Veronica Mangio

I have a love for art, design, and nature. With a background in science and a love for art, I hope to intersect the applications of science and engineering with art and design to bring us closer to nature in our everyday lives. My simplest joys of life are spending time outside, at a coffee or boba shop, and eating good food, especially doing it all with friends and family. I graduated 2021 from Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) with a BS in User Experience.

Personal Pronouns

she/her

Describe what you do for work and how your experience with it has been.

After graduating from the MASD program, I founded Gifting Grove as a continuation of my thesis project—an exploration into how we might live both joyfully and sustainably through a gift economy. While I currently work in conservation full-time, I’ve continued to nurture Gifting Grove on evenings and weekends, with the hope of growing it into a full-time endeavor.

What inspires you/your work?

Robin Wall Kimmerer and her book, the Serviceberry

How do you network yourself and your art?

Being present in community

Where did you earn your undergraduate degree, and what was it in?

Bachelor of Science in User Experience from Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE)

What was your biggest takeaway from the program?

That sustainability is not just about reducing harm—it's about regenerating relationships, communities, and systems. The program helped me understand the power of design to shift narratives and build futures that are both joyful and sustainable. My thesis project, which became Gifting Grove, was rooted in this very idea: that we can design systems where generosity, connection, and care are the norm.

Where were you located when you completed the program?

Minnesota

How has the MA impacted your career/your life?

The program brought me to the path of change and implementation of what I want to do in my life. I was able to launched Gifting Grove after graduation—a nonprofit that grew from my thesis. The program gave me the tools, insight, and the confidence to turn a vision into a living, evolving project rooted in purpose.

How do you incorporate sustainability into your everyday life? What advice do you have for others to do the same?

I try to live in a way that values relationships over things—whether that means sharing, mending, choosing secondhand, or creating art rooted in community. Hosting events, spending time in nature, and simply slowing down are all ways I reconnect with what really matters. My advice: focus on building habits that feel joyful and relational, not just “less harmful.” True sustainability is rooted in care—for ourselves, for others, and for the planet—and it starts with intentional choices.

What would you tell students considering pursuing an MA degree in Sustainable Design?

Allow yourself to dream big and think differently. This program equips you with multiple lenses through which to view sustainability. You don’t always have to solve a problem directly—sometimes the most powerful ideas make the problem disappear. And definitely take the time to connect with your professors—they’re incredibly supportive and full of ideas. They were one of my favorite parts of the whole experience.