Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
A Chicago native, Valentine Geze (MDE ’26) earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering with a minor in studio art from Loyola University Chicago. Before arriving at the GSD, she worked as an environmental engineer at Partner Engineering & Science and later as an environmental, social, and governance consultant at Ernst & Young, experiences that sharpened her interest in how ecological systems, policy, and design intersect.
At Harvard, Valentine looked to further bridge science and art, intent on uniting “the technical rigor of an engineering degree with the creativity and human-centered focus of a design program. Her research has focused on the relationship between ecology, technology, and material systems, driven by a commitment to making climate futures both legible and actionable.
During her time in the MDE program, Valentine served as class representative, presented her research at the Circular Materials Conference in Copenhagen, and received the GSD-Courances Design Residency, where she studied sediment and hydrology in a traditional French garden. Her thesis, a project she plans to develop alongside future professional endeavors examines landscape-scale comparison in ecological restoration.
The Harvard Graduate School of Design Class of 2026 represents the range of departments and disciplines that shape the school’s distinctive approach to design education. In this series, students share perspectives on their work, research, and experiences, reflecting a commitment to advancing a more resilient, just, and beautiful world. Together, these videos offer a cross-section of the GSD’s intellectual and creative community. Check out the earlier posts in this series, and stay tuned for more features of the 2026 grads over the next few days!
📹: Maggie Janik
A Chicago native, Valentine Geze (MDE ’26) earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering with a minor in studio art from Loyola University Chicago. Before arriving at the GSD, she worked as an environmental engineer at Partner Engineering & Science and later as an environmental, social, and governance consultant at Ernst & Young, experiences that sharpened her interest in how ecological systems, policy, and design intersect.
At Harvard, Valentine looked to further bridge science and art, intent on uniting “the technical rigor of an engineering degree with the creativity and human-centered focus of a design program. Her research has focused on the relationship between ecology, technology, and material systems, driven by a commitment to making climate futures both legible and actionable.
During her time in the MDE program, Valentine served as class representative, presented her research at the Circular Materials Conference in Copenhagen, and received the GSD-Courances Design Residency, where she studied sediment and hydrology in a traditional French garden. Her thesis, a project she plans to develop alongside future professional endeavors examines landscape-scale comparison in ecological restoration.
The Harvard Graduate School of Design Class of 2026 represents the range of departments and disciplines that shape the school’s distinctive approach to design education. In this series, students share perspectives on their work, research, and experiences, reflecting a commitment to advancing a more resilient, just, and beautiful world. Together, these videos offer a cross-section of the GSD’s intellectual and creative community. Check out the earlier posts in this series, and stay tuned for more features of the 2026 grads over the next few days!
📹: Maggie Janik
