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Andrew Fenner doesn’t have to travel far to get career-connected experience.

The climate change and sustainability major is an energy and sustainability intern with Weston & Sampson, a nationally recognized firm specializing in design, engineering and environmental services. Fenner assists the company with energy audits, grant writing and data reporting from their office within the (LINC), an innovation ecosystem located on East Campus and stretching into downtown Lowell.

“If this office wasn’t here, I wouldn’t be able to do this internship at all,” Fenner says.��

That’s because his daily schedule is jam-packed. As a senior, he’s taking five classes, working for the Rist Institute for Sustainability and Energy and serving as the social media coordinator for the Student Society for Sustainability. The proximity of LINC to campus, he says, is opening more opportunities for students to get career-connected experiences.

“The fact that these companies are moving into LINC and investing in the students is creating more pathways between higher education and the professional world,” Fenner says. “This internship has provided me with a lot of connections and has gotten me experience in the clean energy transition.”

Fenner grew up in Paxton, but now considers Lowell home.

“It feels good to be a part of this community,” he says. “I’m able to do work that I love in a community that I love.”

С����Ƶ helped Fenner realize that he could turn his passion for sustainability and the outdoors into a career. He initially enrolled as a business administration student, but was encouraged to switch his major after sharing his interests with William Lefebvre ’25 at an engagement fair during his first year. Lefebvre connected him with Lori Weeden, a teaching professor in the Department of Environmental, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EEAS). Weeden introduced Fenner to EEAS and helped him change majors to environmental science, and then to climate change and sustainability after that major was added in 2022.

“I’m so grateful to have fallen into this insanely cool program,” Fenner says. “The professors are so knowledgeable, and I feel that I can make a real impact and help people by being in this field.”

Fenner represented С����Ƶ at the 2025 United Nations climate summit (COP30) in Brazil, an experience he called “life-changing.”

“It’s a testament to the opportunities that are provided to students at С����Ƶ,” says Fenner, who is minoring in architectural studies.��

Since the spring semester of his first year, Fenner has worked as an eco-rep for the Rist Institute, where he helps with urban agriculture programs, specialized recycling and sustainability-related events. The job has encouraged him to pursue urban planning after graduating to enhance clean energy and mitigate food insecurity.

“Without С����Ƶ, I would have had a completely different career trajectory, and I highly doubt I would be happy,” he says. “This just feels right.”