Julie Nash is pursuing a PhD in the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources and the Certificate of Graduate Study in Ecological Economics from the Gund Institute.  Her research focuses on the interface between consumer behavior, socially responsible business, and the natural environment. Prior to starting at UVM, Julie spent most of her career at international consumer products companies, working in various management capacities in brand marketing, strategic planning, and corporate finance. These varied experiences provided opportunities to live and work in Europe, Hawaii, and Asia.  Most recently, Julie managed global innovation and new product development at Ben & Jerry’s in Burlington Vermont. Julie’s main research focuses on fostering sustainability practices and products in the marine cultured pearl industry. Marine cultured pearls are unique within the extraction-intensive jewelry industry. If managed properly, responsible pearl farming can be a catalyzer for biodiversity hotspot conservation, improved social conditions and livelihoods, and economic development in remote island communities. The Sustainable Pearl project is based at the University of Vermont and incorporates international partners in Switzerland, Japan, Mexico and the South Pacific region. In addition to her dissertation research, Julie’s areas of academic interest include social marketing, ecosystem services modeling, sustainability metrics, environmental innovation and product design, and sustainable entrepreneurship.  

Research Interests: Sustainable Business Practices, Social Marketing
Dissertation: Fostering Sustainable Business Development in the Marine Cultured Pearl Industry