iSustain is investing in the next generation of sustainability leaders. For 2025, that investment is centered on Jesse Roman, a dual-degree MBA and chemical engineering student whose work bridges business strategy and materials science.
Based in Chattanooga, iSustain annually supports graduate business students at the University of Tennessee who plan to apply their education to real-world challenges in manufacturing, materials and supply chains. Roman has been named the latest recipient of the iSustain Sustainability Endowment, a program designed to strengthen the workforce pipeline.
Roman’s academic path reflects the interdisciplinary focus iSustain says modern industry requires. Originally from Kissimmee, Florida, he earned an undergraduate degree in biochemistry from New College of Florida, where his research examined bio-based polymers derived from materials such as shrimp shells and seagrass. His senior thesis explored renewable alternatives for electrical components, blending environmental responsibility with industrial feasibility.
“The more I learned about the materials we rely on, the more I wanted to understand how to design alternatives that support both business performance and the natural world,” Roman says.
Roman is now pursuing a dual MBA and chemical engineering degree through the University of Tennessee’s Haslam College of Business and Tickle College of Engineering. His studies in operations, product development and supply-chain sustainability complement his laboratory background and are aimed at preparing him for roles in product management and industrial innovation.
Beyond coursework, Roman has gained experience in water analysis, laboratory operations and wetlands restoration. Those roles reinforced his view that environmental progress and industrial advancement must move forward together.
The iSustain Sustainability Endowment is intended to support graduate-level business students who plan to apply their training within business and industrial systems. Through long-term commitments and ongoing contributions, iSustain continues to grow the endowment as part of a broader strategy to support workforce development in sustainable manufacturing.
“Our industry doesn’t just need better materials and better systems – it needs leaders who understand how sustainability, operations and economics work together,” iSustain leadership said. “Jesse represents the kind of interdisciplinary talent required to move sustainable manufacturing forward at scale.”
Roman learned about the endowment while preparing to relocate for graduate school. He said the support arrived at a critical moment.
“It removed a lot of pressure. It let me focus on the work I came here to do.”
Looking ahead, Roman plans to pursue a career in chemical engineering or product management with organizations focused on sustainable manufacturing, materials innovation and responsible supply chains. His goal is to help companies expand bio-based product lines while reducing environmental impact without sacrificing performance or scalability.
His long-term vision, he said, is to advance industry “in a way that’s more agreeable to biological life.”
Through the Sustainability Endowment, iSustain says it aims to reduce financial barriers for students like Roman while developing leaders equipped to drive market-based sustainability solutions. For 2025, that mission is embodied in a student preparing to help shape the future of manufacturing at the intersection of science, business and environmental responsibility.
Source: iSustain