Teshia Robinson has been selected by General Motors to serve on their Student Sustainability Advisory Council.  Teshia is a Mechanical Engineering Master’s student in her first year of graduate studies here at Georgia Tech.  She is originally from Osceola, Iowa, and received her Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Sales Engineering from Iowa State University.  She also has a strong interest in the social sciences and economics.  Teshia jumped at the opportunity to combine her diverse passions in an industry that is trying to implement a more holistic approach in their product development, especially since she has been fascinated with vehicles and transportation from a very young age.

Currently, Teshia’s research at Georgia Tech is focused on teaching sustainable design.  One instructional technique she is exploring is to use an automotive case study to teach sustainable design, making the GM SSAC a fortuitous opportunity.

GM started the Student Sustainability Advisory Council (SSAC) to foster engagement with university graduate students on sustainability issues.  In 2016, its inaugural year, the SSAC will have five council members from different universities around the country.  Five additional members will be added next year.  Students will serve on the council for two years.

Students will complete multiple individual and group projects, participate in conference calls and subject matter seminars, and gain mentorship opportunities.  They will have access to research and GM employees related to the company’s sustainability efforts.  GM hopes to gain input from students on its sustainability strategy in order to foster a holistic understanding of its business strategy, identify emerging trends, and to identify actionable ideas using the holistic “lens” of sustainability.