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The Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program At the University of Washington
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Scholars

Looking for a conservation change-maker? Scholars reflect cross-cultural backgrounds and perspectives, and come from as far as the islands of Guam and Rota to the rocky coastlines of Maine.

Melatk Roylin Akiwo

Luis Aleman

Keren Alfred

Brittany Amaral

Sandra Amezcua Rocha

Gabriel Angulo

Ellie Aosved

Dominic Arzadon

Leila Ayad

Erin Azuma

Olivia Balcos

Tabitha Barbour

Andres Barrera

Celia Bateman

Samuel Battles

Naanibah Begay

Biology or Environmental Science

Auriane Benabou

Arunika Bhatia

Deborah Bitanga

Kai Blatt

A’Moris Bodrick

Agricultural Systems; Pre-Vet

Ethan Bott

Sierra Campbell

Robin Chakrabarti

Environmental Science

Celine Chen

Carly Chiwiwi

Human Biology and Public Health in Underserved Populations

Skyler Chong

Kyra Jean Cipolla

Arielle Copeland

Anthropology and Urban Studies

MaKail Crawford

Kaytlen Cruz

Jason Cummins

Dyaami D’Orazio

Environmental Studies

Saloni Dagli

Environmental Engineering

Christopher Deleon

Environemtal Studies and Business Administration

Jacqueline Diaz

Kianna Dieudonne

Bailey Draper

Maekayla Emerson

Latoia Eppinger

Austin John Escobar

Jose Esparza Aguirre

Veronica Espitia

Guadalupe Estrada

Joseph Eusebio

History and Film Studies

Kylee Farrington

Leyla Farshidpour

Environmental Science and Biology

Joia Fishman

Rachel Flores

Tyler Fouty

Hydrology

Kara Frampton

Botany

Hector Franco

Mayra Garcia

Jackelyn Garcia

Mickki Garrity

Lilli Garza

Kate Gates

Kyra Geissler

Grace Generous

Sawson Gholami

Davien Graham

Maya Greally

Prasadini Gross

Divya Gudur

Elías Guerra

Trevor Guinn

Olivia Hair

Faustino Hampson-Medina

Steven Harris

Earth Science and Anthropology

Ashley Harris

Science, Technology, and Society

Ayana Harscoet

Sophia Hess

Shamis Hired

Rhiley Hodges

Henry Hua

Sierra Ana Hurtado

Bailey Hussung

Amy Huynh

Mary Heather Jingco

Wendy Johana Noreña

Imani Johnson-Bey

Alicia Juang

Shannon Kanakaole

Bilal Karim

Eric Katz

Business

Lauren Kim

Nathaniel Kinyanjui

Falisha Kurji

Gabriel Leon

Haley Lohr

Pheng Lor

Niki Love

Celeste Lucero

Malayshia Lumpkin

Geography

Kyle Mabie

Alyssa Magliaro

Khalil Malcom

Destiny Mancilla

Jordan Mares-Manton

Mechanical Engineering

Joseph Marrujo

James Martin

Mag Maurice

Jasmine Medukas

Anam Mehta

Matinn Miller

Bridget Moffat

Celida Moran

Jordan Morgan

Environmental Studies

Anik Mutsuddy

Zachary Naramore

Environmental Science

Anahi Naranjo

Henry Nelson

Frances Ngo

Adaeze Obinelo

Jesse Okwu

Economics and Anthro/Soc

Jennifer Ortega

Juhi Parekh

Sujee Park

Applied Mathematics and Statistics

Luna Peralta

Lydia Petroske

Olivia Pfeifer

Earth and Oceanographic Science major / Spanish minor

Leo Triet Pham

Emilie Pilchowski

Royale Pinassi

Andreah Pierre

Kiya Rahn

Simren Rai

Elizabeth Randolph

Pallav Regmi

Michaela Ritz

Geosciences

Vanessa Rivas

Environmental Economics and Policy

Jared Rivera

Minerva Rivera

Keaohuana’oli Rivera-Leong

Belén Rodríguez

Irina Rodriguez

Roberto Rojas

Julieta Saucedo

Naajia Shakir

Alexis Sharp

Environmental Science

Margalit Shetreat-Klein

Viraj Sikand

Environmental Science

Chris Spencer

Savannah Steinly

Nicota Stevenson

Tillie Stewart

Kimberly Stewert

Kyra Tan

I Tang

Ammara Touch

Artis Trice

Taylor Umetsu

Dominique Valentine

Carlos Valenzuela

William Walker VI

Bennett Walkes

Travis Waters Jr.

Adilia Watson

Eva Weddell

Keegan Williams-Thomas

Justin Wilson

Hannah Wilson

Olivia Won

Paloma Wood-Assemian

Daniel Wu

Maricella Xiong

Brody Yamada

Phounsith Yangh

Kimberly Zamora Delgado

Hans Yuxin Zhou

Support the Conservation Scholars Program

The Conservation Scholars Fund directly supports students who are pursuing a career in conservation through the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program at the University of Washington. Effective conservation strategies are inclusive, involving a diversity of stakeholders and incorporating multiple values. Yet, the conservation community does not reflect the collective voice of our country. Without a significant, serious and immediate increase in diversity and inclusion, the conservation community will become a movement of the past instead of a guiding principle of the future. Our program aims to change that.

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Will you be a Conservation Scholar?

The application period has closed.

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    The application period has closed.

Our upcoming application period runs from November 24, 2020 until February 1, 2021.

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Melatk Roylin Akiwo
Lincoln College
  • Conservation Biology

My name is Melatk Roylin Akiwo. I major in conservation biology, I’m mainly looking into sustainable tourism and marine biology. I’m from Palau, a small island in the western pacific, just a two hour flight from Guam.

Luis Aleman
University of Idaho
  • International Studies
Keren Alfred
Brown University
  • Environmental Science

Keren is interested in changing sustainability conversations from models that are about humans vs. nature to models that incorporate humans within nature.

Brittany Amaral
University of Rhode Island
  • Wildlife & Conservation Biology

Brittany has a passion for learning and the outdoors. She is an aspiring wildlife photographer and is interested in studying ecology, animal behavior, biodiversity, and how different cultural communities interact with the environment around them.

Sandra Amezcua Rocha
Yale University
  • Environmental Science

I love to learn about Latin American relations to their natural and urban environments. My community and family are the best teachers of this vast history and indigenous culture I seek to understand.

Gabriel Angulo
California State University - Long Beach
  • Engineering
  • Environmental Chemistry

Gabriel seeks to fuse topics of conservation with outside disciplines to come up with sound solutions for communities facing major climate change impacts.

Ellie Aosved
Pacific Lutheran University
  • Biology

I am a biology major at Pacific Lutheran University with a minor in Norwegian. I plan on using this experience to grow my skills in conservation ecology. I want to work hard to make our world a better place. My passions in ecology contain water conservation and wetland restoration as well as sustainable agriculture.

Dominic Arzadon
Pitzer College
  • Environmental Analysis
  • Critical Global Studies
  • Asian American Studies

Dominic is passionate about natural resource management and environmental stewardship as it pertains to coastal and island communities. As an immigrant from the Philippines, he understands the importance of preserving and restoring one’s relationship to land and place. With a focus on environmental geopolitics and the intersections of social and environmental justice, Dominic seeks to use their identities and lived experiences to reshape conservation. In reshaping conservation, he aims to solve environmental issues through a critical and global lens and work towards a conservation practice without borders.

Leila Ayad
Florida State University
  • Environmental Policy
  • Environmental Science

Challenging the status quo of the conservation movement by searching for connections between environmental health and human health, Leila is searching for ways to feed the future without harming the planet and create a more inclusive outdoor community.

Erin Azuma
Arizona State University
  • Biological Sciences

Erin seeks ways to minimize negative environmental impact by strengthening the relationship between humans and the environment.

Olivia Balcos
Colby College
  • Anthropology

Olivia is looking to combine the powers of grassroots organizing, art, education, and environmental justice to create spaces in the conservation movement in which the needs people of color and indigenous folk are prioritized. She is always looking for ways to connect with her Indigenous Filipino heritage. She hopes to further decolonize her views of nature and make meaningful connections to the land just as her parents and ancestors did.

Tabitha Barbour
Butler University
  • English
  • Gender Studies
Andres Barrera
University of Idaho
  • Spanish
  • Broadcast & Digital Media

Andres has a passion for clean water, since it is a basic necessity for all living things. These social environmental issues need to come from people from all different backgrounds, cultures, and studies. The conservation issues should be given platforms within journalism and the media better inform the public and bring about change.

Celia Bateman
University of Oklahoma
  • Biology
  • Botany
  • Spanish

Celia is from Porter, Oklahoma, and is currently attending the University of Oklahoma as a sophomore. In her free time, she writes poetry, paints, and practices yoga. She is double majoring in Biology and Botany while minoring in African American studies. In the future, she intends to pursue a doctorate degree in Botany and conduct research on the affects of medicinal plants.

Samuel Battles
Yale University
  • Environmental Studies

Samuel seeks to understand the relationship between colonization, migration, and the environment. Sustainable food production is one way we can both benefit the environment and promote non-western ways of interacting with nature. Using food sovereignty as one example, Samuel aims to bring histories of oppression into the context of the conservation movement. His future goals are to integrate cultural awareness with science and public policy while working with marginalized communities.

Naanibah Begay
Colorado College
  • Biology
  • Environmental Science

Committed to helping her reservation progress in their understanding of complex environmental issues, Nani approaches conservation through education and sense of place.

Auriane Benabou
Brown University
  • Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Auriane is interested in conservation of island ecosystems and impacts of invasive species as well indigenous activist groups fighting to protect native lands from environmental threats. She hopes to be able to mesh the complex science that goes into ecology and conservation with public policy and community outreach to break the stigma surrounding STEM fields and scientists and create a more inclusive atmosphere that increases public involvement in the preservation of their environment.

Arunika Bhatia
Colby College
  • Environmental Science
  • Public Policy
  • Spanish

Arunika is searching for ways of making natural recourses accessible to all and promoting traditional conservation practices in mainstream environmentalism.

Deborah Bitanga
The Evergreen State College
  • Economics
  • Education

Deborah is continuously adapting to new environments and aims to cross apply environmental studies and the visual arts.

Kai Blatt
Wesleyan University
  • Biology
  • Studio Art

Bringing environmental responsibility into the practice of design, Kai is working to adapt resource consumption to a changing world.

A’Moris Bodrick
Kentucky State University
  • Agricultural Systems

Can industrial agriculture equal conservation? A'Moris dreams of becoming a large animal veterinarian who uses a conservation-minded approach to tackle issues of food safety and environmental health.

Ethan Bott
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
  • Hydrology

Who really owns the water beneath our feet and can we preserve and protect it for all to share equally? Ethan is interested in conserving the quality, quantity and availability our diminishing groundwater resources.

Sierra Campbell
University of Washington
  • Environmental Studies

Sierra aims to maximize historical preservation by utilizing her Indigenous knowledge. She strives to bring traditional customs to the forefront in collaboration with modern practices in order to create more innovative techniques that will improve ecological restoration.

Robin Chakrabarti
Oberlin College
  • Environmental Studies

Robin, known on stage as Robin Chakra, aims to transform the conservation movement through city culture. Fascinated with issues of consumption and social justice, he complements his urban environmental interests with music, producing and rapping over experimental beats to observe the urban pulse.

Celine Chen
University of California–Berkeley
  • Environmental Economics
  • Environmental Policy

Celine seeks to understand the political ecology of urbanization and the ways in which communities enact their "right to the city" through environmental activism.

Carly Chiwiwi
Stanford University
  • Human Biology
  • Public Health

Aimed at improving health conditions of underserved populations, Carly is committed to discovering the connections between conservation and public health.

Skyler Chong
Brown University
  • Biology
  • Environmental Science

Born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, I am now studying Environmental Science with a focus on Conservation Science and Policy. My main interests lie in the realm of enthoecology, where I hope to use science as a tool for uplifting the voices of BIPOC communities and others in need.

Kyra Jean Cipolla
Drew University
  • Environmental Science & Sustainability
  • Italian Studies

Kyra Jean is interested in marine sciences and wants to dedicate her life to protecting aquatic ecosystems. She seeks to ensure coastal communities have access to natural resources through conservation practices.

Arielle Copeland
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
  • Anthropology
  • Business

Arielle is looking at how commerce shapes the natural environment. She is seeking to make environmental justice dialogues more inclusive for people of color.

MaKail Crawford
Wesleyan University
  • Classics

MaKail is considering a major in Classics and the College of Letters. He is interested in understanding more of the effects that biodiversity has on different environments and what happens when that starts to falter.

Kaytlen Cruz
Oberlin College
  • Environmental Studies

Kaytlen is an Environmental Studies major at Oberlin College. She’s interested in urban sustainability, food justice, sustainability education, and connecting people with nature and the food they eat. She has a passion for nonprofit work and seeking out ways to support marginalized communities. She believes that sustainability and conservation practices should be affordable for everyone and aims to create an inclusive environment for people usually left out of environmental sustainability conversations. She also believes that sustainability and conservation needs to be decolonized, and that means uplifting the voices of POC.

Jason Cummins
Little Big Horn College
  • Associates of Science

My name is Jason Blaze Cummins but I prefer to be called Blaze. I am an enrolled member of the Crow tribe. I have 3 brothers and one niece. I am currently 20 Years old and a student at LBHC. My hobbies include playing video games, hiking and just lounging around!

Dyaami D’Orazio
Oberlin College
  • Environmental Studies

Making a difference now, Dyaami is leaping in to expand the voice of under-represented communities in conservation.

Saloni Dagli
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
  • Environmental Engineering

How can engineering make a difference in local lives, and livelihoods? Saloni is discovering ways to connect conservation, food, and equity through technology.

Christopher Deleon
Fresno Pacific University
  • Business
  • Environmental Studies

Can local food save the world, from culture to conservation? Chris seeks to address food deserts, economic disparity and environmental quality.

Jacqueline Diaz
University of California - Merced
  • Environmental Policy
  • Public Health

Seeking solutions that work across all stakeholders, Jacqueline is seeking to address how political and environmental policies affect the public health of cultural communities.

Kianna Dieudonne
Rollins College
  • Conservation Biology
  • Cultural Anthropology
  • Environmental Studies

Kianna is interested in the cultural impact of conservation in neighborhoods across America, especially those where social and environmental injustices result in structural violence.

Bailey Draper
Central Washington University
  • Conservation Biology
  • Natural Resources

Bailey is looking forward to pursuing a career with the Fish and Wildlife Department later in his life.

Maekayla Emerson
University of Florida
  • Natural Resource Conservation

Hi, I am Maekayla Emerson and I am a student studying Natural Resource Conservation and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Florida. I have had a love for animals and nature ever since I was little, and I knew that once I reached college grades, I would major in the appropriate fields such as this. I enjoy spending time in natural sites and having the chance to experience mother nature at her finest. My goal in life is to sustain a career in wildlife biology where I can observe animals, large mammals in particular, in their natural environments and study the impact they have on their own species, along with other species, its habitat, and on humans. While I understand this will be quite the challenge, I stand firm in my belief that I can reach my goals and inspire other minorities that dreams can come true.

Latoia Eppinger
Tuskegee University
  • Biology
Austin John Escobar
University of California - Merced
  • Biological Sciences

I am passionate about environmental conservation and sustainability. I am working on projects at school that rescue food, talk about the environment and how to live sustainably. Also, I love fairy shrimp!

Jose Esparza Aguirre
University of California - Los Angeles
  • Environmental Science
  • Urban Studies

Jose hopes to develop sound solutions for sustainability and environmental justice in underprivileged communities with socioeconomic constraints.

Veronica Espitia
Seattle University
  • Cultural Anthropology

Veronica is a student at Seattle University pursuing a degree in Cultural Anthropology, meaning she is fascinated by people, “human nature”, and the way we interact with the world. She hopes to cultivate a stronger and more profound personal relationship with the natural world, meet other folks who share her passions, and find inspiration for her creative projects such as painting, writing, and filmmaking.

Guadalupe Estrada
Wayne State College
  • Biology
  • Sociology

I am a biology and sociology double major with an environmental studies minor. I want to be involved with biology conservation, ecology and environmental justice. I want to do my work with intersectionality in mind.

Joseph Eusebio
Wesleyan University
  • Film Studies
  • History

Creating aesthetic and cultural change in perceptions of the environment, Joseph is an aspiring filmmaker for the big and small screen.

Kylee Farrington
Arizona State University
  • Business and Sustainability

Kylee is discovering new ways to increase impact in conservation by combining economics and sustainability. She uses a multidisciplinary strategy to untangle the systematic causes of environmental problems.

Leyla Farshidpour
California State University–Fresno
  • Biochemistry

Reaching forward and giving back, Leyla creates opportunities for women and under-represented communities in sustainability science and conservation.

Joia Fishman
UC Santa Cruz
  • ecology
Rachel Flores
Vanderbilt University
  • Environmental Sociology
  • Human & Org Development

In the future, Rachel plans to go into public service with a focus on environmental justice. She is passionate about food security, food waste, and other issues surrounding the food system, and hopes to continue learning about different ways to address these problems. No matter the method, she appreciates the value of working with communities rather than for them to advocate for environmental and social justice.

Tyler Fouty
Salish Kootenai College
  • Hydrology

From a community with a long history of conserving natural resources, Tyler is especially interested in stream restoration.

Kara Frampton
Humboldt State University
  • Botany

Can botany create a conservation change? Kara connects plants to people, from food to art.

Hector Franco
Heritage University
  • Biological Sciences
  • Environmental Science

Hector is a dreamer and was brought to the United States at the age of one and half. His goal is to live a happy life and become an ecologist that will contribute to the field as well as help others learn the importance of maintaining resources in order to keep the planet healthy.

Mayra Garcia
University of California San Diego
  • Public Policy

Mayra wants to discover the relationship between public policy and environmental conservation. She wants to learn about food sustainability and how to facilitate progress in underrepresented communities. She seeks to create an inclusive environment, for people from all backgrounds.

Jackelyn Garcia
University of Washington - Bothell
  • Biology

Jackelyn is interested in researching diverse ecosystems and the wildlife that reside in those environments. From marine ecosystems to the prairies, she aims to increase plant and wildlife conservation efforts, and reach out to local communities and help others learn the importance of biodiversity in nature.

Mickki Garrity
Northwest Indian College
  • Native Environmental Science

Originally hailing from southwest Kansas, Mickki Garrity recently relocated from Denver, CO to Astoria, OR. After a twenty-five year career in business and non-profit management, Mickki is pursuing her first bachelor's degree in Native Environmental Science at Northwest Indian College. Mickki is Neshnabe / Bodewadmi and enrolled in the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. An avid reader and writer, Mickki recently had short stories published in ang(st) and Adelaide Magazine. In her spare time, Mickki and her husband go hiking and camping with their tiny dog, Punkin.

Lilli Garza
Colby College
  • Environmental Policy
  • Spanish
  • Studio Art

Lilli is interested in working with developing nations to further investigate the harmful effects of fossil fuels. By building relationships with cultural communities, she hopes to help climate refugees and to educate the public about the damage caused by these industries.

Kate Gates
United Tribes Technical College
  • Environmental Science and Research

I am a current student at United Tribes Technical College, in the Environmental Science and Research Program. I love to be outdoors and I love to constantly learn new things.

Kyra Geissler
College of Idaho
  • Spanish
  • Environmental Studies & Biology
  • Psychological Development & Education

I spent the first 17 years of my life in Chicago, IL. I moved to New Mexico to finish my last two years of high school at United World College USA, an international boarding school focused on intercultural understanding and sustainability. There, I fell in love with the outdoors and began backpacking and rock climbing. Inside, I love to dance, sew and play ukulele. I currently attend The College of Idaho and study Environmental Studies and Biology, with an emphasis on conservation. I spend most of my time learning, being outside and in good company.

Grace Generous
Macalester College
  • Economic and Environmental Studies

Grace is interested in studying the ways conservation and economics interact to create more sustainable public policy. She is also interested in social justice and strives to promote diversity and minority empowerment within conservation activism. She hopes to combine these two interests to create more robust public policy that acknowledges the interrelation of marginalization and environmental destruction.

Sawson Gholami
University of Utah
  • Mathematics

Sawson is working to build a food-system that respects and nourishes the people and animals who are part of it.

Davien Graham
Michigan State University
  • Forestry

Art, Design, Science, and a love of natural landscapes culminate to produce Davien’s basic interests. A student from Detroit, MI, he attends Michigan State University to attain a bachelors in Forestry with a concentration of urban vegetated design. Davien wants to use his love of art, crafting, and nature to design buildings and landscapes in urban areas with an emphasis on vegetation to truly blur the line between cities and forests.

Maya Greally
University of Vermont
  • Environmental Science
  • LinkedIn

Maya is from Boston, MA studying to be an Environmental Science major with a concentration in Sustainable Community Development and minor in history. She hopes to work toward creating a more just and equitable world through working on environmental justice issues, particularly around urban youth access to traditional outdoor activities and recreation.

Prasadini Gross
University of California San Diego
  • Ethnic Studies

Prasadini goes to the University of California- San Diego where she majors in Ethnic Studies and minors in Environmental Studies. She is ever learning and exploring her interests of the intersections of environmental justice, social justice, race relations, and coexistance of the natural world. She is particularly interested in stories and storytelling as a way of healing. Her favorite place to be in nature is beside the ocean.

Divya Gudur
Middlebury College
  • Environmental Chemistry

I hope to combine my passions for environmental health, environmental chemistry, and environmental justice by exploring the disproportional health effects caused by environmental issues on vulnerable populations. By both researching the environmental toxins and contaminants as well as fighting for the recognition and inclusion of those most vulnerable, I can better the health of these populations.

Elías Guerra
Middlebury College
  • Biology
  • Spanish

Elias is interested in studying marine ecosystems and is also getting excited to learn about environmental justice and how conservation can work locally.

Trevor Guinn
Haskell Indian Nations University
  • Geography
  • Public Administration

My passions lie in urban development and sustainability. My focus area of study is how inequality is perpetuated through communities and the environments around them. I hope to bridge the gap between urban planning and environmental justice in cities.

Olivia Hair
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
  • Gender Studies
  • Global Studies

I want to help individuals connect to their personal relationship with nature, thus nurturing a sense of communal responsibility to our earth. I have also worked briefly in permaculture, and hope to help create a more inclusive, wholistic permaculture movement which recognizes the sustainable and perennial practices of indigenous communities and small-scale farmers around the world.

Faustino Hampson-Medina
University of Washington
  • Earth & Space Science
  • Facebook

My Ho-Chunk name is JāJā̜p here ga, "He who is Lightning" and I want to learn about conservation efforts in Washington in order to promote conservation on my reservation in Winnebago, Nebraska. I want to apply traditional Native American practices and beliefs with modern technology to reduce our carbon footprint and protect Mother Earth.

Steven Harris
Syracuse University
  • Anthropology
  • Earth Science

A geologist and anthropologist fascinated with the physical and cultural processes that shape the world we live in, Steven thrives on any opportunity to be outdoors.

Ashley Harris
Stanford University
  • Science
  • Society
  • Technology

Can a community's efforts for conservation impact public health in their region? Ashley strives to find out and educate communities about the linkage.

Ayana Harscoet
Bowdoin
  • Biology
  • Environmental Studies
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

A storyteller and ecologist, Ayana seeks to bring a critical framing to scientific practice, centering histories and relationships to place as she explores the ways we connect with nature, our environments, and one another.

Sophia Hess
Mount Holyoke College
  • Environmental Studies
  • Art Studio

Sophia is double majoring in Environmental Studies and Art Studio, looking to explore the connection between humans and the land. She is specifically interested in the marine conservation of kelp forests from her home in California, and learns from Indigenous land practices and historical ecology to provide insight on modern day restoration strategies. Their artwork imagines sustainable future, and explores themes of migration, consumption, and climate change.

Shamis Hired
University of Maryland Baltimore County
  • Geography and Environmental Systems

As a Geography and Environmental Systems major I would like to use GIS skills to better understand the environment. Through GIS I will be able to implement models and different simulations for specific environments to see how that environment could fare. I would like to be a part of the process of discovering new methods for environmental conservation/sustainability to help the environment and in turn the people who use the environment.

Rhiley Hodges
University of Central Florida
  • Conservation Biology
  • ecology

My name is Rhiley Hodges also known as Rhiley Kay. I have a passion for the environment and learning about different ecosystems and their interactions with humans while also having a passion for politics and human rights. I believe that everyone has a purpose and should love what they do. I look at everyday as a new opportunity to learn myself more and become the person I envision myself being. I also enjoy trying new things, overcoming my fears and meeting new people.

Henry Hua
Stony Brook University
  • Marine Science
  • Sustainability Studies

80% of the ocean remains unexplored and 91% of marine species are yet to be classified. I am a marine science major with an innate curiosity in the ocean and marine life. I hoping to pursue a PhD in Ecology and Conservation Sciences to discover the ways in which anthropogenic issues adversely affect wildlife and work towards a sustainable future for all life on earth.

Sierra Ana Hurtado
California State University - Northridge
  • Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Sierra is interested in learning about conservation from a non-Western perspective and how different cultures and communities care for their environments. She aims to decolonize science by unlearning and challenging the settler-colonialism mentality. Sierra desires to make the field of conservation more accessible and welcoming to those who have historically been excluded from science. By merging her artistic abilities with her knowledge of biology, Sierra hopes to provide accessible conservation education and environmental awareness education within her community.

Bailey Hussung
Indiana University Bloomington
  • Law
  • Public Policy

Bailey is looking at the intersection of public policy and conservation. She wants to improve sustainable food and water networks in urban areas, and ensure all the stakeholders are included in the conservation conversation.

Amy Huynh
University of California–Berkeley
  • Environmental Economics
  • Geography

Connecting natural resources and livelihoods, Amy is determined to conserve the environment AND the integrity of communities that are most vulnerable to climate change. Her work is focused on the intersection of culturally appropriate sustainable economic and environmental development.

Mary Heather Jingco
University of Guam
  • Integrative Biology

Born and raised in the Pacific, Heather is interested in returning to the Mariana islands to study their threatened and endangered species. Her long-term goal is to become the forefront of conservation efforts within the Marianas, and with the passion she holds for protecting her island resources, she hopes to inspire other Pacific Islanders to do the same. She envisions the field of conservation to one day reflect the biodiversity found in nature. Just as the ocean waters bridge islands together, she aims to continuously connect with others who feel as strongly as she does, and work to change the field of conservation for the better.

Wendy Johana Noreña
Pomona College
  • Anthropology
  • Environmental Science

How do ideas of environmental stewardship manifest themselves in non-western cultures? Wendy is interested in exploring the relationship between humans, their environment and culture in order to determine how sustainability or conservation efforts can be designed and implemented for different communities.

Imani Johnson-Bey
University of Hawai'i at Mānoa
  • Natural Resources
  • Environmental Management
  • Art

Imani is an Environmental Studies major and Art minor from Baltimore, Maryland. Growing up around the Chesapeake Bay, Imani has always been intrigued by the marshes and forests of their home state. This interest has developed into a passion for conservation of natural ecosystems and finding the connection between culture and nature. Imani enjoys creating art inspired by her love for nature and hopes that through her art more people will be inspired to get outside and connect back to the natural world.

Alicia Juang
Harvard University
  • Earth Science
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Geosciences

Drawing inspiration from community-centered projects, Alicia is working to apply the tools of engineering to better both ecosystem and environmental health.

Shannon Kanakaole
Texas Christian University
  • Biology
  • Environmental Science
Bilal Karim
Cal Polytechnic University - Pomona
  • Biology

Can medicine intersect with environmentalism and social justice? Bilal hopes to find a way to connect all three, especially at the local community-level.

Eric Katz
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
  • Business

Is sustainable business a conservation solution? Eric works at the nexus of business, environment and sustainability.

Lauren Kim
Yale University
  • Environmental Studies
  • Ethnicity Race & Migration

Fascinated by the ways that sustainable food systems can empower communities and protect cultural traditions, Lauren wants to be a community organizer and researcher. When building solutions, she wants to center the voices of our most impacted populations.

Nathaniel Kinyanjui
University of Maryland
  • Sustainability Studies
  • Architecture

Nate Kinyanjui is from Silver Spring, Maryland, and is currently attending the University of Maryland as a sophomore. In my free time I play tennis, listen to podcasts, and play guitar. I'm majoring in Architecture and minoring in Japanese and Sustainability. In the future I intend to help design affordable and sustainable housing for underserved communities.

Falisha Kurji
University of Florida
  • Sustainability Studies

Falisha is interested in the intersection of conservation and culture. Using her passion for social justice work, Falisha wants to empower communities of color who are most affected by environmental issues.

Gabriel Leon
Arizona State University
  • Geography
  • Urban Planning

Water is the liquid jewel that has forged cultures and nourished civilizations since humanity's rise. Gabe is determined to preserve the quality and distribution of Earth's blue gem by curbing pollution and overuse of our rivers, oceans and aquifers with responsible transportation and land-use policies.

Haley Lohr
North Carolina State University
  • Natural Resources

How do we get all the stakeholders in the room? Haley aims to bridge the gap in conservation negotiations between conservation organizations and conflicting parties.

Pheng Lor
UC Berkley
  • Conservation and Resource Studies & LGBT Studies

Pheng is a proud Hmong-American, he is from Fresno, the breadbasket of California, and intends to implement and practice environmental awareness by serving underrepresented and low-income communities in the field of conservation and agriculture. He aspires to be an educator and community activist.

Niki Love
Cornell University
  • Biology
Celeste Lucero
University of New Mexico
  • Political Science
  • Native American Studies

Growing up on the reservation of Isleta Pueblo, she was taught from a young age the relationship between her people and the earth. Celeste proudly comes from the Pueblo of Isleta and represents the Turtle Mountain Chippewa on her grandmothers side. Celeste wants to be an Indigenous voice in the world of environmental justice. She see’s herself at the forefront of legislation fighting to protect natural resources, sacred sites, and the rights of Indigenous peoples and other minorities.

Malayshia Lumpkin
Virginia Tech
  • Geography

Using GIS to display and assess conservation issues on a regional scale, Lacey is interested in how water impacts urban growth and development.

Kyle Mabie
Colorado State University
  • Conservation Biology

Nature's complexities keep Kyle chasing his curiosity down a path of scholarly research in the biological sciences. The ways humans interact with their environment and the positive feedbacks keep Kyle up at night.

Alyssa Magliaro
Case Western Reserve University
  • Systems Biology and Applied Mathematics

Alyssa is an aspiring wildlife biologist who hopes to increase awareness of the important roles frequently overlooked organisms have in their ecosystems through her research, art, and public outreach. Specifically, she seeks to use her skills in painting as an avenue by which she can convey urgent and important messages within conservation. As for her research goals, she is aiming to use mathematical modeling to predict and avoid population decline across a multitude of organisms. She wishes to make science more accessible by continuing and finding new ways to express critical concepts within conservation to the public.

Khalil Malcom
State University of New York College at Buffalo
  • Biology

Could you imagine your life without an adequate supply of water? Khalil is interested in the conservation of water and the ability to make it readily accessible to individuals on Earth.

Destiny Mancilla
Humboldt State University
  • Environmental Science and Management

I am eager to learn about various aspects of environmental science, but my main focuses are exploring environmentally conscious techniques to support soil conservation and using GIS to develop green urbanism in low-income, marginalized communities. Ultimately, I want to use my STEM background to tackle climate change issues and diversify the conservation movement to promote a sustainable, inclusive environment.

Jordan Mares-Manton
Purdue University
  • Engineering

How can innovation in emergent technologies power conservation solutions? Jordan is committed to improving environmental and ecosystem sustainability from the leading edge of mechanical engineering.

Joseph Marrujo
University of Colorado at Boulder
  • Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
  • Sociology

My name is Joseph Marrujo, I was born in Denver, Colorado and have lived in the state for my entire life. One would think that I love the cold, dry climate but it’s not my favorite thing about having grown up here--I do love the summers though when you can enjoy flower hikes in the mountains, rent kayaks for an hour, or just spend time with friends. I'm currently attending the University of Colorado at Boulder where I can still be relatively close to my mother and my grandfather, as well as two younger siblings whom I try to be a good role model for. While in Boulder, I am pursuing a bachelor's degree with a major in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology [EBIO] and minors in Sociology, Astronomy, and Geology with hopes of having a career in the distinctive, interdisciplinary field of Astrobiology. As to be expected, some of my favorite activities in life include retaining an unusual amount of random facts (especially biology related), and observation: human beings, celestial bodies, and rocks in their natural habitats. Aside from that, I consider matters of social equity/security, conservation, and decolonization to be of the utmost importance to me and I plan on continuing to work today for a hopefully better tomorrow.

James Martin
North Carolina Ag & Tech State University
  • Horticulture

Conservation policy or global warming - James wishes to use plant life to restore and create healthy environments to tackle these issues.

Mag Maurice
Indiana University Bloomington
  • Law
  • Public Policy

My goal is to learn more about conservation and the ways that it intersects with public policy. Environmental issues are usually at odds with public policy, BUT environmental issues and all of its encompassing are public policy.

Jasmine Medukas
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
  • Soils and Land Management

Jasmine is very passionate about soil science and mycology and seeing how the two together will benefit the world.

Anam Mehta
Pomona College
  • Environmental Analysis

By reevaluating and understanding the place of humans in the environment, Anam hopes to be able to create meaningful solutions to climate change and environmental justice issues in order to develop a better world for all.

Matinn Miller
Seattle University
  • Environmental Studies
  • Photography

Focusing primarily on the tools needed to achieve an environmentally just world, while at the same time regulating how to mitigate pollution levels and sustain our environment, Matinn aspires to implement all-inclusive policy plans and/or changes.

Bridget Moffat
University of California - Santa Barbara
  • Conservation Biology
  • Spanish

Bridget seeks to maximize biological diversity and ecological restoration in a manner inclusive to indigenous peoples.

Celida Moran
Western Washington University
  • Environmental Science
  • Toxicology

Celida hopes to perform research in marine, terrestrial and freshwater conservation and restoration in the future with a background in toxicology and geographic information science. At the core of her career will be the integration of the social and cultural values of the communities she works with into her projects. Her goal is to better link the social and ecological aspects of environmental conservation, in order to better serve underrepresented and marginalized groups affected by environmental issues, and promote environmental justice.

Jordan Morgan
Bemidji State University
  • Environmental Studies

Intrigued by the intersection of natural science, social science and environmental advocacy, Jordan aspires to do research on climate change adaptation.

Anik Mutsuddy
Wheaton University
  • Biology

I am excited to be able to do field work, and not just work in the lab. I am a driven, hardworking, and approachable person who loves to strike up conversations on any topic. I am eager to explore various aspects of nature and discover great things about it and myself.

Zachary Naramore
Colorado State University
  • Geophysics

Growing up in Alaska, Zach developed a fascination for water resources, water rights and conservation.

Anahi Naranjo
Middlebury College
  • Environmental Policy

How can we create community conservation plans that are inclusive of different narratives and cultures? Anahi is interested in exploring how narratives and an exploration of histories can empower local communities to become agents of change through policy actions.

Henry Nelson
University of Massachusetts Amherst
  • Public Policy

Identifying how politics and systems of oppression interact with contemporary political movements, Henry is putting his energies in overturning the structural violence that perpetuates inequalities in security and opportunity.

Frances Ngo
University of Wyoming
  • Conservation Biology
  • Zoology

From the smallest sparrow to the enigmatic antelope, Frances is inquisitive about biodiversity and aims to research the ecological connections between animal behavior, the environment and wildlife conservation efforts.

Adaeze Obinelo
Fordham University
  • Public Health

Adaeze believes that the continued evolution of the medical field will come with adequate consideration for the effects of environmental factors on public health. Adaeze wants to investigate points of contact between human beings and their environment to identify the trends of causes and effects that occur between harmful environmental practices and human health. She hopes to apply this knowledge to identify possible environmental factors that contribute to sickness and pathogenic disease in impoverished and underdeveloped communities.

Jesse Okwu
Knox College
  • Anthropology
  • Economics

Seeking economic solutions that work across all stakeholders, Jesse is exploring the collision between economics and sociology.

Jennifer Ortega
Middlebury College
  • Environmental Chemistry
Juhi Parekh
Michigan State University
  • Environmental Studies and Sustainability

Juhi hopes to conserve endangered species while prioritizing human needs. She is especially interested in wildlife crime, and the socioeconomic factors that are often at the root of wildlife poaching and trafficking. Juhi aspires to work with communities to find viable alternatives to wildlife crime, and to reduce the worldwide demand for exotic pets and wildlife products. She believes in ensuring that conservation does not come at the expense of marginalized human communities, and hopes this principle will be at the forefront of her future career.

Sujee Park
Colorado School of Mines
  • Applied Mathmatics
  • Statistics

Can the intersection of math, technology and computational prowess move conservation, and population health, forward? Sujee is motivated to find the sweet spot.

Luna Peralta
Skidmore College
  • Environmental Science
  • Film Studies

Hello my name is Luna and I attend Skidmore College. I am an Environmental Science major with a minor in Media and Film Studies. I grew up living both in the Dominican Republic and New York City but the one thing that stayed consistent was that I was always surrounded by nature. I hope to go into wildlife conservation and mix in film as a a way to teach people different aspects of wildlife.

Lydia Petroske
Whitman College
  • Environmental Studies
  • Public Policy

Lydia believes the most effective conservation policies are tailored to place and are community based. She is interested in finding ways to make conservation inclusive of multiple voices and visions.

Olivia Pfeifer
Bowdoin College
  • Earth Science
  • Oceanography

Given the growing demand for energy, Olivia is uncovering best practices for managing natural resources sustainably and equitably.

Leo Triet Pham
University of California - Los Angeles
  • Environmental Studies
  • Geosciences

Passionate about sustainability, climate change preparedness, and water resource management, Leo aims to work with governments, businesses, and communities to improve policies and practices as we move towards a more sustainable world.

Emilie Pilchowski
Colby College
  • Government and Environmental Policy

Emilie Pilchowski attends Colby College in Maine where she studies Environmental Policy and Government. She hopes to harness the power of grassroots organizing to mitigate climate change and mediate environmental conflicts. She is particularly interested in localized, community oriented approaches to these problems. Moreover, having grown up in Guadeloupe, her interest in conservation is centered around the impact of climate change on coastal and island communities.

Royale Pinassi
University of California–Berkeley
  • Conservation and Resource Studies

Royale Pinassi is a community member of the Quartz Valley Indian Reservation and is majoring in Conservation and Resource Studies through the College of Natural Resources at UC Berkeley. She is currently taking classes that focus on her area of concentration which are cultural conservation, ethnoecology, and tribal food sovereignty. Experiencing these issues as well as being very rooted within her culture has now led her to reclaim these narratives and bring awareness to the vast abundance of cultural knowledge and resources her People have held since immemorial. In doing that, she plans to further her education by working and researching within environmental management as she will be better equipped to stimulate a more unified tribal community as well as advocate for her community’s needs on an academic scale. It is an opportunity collectively for everyone by bridging the gap between traditional ecological knowledge and academic knowledge.

Andreah Pierre
Pomona College
  • Biology
  • Marine Biology

My name is Andreah Pierre and I attend Pomona College in California. I am a Posse scholar and I spend my days trying to limit my waste on this Earth. I love to study and explore our oceans and all of its organism and one day I hope to become a marine biologist and conservationist.

Kiya Rahn
Virginia Tech
  • Biological Sciences
  • Wildlife & Conservation Biology

Kiya Rahn is a sophomore student interested in developing the accessibility of natural resources to underserved communities. She aims to broaden wildlife education to K-12 age groups, and focuses on endemic species and conservation at a local level. She hopes to bring awareness to the public’s role in management policy and build critical connections to the natural world through the fine arts.

Simren Rai
Whitman College
  • Environmental Studies - Anthropology
  • LinkedIn

In my efforts to understand and take part in biodiversity conservation, I have noticed the disproportional gap the roles of science, politics, local people and the natural world play in conservation policies. With ever expanding urbanization I sense an urgency in protecting not only the diverse flora and fauna of our world but also the diverse cultures who know how to live in sync with the various and unique ecosystems. My ambitions as an environmental anthropologist are to bring unity and equity to international and local climate change mitigation plans by including the underrepresented voices.

Elizabeth Randolph
Grand Canyon University
  • Environmental Science
  • Communication

Elizabeth is interested in environmental education and teaching others about local ecosystems. Her passion for conservation took root after working with trees for a summer through a conservation corps. With this passion she aspires to help create communities that are knowledgeable about nature. Outside of her studies she enjoys volunteering in community gardens and learning about the importance of locally sourced foods.

Pallav Regmi
University of Wisconsin - Madison

Pallav is interested in building community relations in urban areas around the world through conservation and gardening projects such as urban farming or planting trees. He is also inspired by how meaningful connections and trust can grow in communities that engage together to grow and tend to crops.

Michaela Ritz
Skidmore College
  • Geosciences

With a commitment to geosciences and conservation, Michaela brings together environmental justice and stewardship within the urban fabric.

Vanessa Rivas
University of California–Berkeley
  • Environmental Economics
  • Environmental Policy

Does marginalization create conservation conflict? Vanessa is interested in exploring how all community voices can create environmental sustainability.

Jared Rivera
University of California - Los Angeles
  • Civil and Environmental Engineering: Soils Water and Energy

As a prospecting hydrologic systems and environmental engineer, Jared's stimulus and passion is anything dealing with the natural world.

Minerva Rivera
Santa Barbara City College
  • Biology - Conservation and Ecology

Minerva is from Banning, California. After graduating from her local high school, she moved to Santa Barbara County to study Biology at Santa Barbara City College. As a child, Minerva had dreams of becoming a veterinarian because of her love for animals. After gaining experience in various internships and jobs, she now wishes to become a wildlife conservation biologist. Minerva will earn her Bachelor's Degree in Biology with a concentration in Zoology. She hopes to protect flora and fauna, with an emphasis on avian species. In the future, Minerva would like to work in Conservation Policy and educational outreach programs.

Keaohuana’oli Rivera-Leong
University of Puget Sound
  • Science Technology and Society

Keao is interested in researching the intersections between culture and the environment as it relates to conservation efforts around the world.

Belén Rodríguez
Wesleyan University
  • Environmental Studies & Science in Society

Convinced by the idea that a strict body and environment dichotomy does not exist, Belén wants to further explore how both food ecologies and human knowledge ecologies can be restored in farm worker communities who have to use harmful substances, like pesticides, in times where rapid food production is deemed necessary.

Irina Rodriguez
Eastern Connecticut State University
  • Environmental Earth Science

As the the world heads towards urbanization, I seek to balance this expansion with the conservation of natural environments as there is much value in the preservation of such ecosystems. I am also interested in how political and economic factors interact with environmental protection, as well as how they ultimately affect underdeveloped communities. I aim to be a conservationist who encourages the voices of those underrepresented to be active against environmental injustices in their local district.

Roberto Rojas
Florida International University
  • Biological Sciences

As a life long lover of biology, Robert cares about all wildlife and hopes to become a botanist to study the increasing significance of plants on our planet. He plans to make a massive impact on the conservation of the world's flora through research and development of biotechnology that can effectively protect our plant life, leading to a prosperous and green Earth.

Julieta Saucedo
University of Texas - El Paso
  • Environmental Science

Julieta hopes to use GIS, phyto-remediation and ecology restoration, to contribute to soil’s and water’s remediation efforts to enhance conservation. Her main interest as an environmental scientist is the importance of studying and using soil conservation practices to prevent shifts in the hydrologic cycle that degrade the environmental infrastructure of communities, especially in situations where environmental injustices are occurring.

Naajia Shakir
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
  • Environmental Policy
  • Food Systems

Naajia dreams of a world where discrimination of any kind is abolished with everyone and everything living happily and freely. To make this dream a reality, she focuses on the troubles in her community first and wants to fight against food insecurity, while bringing awareness to food sovereignty and hope to increase urban agriculture and green infrastructure within cities. In this way, she believes that she can teach others about the importance of the connection between cultural roots and nature conservation. She feels that it is her duty to help save the earth and aid others while also fighting for environmental justice to fulfill her life’s purpose.

Alexis Sharp
Northern Kentucky University
  • Environmental Science

From soil toxicity and demographics in Cinncinati to a historical synopsis of riverine health in northern Kentucky, Alexis seeks to translate environmental science into effective place-based conservation.

Margalit Shetreat-Klein
Hunter College
  • Environmental Studies

Margalit is an environmental science major from NYC. She is passionate about forest ecology, plant biology, conservation, and making nature accessible to all people. She believes that consciously immersing ourselves in nature is essential to creating strong personal relationships with the environment and recognizing the inherent value of the natural world. She is also interested in how forests grow, change, and adapt through their complex homeostatic mechanisms. Margalit's “happy place” is a moss-carpeted forest veiled with lacy ferns, where the light is stained a gentle leafy green as it seeps between lush foliage.

Viraj Sikand
Brown University
  • Environmental Science

Intrigued by the tipping points between biodiversity and development, Viraj is focused on creating conservation solutions through motivation and agency.

Chris Spencer
Colby College
  • Environmental Policy
  • Environmental Studies

How will encroaching human development impact wildlife migrations? Chris is interested in exploring the interactions between human communities and wildlife, in search of effective policy solutions to reduce human-wildlife conflict.

Savannah Steinly
  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Environmental Engineering

How can engineering be applied to solving issues of conservation and inequity? Savannah is calculating a change in how to help environment and people using a bit of creativity and a background in chemistry and technology.

Nicota Stevenson
Yale University
  • Economics
  • Environmental Economics
Tillie Stewart
Montana State University - Bozeman
  • Microbiology - Environmental Health

My goal is to have cultural values and traditional ecological knowledge at the forefront of environmental policy that impacts reservations like my own.

Kimberly Stewert
Heritage University
  • Environmental Science

I am currently a junior at Heritage University where I am majoring in Environmental Science; when I am finished with school I plan on working for Yakama Nation fish and wildlife department their goal is to protect, preserve and restore the land and that is what I am passionate about. The land, water, and natural resources are a big part of what makes us Yakama people and I believe we should take care of it just as it has taken care of us. We owe it not only to our ancestors who sacrificed so much for us to have all of it but also for the future generations to come so they can continue practicing our ways.

Kyra Tan
Bowdoin College
  • Biology
  • Visual Arts

As a biologist and artist from Hawai’i, Kyra hopes to explore our relationship with wildlife and wild spaces with attention to BIPOC perspectives and knowledge. She seeks a sustainable future that is decolonized, equitable, and nurturing to all.

I Tang
Case Western Reserve University
  • Anthropology
  • Biology

I is a biology major/anthropology minor at Case Western Reserve University and is interested in pursuing a career in conservation biology. Their interests in the field range from working with indigenous communities to doing research at the intersection of conservation and genetics. More specifically, they're interested in helping indigenous communities preserve their knowledge and apply it to the field of conservation. Alternatively, they would like to use genetic engineering to bolster genetic diversity within the populations of endangered species. Idris also hopes to examine what it means to foster mutually beneficial relationships between humans, animals, and the environment.

Ammara Touch
University of Washington
  • American Ethnic Studies
  • Biology (Ecology)

As a passionate ecologist and social justice activist, Ammara is interested in the relationship between humans and the environment, particularly with how ecocide, ethnocide and genocide all intersect. She recognizes the importance of celebrating diverse identities in tackling issues of biodiversity conservation, environmental racism and climate change, using her identity as a Cambodian-American to connect with her roots and decolonize western views of science. By doing so, she hopes to be able to empower underrepresented communities in having them speak their truth, making space for voices and perspectives that have been excluded from science and conservation.

Artis Trice
Kennesaw State University
  • International Affairs

Artis is interested in growing sustainable and nutritious agricultural products. He wants to use an international policy lens to address access, nutritional intake, food security, and availability around the world, especially in current and post-conflict zones.

Taylor Umetsu
Seattle University
  • Conservation Biology
  • Marine Science

Taylor is from Honolulu, Hawaii and is currently a sophomore at Seattle University pursuing a major in Marine and Conservation Biology. In her free time, she enjoys listening to podcasts, going to brunch, and hiking with her dog. She is passionate about studying native species and exploring our connection to the environment and one another. She hopes to protect wildlife and ecosystems by highlighting the voices and traditional knowledge ecological knowledge of local communities.

Dominique Valentine
Fordham University
  • Environmental Science

As an Environmental Science major, I am driven by my passion for wildlife and nature. I would like to learn more about careers in the fields of wildlife conservation and nature conservation. Another goal is to learn how to reverse the decline of our world’s biodiversity. I am a firm believer that everything we do today will positively or negatively impact our world in the near future.

Carlos Valenzuela
University of Arizona
  • Conservation Biology
  • Environmental Justice

Carlos is passionate in helping to address environmental and social issues in low-income indigenous communities/Barrios in the Southern Arizona region.

William Walker VI
Arizona State University
  • Sustainability Studies
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

William Walker VI is studying sustainability and urban planning at Arizona State University. He is interested in institutional change through the lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion. William envisions a global future where BIPOC communities are the leaders and focal point of sustainable development. He also sees sustainable development as human development. In the future William will be working on foundation-based initiatives to that center people and environment.

Bennett Walkes
Brown University
  • Environmental Science

Bennett is interested in how decolonized conservation can be applied to just economic transitions and community resilience on local levels.

Travis Waters Jr.
Florida State University
  • Environment & Society
  • Political Science

Greetings! I am Travis Waters, a rising junior at Florida State University from Orlando, FL. There I study Political Science and Environment & Society with a minor in Spanish. After obtaining my bachelors, I aspire to attend law school to then become an environmental lawyer specializing in fighting environmental injustices on behalf of BIPOC communities. In my free time, I am an avid reader mostly sticking to African American literature along with history and humanities. Aside for them, I absolutely love playing tennis and kayaking/canoeing in Florida’s crystal clear springs. I have also become a plant dad over quarantine:) I became interested in DDSCP seeing the conversations and immersions in environment injustices that were being had in the program. I am passionate about affirming basic civil liberties to Black communities as we have often been the victim of environmental mishaps and destruction, ranging from Hurricane Katrina & Maria to Flint, Michigan. I look forward to meeting with you soon!

Adilia Watson
Seattle University
  • Environmental Science

I am passionate about the water crisis and value personal examples from those affected. I’m an Environmental Studies Major with emphasis on Journalism. I want to provide an outlet for citizens to globally display their concerns for our planet.

Eva Weddell
Oglala Lakota College
  • Conservation Biology

My name is Eva Weddell. I’m from the Yankton Sioux Tribe. I have five brothers and two sisters. I attend college at Oglala Lakota College. My major is conservation science. I love exploring and learning about nature.

Keegan Williams-Thomas
University of Oregon
  • English
  • Political Science

What recourse can our legal system offer those involved in struggles for environmental and social justice? Keegan is interested in the ways law helps or hampers these efforts, as well as how we can rethink our conception of rights to protect individuals, communities and ecosystems who the law has historically failed to serve.

Justin Wilson
Purdue University
  • Environmental Sciences & Water Quality

With one goal in mind, Justin seeks to use his experience and knowledge in Environmental Science and other fields to create new, innovative technologies to launch humanity and all of Earth's creatures into the future.

Hannah Wilson
University of Washington
  • Environmental Science
  • Resource Management

Hannah wants to address the intersection of environmental justice and the conservation movement to lessen the impacts of climate change and other harmful environmental issues on disenfranchised populations.

Olivia Won
Wesleyan University
  • Environmental Studies
  • Science in Society

What kind of a world do we want to build as we transition away from fossil fuels? Olivia is interested in addressing issues of climate justice by reorienting environmental action to work through a place-based, social justice lens.

Paloma Wood-Assemian
Howard University
  • Marine Biology

Paloma is an active conservationist in many forms. Growing up on a farm, she has always known the value of sustainability through food, and economic resources. Now, she is looking to learn more about oceanography and ocean pollution, to use her knowledge to better help both her community around her and communities around the world.

Daniel Wu
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
  • Environmental Engineering

Daniel is interested in using sustainability, engineering, and activism to work toward conservation and justice.

Maricella Xiong
Bethel University
  • Environmental Science and Reconciliation Studies

Mari is pursuing a future at the confluence of environmental stewardship and the ministry of reconciliation. She seeks to live in the tension and intersectionality between race and class, as well as how these dimensions relate to environmental and systematic oppression.

Brody Yamada
Brown University
  • Environmental Science

Having been born and raised on the island of Maui, Hawaiʻi and being exposed to the beauty and uniqueness of the island's landscape and its importance in sustaining the livelihoods of the community, I was inspired to learn about the environment and the ways in which we can protect it. I wanted to be with DDCSP@UW with the intention of getting hands on experience with environmental work and research while meeting others who share a similar interest and passion, to me, in the environment. My goal is to get my undergraduate degree in environmental science and later go to law school to become an environmental law attorney in order to protect and preserve the environment through law.

Phounsith Yangh
Gustavus Adolphus College
  • Geography
  • Political Science

Elevating the field of conservation is a two-prong approach, we cannot rely solely on the science itself to preserve life but rather advancement lies in the integration of different disciplines. By using knowledge on the intersection between conservation, migration, human geography, and public policy, Quincy aspires to illuminate the environmental and social injustices of our time. Ultimately, he hopes to implement environmental policies and conservation practices that transparently takes into consideration the voices of communities of color, indigenous communities, and migrant families.

Kimberly Zamora Delgado
Claremont McKenna College
  • Public Policy
  • Environment, Economics, and Politics

Hola! My name is Kimberly (Kim) Zamora Delgado, and I am a sophomore at Claremont McKenna College (CMC) pursuing a major in Environment, Economics, and Politics. Born in Culiacan, Mexico and raised in Prescott, Arizona, my family has always found ways to spark my passion for the environment no matter the location of the outdoor space. I am interested in a career in policy and advocacy, particularly in the areas of immigration rights, environmental sustainability, and education equity. These passions are rooted in my own experience from when I immigrated from Mexico to Arizona in 2004. This transformative event has driven my commitment to creating social change through intersectional public policy, comprehensive legislation, and community engagement.

Hans Yuxin Zhou
Pomona College
  • Classics
  • Environmental Analysis

How do we address issues regarding both cultural and environmental degradation in this age of globalization? Hans is interested in examining the relationships between nature and culture throughout human history. Ultimately, he seeks ways to reestablish or preserve the intimate connections between humans and the environment.

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