Bachelor of Science in Public Communication • University of Vermont
Bio
Annika Safford graduated from the University of Vermont in 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Public Communication from the Department of Community Development & Applied Economics, specializing in Strategic Communication with minors in Environmental Studies and Spanish. She was drawn to the multidisciplinary nature of her department, which utilized communication tools and systems thinking to solve complex issues in sustainable community development. She assisted several Vermont organizations through hands-on projects, conducting climate research and designing digital media assets. She also worked as Director of Marketing for an events organization, and she completed internships that incorporated both sustainability and communication.
Desiring a more targeted sustainability education, Annika spent the next year saving for school and taking online STEM courses. She worked two restaurant jobs and implemented sustainable shifts, such as creating a spot for bottles and cans and encouraging coworkers to ask customers before giving them a bag. Currently, Annika works in marketing for a wellness startup, building strategy and creating digital materials. She also volunteers for the Aurora Climate Smart Community Task Force, part of a New York State program incentivizing municipalities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. She leads an annual month-long challenge encouraging sustainable transport to local destinations, which has prevented over 1 million grams of CO2 emissions.
For fun, Annika enjoys exploring nature, playing board games, thrifting, and perfecting her Spanish.