Growing up along Lake Michigan’s coastline, Andrew van Baal (BA ’25, MS ’26) developed a deep appreciation for the region’s natural beauty, which played a significant role in shaping his worldview. “I go home and I feel a connection to the body of water, which I feel like we’re not encouraged to feel anymore,” said van Baal, who will graduate from the University of Michigan Program in the Environment (PitE) in April. 

At the same time, van Baal was confronted with the contrast between the rural place he calls home and the academic spaces he later entered. “Every time I go home, it feels like stepping into a different reality. And while that can be challenging, I also recognize the importance of different perspectives and experiences in shaping change. I appreciate where I’m from and my family, and I value the ability to think freely. But those experiences have also informed the changes I want to see outside of the academic bubble,” van Baal reflected. 

This duality of experience—between a conservative, rural community within the backdrop of a stunning natural landscape—has led to van Baal’s desire to bridge the disconnect between environmental conversations and rural America. Now, as a PitE student who is also enrolled in the accelerated master’s program in the School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS), van Baal brings these formative experiences into his ongoing commitment to community-led work.

Discovering a passion for systems thinking and energy

In high school, van Baal began political campaigning, a pathway that led him to initially study political science at U-M. But his connection to Lake Michigan provided him with a strong sense of responsibility for protecting Michigan’s freshwater resources, and he wanted to gain hands-on experience in water conservation. To do that, he applied to become a Yale Conservation Scholar, where he later received the opportunity to work with a nonprofit on their water conservation initiatives. His experience as a Yale Conservation Scholar was pivotal.

“It was the first time I was in diverse spaces ideologically and demographically, and that inspired my arc towards community-based thinking around problems,” said van Baal. Encouraged by the experience, he returned the following summer, this time working with the Environmental Defense Fund. “I worked on a transportation problem and that’s where I was introduced to systems thinking,” he noted. Learning to break down problems into their interconnected parts shifted the way he approached environmental and social issues.

As he continued his studies, van Baal realized he was more interested in understanding how systems function and how they can be changed for meaningful impact. And the political science classes he was taking didn’t offer the conversations he was looking for, so he switched to PitE to receive an interdisciplinary education that combines policy and systems thinking to create innovative environmental solutions. Through PitE, he learned about the accelerated master’s program offered at SEAS, which provided a way to gain technical skills in systems thinking while making graduate school financially feasible. “Being a financially independent student and staying at Michigan allowed me to continue engaging with Michigan-based work,” he said. 

In SEAS’ Sustainable Systems specialization, van Baal is developing the skills to break down environmental challenges through courses that cover life cycle assessments, material flow analysis and energy grid modeling. “What drew me to Sustainable Systems is its ability to break down complex environmental and energy issues into actionable insights. Understanding how these systems function is critical to designing solutions that are both just and effective,” said van Baal. 

Through his coursework, he realized that energy is tied to every system people interact with. “Energy is a system that everyone engages with in some way—it powers and heats everything we need to live. You can’t opt out of engaging with it,” van Baal said. Wanting to apply this understanding to real-world problems, he began working with Tony Reames, SEAS Tishman Professor of Environmental Justice, and SEAS Lecturer Justin Schott at the Energy Equity Project. For his master’s capstone, he is collaborating with Consumers Energy to develop an energy equity toolkit. “My goal is to create a framework that provides senior decision makers with concrete equity metrics and visualizations,” he said. “Utilities have immense power to move resources and capital in ways that can either perpetuate or alleviate injustice. Understanding these systems from the inside is crucial to ensuring they serve all communities fairly.”

His work has also extended beyond U-M engagements to tackle emerging challenges associated with Generative AI. As a participant in the inaugural OpenMinds NextGen Fellows Program, van Baal worked alongside students from universities across the country to solve emerging climate and energy challenges with practical solutions. As part of this program, he contributed to a project supporting renewable energy deployment for AI’s demand growth, further deepening his expertise in sustainable energy solutions. Van Baal will continue this work through graduation, in addition to spending the coming summer as an energy intern at General Motors.

Leadership in sustainability and student advocacy

Van Baal’s passion for systems thinking extends beyond his coursework into leadership roles, including his co-presidency of the Student Sustainability Coalition (SSC). There, he works to amplify student voices, facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration across the university, and provide funding for student-led sustainability initiatives on campus. Through the Student Carbon Neutrality Network and grant programs like the Planet Blue Student Innovation Fund, van Baal has supported innovative student-led projects, ranging from food security initiatives to sustainable lab practices. 

“We ask students to explore topics they might not typically consider when thinking about the environment and encourage them to be as visionary as possible. We prioritize innovative thinking first, and for applicants to speak to as many people as possible who share their interests,” van Baal said. “Our team is extremely supportive and trained to help take an idea from a concept to reality and ultimately get funded. Partnerships are crucial, and I always tell students: Do not be afraid to reach out and ask for help. Engaging with faculty, staff and peers will only build momentum for their cause.” 

The SSC is also intersectional in its advocacy, with initiatives such as the Social Environmental Sustainability Grant, which seeks to expand traditional definitions of sustainability. “We aim to include social sustainability, including things like resilience, community-building and empowering marginalized identities,” van Baal said. 

An inclusive vision for environmental advocacy and change

For van Baal, meaningful change happens when the voices and perspectives that are often missing from mainstream conversations are included. “Even though it might not feel like it on paper, we are the majority. Most people agree that climate change is a topic of concern and something we should be thinking about,” he said. His approach to climate work is influenced by a key lesson he learned from Yale Professor Dorceta Taylor as a Yale Conservation Fellow: Always look for the perspective that isn’t in the room and recognize the value of diverse lived experiences in shaping solutions. 

Reflecting on his journey, van Baal emphasizes the need for deeper conversations about environmental issues, seeing injustices as widespread, yet not the central focus. “There’s a gap in how climate issues are communicated across different communities, especially in rural America,” he said. “Even right outside Ann Arbor, we are surrounded by rural areas that aren’t effectively engaged in these conversations.” 

Bridging the gap in climate conversations starts with honest, vulnerable discussions about the issues people care about most, and meeting them where they’re at. Van Baal brought this issue to light during SEAS’ Climate Action in 2025 and Beyond: Creating a Resilient and Just Future in Michigan and Across the Globe event, where he was invited to be a panelist and emphasized the need for more inclusive and accessible climate dialogue. 

In a time when many students feel overwhelmed by the weight of the climate catastrophe, van Baal emphasizes the role of joy in sustaining this work and the importance of recognizing the value of one’s individual contributions, no matter how unconventional. “I try to wake up and remind myself that I am so grateful to be here and to be able to do this work with such incredible people. I am grateful to be valued for the contributions I bring that aren’t mainstream or traditionally considered. And I am grateful for a community that is empowering and accepting of what students want to do.”