“We all know how big a threat climate change is, but there’s not enough being done about it,” Zachary Meyer ’19 said. Now entering his second year at Stanford University, Meyer is pursuing a master’s degree in civil and environmental engineering. Although he spent the past four years studying environmental sciences, global sustainability, and engineering, Meyer’s path was far from linear.
At M-A, Meyer was a passionate musician—playing in the guitar ensemble—and a standout athlete on the varsity soccer team. He was also involved in the Current Events Club and enjoyed spending time with friends on the Green. “The M-A community has such a strong bond, and it’s very supportive,” Meyer said.
While Meyer originally hoped to pursue athletics after high school, he suffered a major injury before his junior year and could not continue playing soccer. After high school, searching for a new direction, he enrolled at the College of San Mateo and began studying music theory and production. However, Meyer soon realized it wasn’t a path he wanted to follow long-term. “It went from being something fun into something that was too meticulous, and I realized I didn’t want to be in the weeds of learning about music,” Meyer explained.
During his time at the College of San Mateo, a statistics class project on electric vehicle batteries proved to be a critical turning point for Meyer. “I’d say that’s when I realized environmental studies was exactly what I wanted to do,” Meyer said. Shortly thereafter, Meyer changed his major to environmental science. “I was unsure at first, but I was talking to a friend from high school and he just told me to get out there and do it,” Meyer said.
In 2021, amid COVID, Meyers transferred to a three-year program at Utrecht University in the Netherlands to obtain his Bachelor of Science in global sustainability. However, while attending Utrecht, one of his professors gave a lecture on the California wildfires, and he began to question his path. “I was halfway across the world in a small apartment learning about the place I cared about most, when I could be back in Menlo Park,” Meyer explained.
After finishing his studies in the Netherlands, Meyer moved back to Menlo Park and soon headed to Cal Poly Humboldt. There, he earned another BS in environmental studies and a BA in economics with hopes of intertwining the skills in a future career.
Meyer’s academic journey didn’t stop there. He went on to pursue a Master of Science in Civil Environmental Engineering at Stanford University. Wanting to translate his education into action, he joined the City of Menlo Park as an Environmental Quality Commissioner. “Getting involved in environmental policy felt like the next step to produce real change,” Meyer said.
Meyer was later elected Vice Chair of the Environmental Quality Commission, helping lead Menlo Park’s effort to address environmental changes. He also became a project coordinator with Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action (SVYCA), where he organized the 2024 Leadership Summit, bringing together students, professionals, and community members to discuss climate solutions. “It’s been an incredible experience to see how collaboration and policy can create real-world impact,” Meyer said.
Meyer’s advice to current M-A students: “Just pick up a book, there’s so much more you can learn by doing so.”
To those interested in working in environmental policy: “Look into the Youth Climate Organization, and you’re always welcome to join the Environmental Quality Commission meetings in Menlo Park to share your thoughts on environmental issues.”
