William Paterson University

Just one year after earning his bachelor’s degree in environmental sustainability from William Paterson University, Jason Peralta ‘25 has already devoted more than 1,700 hours to protecting New Jersey's waterways, educating residents, and collecting scientific data that helps monitor the state's environmental health.

Peralta recently completed an AmeriCorps term with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Watershed Ambassadors Program. During his 10-month service term, he delivered 67 educational presentations, conducted 38 biological and habitat stream assessments, identified more than 1,000 aquatic macroinvertebrates, and partnered with community organizations on cleanup, restoration, and tree-planting projects.

For Peralta – a first-generation college graduate from Hackensack, New Jersey who came to WP via the Educational Opportunity Fund – those accomplishments represent more than impressive statistics; they reflect the opportunity to translate classroom learning into meaningful public service.

“Serving with AmeriCorps has been an amazing experience,” Peralta says. “I loved organizing community events where we can come together and build our environment up, whether it be removing trash or planting trees. It was pleasant to see the community work toward a common goal: taking care of our planet.”

As an undergraduate, Peralta immersed himself in opportunities both inside and outside the classroom. An Honors College student in the Global Public Health track, he complemented his environmental sustainability major with minors in public health, social justice, and anthropology, developing a multidisciplinary perspective on the connections between environmental systems and human health.

“William Paterson shaped the way I approach environmental challenges by combining faculty mentorship with hands-on learning opportunities,” Peralta says. “These experiences strengthened my analytical skills, introduced me to field and laboratory research, and prepared me to address environmental challenges that impact both ecosystems and public health.”

Working closely with environmental science professors Michael Griffiths and Nicole Davi, Peralta studied soil and lake sediments, as well as tree rings, to better understand climate history and environmental change.

His academic experience opened doors to competitive summer research opportunities, including a National Science Foundation-funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program, where he studied urban ecology and biodiversity alongside some of the nation’s best scholars. He also completed internships with Rutgers University's Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve and Cornell University Cooperative Extension in New York.

Peralta developed leadership skills at William Paterson, serving as a member of the swim team, an Honors College Peer Leader, Student Ambassador, Orientation Leader, and student representative to the University Board of Trustees. Those experiences, he said, helped prepare him to communicate effectively with diverse audiences – an important part of his work as a Watershed Ambassador.

Looking toward his next chapter, Peralta is currently interviewing for full-time professional roles as an environmental health scientist.