IEP/EPM Alumni Reunion Program
The International Environmental Policy (IEP) and Environmental Policy & Management (EPM) Alumni Reunion Weekend is here! It is time to CELEBRATE YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of this impactful master’s degree program. We look forward to seeing you Monterey!
Agenda for the Weekend
Friday to Sunday, April 10-12, 2026.
IEP/EPM Alumni Reunion
Samson Student Center
Friday Night Happy Hour
Vegan pizza, snacks, beverages, and music on Friday, April 10, 2026.
Join fellow alumni, students, staff and faculty for a campuswide Happy Hour on Friday, April 10! Come reconnect, unwind, and enjoy a lively evening with great company, food, and drinks.
Welcome from VP Jeff Dayton-Johnson and Professor Jeff Langholz
Music from local band “The Commission” featuring a current student as the lead singer
Special opportunity: Tell your MIIS story!
How has MIIS has impacted your life, career/s, and paths? Each recording session will last approximately 7-8 minutes prompted by three prepared questions. If you’re interested in being interviewed on video, please fill out this short form by Tuesday, April 7 at 4:00 PM PT. We will follow up with 10 participants selected for interviews and may reach out in the future with additional storytelling opportunities.
Samson Patio
Saturday Lunch & Alumni Speakers
Vegan Thai food and alumni speakers on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
12:00pm Lunch feast (please bring your family!)
1:00pm: Speakers & community building (several fun events nearby if family doesn’t want to hang out)
Welcome from Professor Jeff Langholz and Professor Jason Scorse
MCs: Edy Rhodes, former and long-time Career and Academic Advisor for IEP (now gloriously retired, staff emerita) and Elea Becker-Lowe, IEP ’18, California Climate Assessment Program Manager, Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation
Speakers:
Chelsea Haines, IEP ’12, Director of Regulatory Relations at Association of California Water Agencies
Daryl Balthazar, IEP ’04, Senior Executive - Industrial at Envirosuite
Silvia Bor, IEP ’12, Marine Program Senior Director at Pacific Environment
Alfild Aspelin, IEP ’12, Director at Clean Mobility Infrastructure
Center for the Blue Economy, Craig Building
Office Hours with Professor Scorse
If you’d like to meet with Professor Scorse he is going to hold “office hours” in his office in the CBE building from 3-5 PM on Saturday, April 11 between the lunch and bonfire. Sign up here!
Asilomar Beach
Saturday Night Beach Bonfire
Campfire, vegan smores, and beverages on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
Where: For driving directions, use 1954 Sunset Drive in Pacific Grove, that is the entrance to the beach just opposite the walkway from the Asilomar Conference Grounds. There is another entrance that offers a path above the beach, with somewhat of a boardwalk (though often sanded over) if you have things to carry. You can see a map for that trail entrance here.
Exactly Where: You’ll find us on the beach past the river outlet (on the Pebble Beach side where fires are permitted), and you’ll know it’s us by the signage and the good vibes. Here is a little visual for where to look for us.
Parking: Park anywhere on Sunset Drive or anywhere at the Asilomar Conference Grounds, located at 800 Asilomar Avenue in Pacific Grove.
Bathrooms: There are no bathrooms super close by, but the main social hall at Asilomar Conference Grounds has bathrooms that will remain open until 10pm. We will have some camping bathroom options (great outdoors, wag bags, etc).
What to wear: sturdy shoes, warm socks, and warm layers—be prepared for a light, chill wind.
What to bring: We will have some chairs and pieces of cardboard to sit on, but feel free to bring beach blankets or chairs that you like as well. If you are local, it would be so helpful to have you bring extra camp chairs! Bring your guitars and musical instruments!
What we will be serving: Beer and wine, hot tea & cocoa, assortment of sparkling water/non-alcoholic beverages. Vegan smores (melt your marshmallows on the fire), and potato chips.
Call if you can’t find us—Rachel Christopherson: 831-277-0529 (call rather than text to make sure I can hear it)
MIIS "Our Green Thumb" Garden
Sunday Morning Coffee & Tea
A last hurrah with coffee, tea, and vegan pastries on Sunday, April 12, 2026.
Other Fun Stuff
There are two great street festivals happening within walking distance of campus that weekend, so you and your family can add to the fun.
Whalefest Monterey
Two days of celebration, conservation and connection! Bands, arts, crafts, and the speaker symposium! Free! More details here.
Monterey Museum of Art Block Party
What happens when you close off Pacific Street? Block Party! Lots of fun, arts, crafts, and bands! Free! More details here.
Attendees
Who is coming? We have compiled an opt-in list of attendees! Don’t see you name and would like to? Need to send me a different picture or description? No problem! Contact Rachel Christopherson at rchristopherson@middlebury.edu. Overall, we have about 100 people on the RSVP list, roughly 53 alumni, 23 students, 8 faculty/staff, and family members.
We look forward to seeing you in Monterey!
Hotels with Discount Agreements for MIIS
- PORTOLA HOTEL is bookable at this link, which should load MIIS discounted rates automatically, if there is availability
Inns of Monterey
Please call to reserve and request the Middlebury Institute / MIIS rate below- these are only available for Sunday - Thursday night (these are April rates). For Friday and Saturday nights, the hotel will offer a 20% discount off of their prevailing rate. The rates below do not include taxes, there are no resort fees.
- CASA MUNRAS - (831) 375-2411 www.hotelcasamunras.com
- $175.00 Traditional King
- $195.00 King w Fireplace
- $195.00 Queen /Queen
- $285.00 Junior Suite
- MONTEREY BAY INN - (831) 373-6242 www.montereybayinn.com
- $275.00 Harbor View King
- SPINDRIFT INN – (831) 646-8900 - www.spindriftinn.com
- $265.00 Cannery Row King
- $355.00 Ocean Front King
- VICTORIAN INN - (831) 373-8000 - www.victorianinn.com
- $195.00 Standard King
- $215.00 Courtyard King
- $225.00 Queen/Queen
- WAVE STREET INN - (831) 375-2299 - www.wavestreetinnmonterey.com
- $195.00 Standard King
- $215.00 Queen/Queen
Alumni Reunion Committee/POCs
Jason Scorse, Director of the Center for the Blue Economy and Program Chair for the IEP (now EPM) program
Edy Rhodes, former and long-time Career and Academic Advisor for IEP (now gloriously retired, staff emerita)
Elea Becker-Lowe, IEP Class of 2018, California Climate Assessment Program Manager, Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation
Rachel Christopherson, Program Manager, Center for the Blue Economy (Cell: 831-277-0529)
Questions? Corrections? Additions?
Contact Rachel Christopherson, Program Manager at the Center for the Blue Economy, rchristopherson@middlebury.edu or 831-277-0529 (cell)
Go Link for this Program—Easy to remember “Alumni Reunion Weekend”
GO.MIIS.EDU/ALUMNIREUNIONMONTEREY