Rooted in Resilience: A First-Generation Story of Climate and Public Service
As a first-generation college student born in Bangladesh and raised in Brooklyn, Mohammed Hasan’s path into environmental policy was forged by both personal history and global urgency. Watching his homeland grapple with rising sea levels and extreme weather instilled a sense of responsibility early on. “I witnessed how climate change disproportionately affects communities like mine,” Hasan says. “That shaped not just my awareness—but my purpose.”
Now a senior at CCNY double-majoring in Political Science and International Studies, Hasan is focused on building public systems that serve climate justice. His journey took a definitive turn during a summer study abroad in Amsterdam, where he completed a course on Global Climate Governance. “That’s where it all clicked for me—how international cooperation, politics, and climate intersect,” he explains. The experience led him to the Colin Powell School’s Climate Policy Fellowship, where mentorship and a tight-knit cohort helped him develop a policy-oriented approach to climate action.
That perspective has guided his academic and professional path. At the Colin Powell School, Hasan has explored how institutions—governments, legal frameworks, and nonprofits—can be used to protect the public good, particularly in the face of environmental instability. His coursework and research have deepened his belief that long-lasting solutions require both systems-level thinking and a strong sense of equity.
One turning point came during a study abroad program in Amsterdam, where Hasan was able to study climate governance in an international context. That experience not only affirmed his goals but gave him new tools to think about how global cities can lead on sustainability. “It made everything click,” he says. “I came back with a much clearer vision of what I wanted to do—and why it mattered.”
On campus, Hasan works as a climate change research assistant under Professor Yana Kucheva, where he’s studying how U.S. cities are integrating climate resilience into public housing policy. He also interns with the New York League of Conservation Voters, researching policy and assessing candidates on their climate platforms.
The Colin Powell School has been, in his words, “instrumental” in getting him to this point. Through CPS fellowships, advising, and funding support, Hasan has been able to pursue key professional experiences—from interning in Washington, D.C., to supporting advocacy work in New York City. “I wouldn’t have been able to take on some of these unpaid opportunities if it weren’t for the school’s support,” he says. “They’ve opened doors that would’ve otherwise been closed.”
After graduation, Hasan will intern with the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice, where he’ll support the rollout of Local Law 97—New York City’s most ambitious emissions reduction plan to date. He’ll be helping the Buildings Team develop strategies for reducing emissions from buildings under 25,000 square feet, a major next step in the city’s climate agenda.
Looking ahead, he hopes to stay in public service or nonprofit work and eventually pursue a graduate degree in public policy, environmental studies, or possibly even urban planning. “Whatever I do, I want it to help build more equitable systems,” he says. “I want to be part of creating climate solutions that don’t just work in theory—but actually work for people.”
