SUNY ESF
Student Profile Zachary Isaman

Zachary Isaman'25: Environmental Resources Engineering

Through a deep-seated commitment to academics, social leadership, and environmental activism, Zachary Isaman has gained a big-picture perspective on how to improve the world. 

Isaman majors in environmental resources engineering. His core studies provide analytical skills in math and engineering, while classes in environmental justice give him a broader view of how economic disparities impact people’s lives. “The combination gives me a bigger sense of why my major is important and how it can be used for good,” says Isaman.

Since 2023 Isaman has worked as a research assistant on the Syracuse Urban Food Forest Project (SUFFP) with Associate Professor Diemont. A collaboration between ESF, Syracuse University, and the Syracuse community, SUFFP plants edible urban forests in the city’s public spaces while educating the public about urban foraging. Isaman is developing a dynamic systems model showing how planting green infrastructure not only enhances food security for lower-income residents but also cleans Onondaga Lake by reducing runoff into stormwater drains. 

As an RA for the past three years, Isaman has assumed a leadership role in developing community at ESF, introducing students to events and groups they didn’t know about. “It's a good opportunity to strengthen the bonds between students and help people who may feel like they don’t quite belong,” he says. 

Isaman receives no funding from his parents. Being an RA pays for room and board, while scholarships cover tuition, books, and additional expenses. “I would either not be able to do this without the scholarship, or I would have to take out a lot of loans. Thanks to donors, I've been able to focus on doing my work here at ESF instead of worrying about how to pay back what I’d borrowed,” he says.

Isaman has already lined up a job with Arcadis, an international company in sustainable design and engineering. He will focus on hydraulic modeling for environmental remediation efforts, experience he gained at SUFFP. “Thanks to ESF and the donors who made my being here possible, I was able to provide Arcadis the skills they need,” says Isaman.