During Bilegt Baatar’s time in the Environmental Policy and Management (EPM) graduate program at UC Davis, he worked on a project that explored meaningful solutions for rural communities. He was part of a student team that analyzed gaps in electric vehicle infrastructure in non-urban areas and developed policy recommendations to address these challenges. Years later, Baatar was excited when a regulatory department cited his team’s work.

“My classmates and I were texting each other, saying the U.S. Department of Transportation cited our work, and our work was showing up as reference material in policy documents produced by other regulators,” Baatar said. “We knew at the time that this was real world stuff we were working on, but it sank in even more, years later, when we saw it being utilized.”

After earning his bachelor’s degree in environmental science and management at UC Davis, Baatar continued his studies, completing his master’s degree through the EPM program. Now a senior associate for regulatory operations at DoorDash, he works with local regulators to navigate land use and permitting matters. Baatar credits the unique experiences from the program, especially the Policy Clinic practicum, for preparing him to manage today’s complex issues.

“The program does such a great job of anchoring everything in real world context,” he said. “It’s an amazing stepping stone to get us ready for the same types of scenarios we’re going to encounter when we’re out working in these really critical roles.”

Shortly after graduating in 2019, Baatar began his career as an assistant planner for Sacramento County’s Office of Planning and Environmental Review. He said the negotiation skills he picked up through mock exercises as a graduate student have been helpful throughout his career.

“One thing that has stuck with me, not just at DoorDash but also in my previous jobs, is how important it was to have the negotiation skills practice from the environmental law class I took,” he explained. “I’ve always appreciated the practical experience from that class.”

Baatar thinks the EPM program stands out for its real-world training and mentorship from professors and industry partners. He says the program also helps students explore a range of career paths, just like it did for him in his current role at DoorDash, where he focuses on initiatives tied to his early interest in urban planning.

“I work with a fantastic team and what feels really inspiring is being able to work on initiatives where DoorDash is enhancing access that consumers have to their communities,” Baatar said. “It aligns with a lot of the goals and interests that I have, particularly my passion for the built environment and the ways we interact with it.”