment. I feel that with my roots in Oklahoma and the oil and gas industry, combined with my education and work in the Northeast, I’m in a unique position to bridge the gap between energy’s past and future, and give Climate has a positive impact.
What attracted you to the Sustainability Management Program?
As an institution, Columbia University has developed a comprehensive sustainability-focused plan that has more than ten years And give full attention to the technical aspects of the industry. This is complemented by an excellent network of peers focused on the sustainable value chain. When I visited, I felt that the breadth and depth of the program combined with the student body would be the best starting point to achieve my goals.
What courses will you be teaching this fall, and what excites you the most?
I am teaching the theory and practice of life cycle assessment courses. What excites me most about the course is the opportunity to provide students looking to enter the industry with a solid technical foundation in the context of sustainability. The course structure allows for a focus on sustainable technical areas that are critical to the job market, while also providing a good foundation for the essential functions of the various sectors in which students will eventually find employment.
What changes do you hope to see in the future of sustainability?
I would like to see more focus on technical and exponential impact. If we are to achieve the established global climate goals, we need to boost the human and financial capital to dramatically accelerate our response to these challenges. I believe most of these challenges will be addressed through technology, some of which have not yet been commercialized or invented, and this is where the human and financial capital gap lies.
What advice do you have for students pursuing sustainable careers?
First, focus on what interests you most and topics you really enjoy. Second, I think the greatest opportunity for impact and economic benefits lies at the intersection of economics, policy and engineering in the context of sustainability and climate technology. Most organizations keep these skill sets separate, which is a very inefficient practice. I believe there is no limit to what you can achieve in this field by positioning yourself as an expert in the field of sustainability with general competence in the above areas.
