Arman Golrokhian (MS/MPP '17)
Arman Golrokhian (MS/MPP ’17) recalls what it was like to be an international student at SEAS. Having left behind his friends and family in his home country of Iran, he not only had to get acclimated to graduate school, but also to a new culture. Now, Golrokhian works as a clean energy transition advisor, a role that seemed unimaginable when he first landed in the U.S. One of the main things that made his trajectory possible was the SEAS alumni network, which he says made a major difference in navigating his career path.
That support is a key reason why Golrokhian returns the favor and mentors current SEAS students, whether it’s doling out advice during coffee chats, talking to admitted students at Visit Day or serving on the SEAS Alumni Leadership Council.
“I still remember the folks who helped me understand the job market and discover my own career goals and prepare for job interviews. The alumni network gave me so much, and now I’m trying to give back as much as possible,” says Golrokhian, who was named the 2024 Alumni of the Year by SEAS’ Career Services office.
Golrokhian, who works with investors, regulators and corporate executives to plan for and navigate the energy transition, had been a mechanical engineer in Iran. He realized he wanted to know more about the sustainability piece of engineering, which led him to study Sustainable Systems at SEAS. A few policy courses later, he added Environmental Policy and Planning as a second specialization and public policy as a dual degree.
“Caring about the planet and trying to make things better is part of my value system,” he says. “I feel that passion the most when I’m focusing on projects where it feels like we are really making a difference in creating a brighter, cleaner future with fewer fossil fuels.”
