Abby Denton (she/her) is a senior studying Sustainable Plant Systems with a minor in Life Sciences Education. Abby is passionate about connecting sustainability, plants, and education and enjoys finding ways to share knowledge with others. Her interest in community engagement has shaped her desire to help others better understand how environmental practices can connect to everyday life. In Spring 2026, Abby worked as a Sustainable Built Environments Intern with Watershed Management Group, where she gained experience working at the intersection of sustainability and community engagement. Through the Earth Grant program, Abby is now working with Compost Cats as an Environmental Education Specialist to explore sustainable practices related to food waste and composting. She hopes to continue combining her background in plant systems and education to engage communities, share environmental knowledge, and encourage more sustainable practices.
Adam
Byrdee Bidleman-Owens (she/they) is a senior studying Natural Resources and the Environment with a minor in Classical Guitar. Byrdee is passionate about wildlife conservation and enjoys exploring the connections between ecological research, community engagement, and environmental education. Their interest in bird conservation has taken them into the field through volunteer work with bird research projects, where they have assisted with mist netting and data collection, as well as educational field trips focused on bird identification. Byrdee has also gained experience studying stream ecology, bats, and other wildlife through research positions at the University of Arizona, developing skills in field methods, species identification, and ecological data analysis. During a study abroad experience in Costa Rica Byrdee volunteered in Monteverde, where they helped maintain trails, identify birds, and support research on epiphytes in the cloud forest ecosystem. They have also worked to connect students with environmental and international service opportunities through their involvement with the Peace Corps Club. As a Bird Conservation Intern with the Tucson Bird Alliance through the Earth Grant program, Byrdee is continuing to build on their experience in wildlife research and conservation while contributing to efforts to protect birds and their habitats. Through their work, Byrdee hopes to support ecological research and help others develop a deeper appreciation for the natural world.
Alzachria Jackson (she/her) is a junior studying Criminal Justice at the University of Arizona. Alzachria is passionate about community engagement and creating welcoming environments where people feel supported and included. Through her experience in customer service, volunteer work, and youth mentorship, she has developed strong communication, teamwork, and leadership skills while working with people from diverse backgrounds. She has also completed over 100 volunteer hours through community programs and youth-centered activities, where she gained experience supporting and encouraging others. As a transfer student, Alzachria has developed a deeper appreciation for the importance of community support and access to resources. Through the Earth Grant program, she is working as a Marketing and Outreach Intern with the Sonoran Institute, where she can build on her communication skills while contributing to community-focused environmental initiatives. She hopes to continue developing her professional skills and use her experience working with people to help connect communities with meaningful programs and resources.
Annelise Hoffmann (she/her) is a senior studying Environmental Studies and Geography with minors in Natural Resource Management and Spanish. Annelise is passionate about sustainability, resource management, and finding innovative solutions to environmental challenges. While studying abroad in Barcelona, Spain, she interned with Sustainability Worldwide Center 2050, where she researched renewable energy technology and developed presentations in both English and Spanish. This experience strengthened her skills in environmental research, science communication, and international collaboration. As a resident assistant at the University of Arizona, Annelise has also gained experience in leadership, event planning, and building supportive communities. She hopes to apply her interdisciplinary background and communication skills to environmental initiatives that promote sustainability and create meaningful change.
Brenai
Dimi Bogoeski (he/they) is a junior majoring in Artificial Intelligence and Applied Computing with a minor in Mathematics. At the University of Arizona Office of Sustainability, he has explored the many ways environmental work brings together technology, education, and community engagement. His experience creating sustainability graphics and supporting composting initiatives has shown him the importance of making environmental information accessible, while a machine learning project predicting flood risk connected his technical background with environmental resilience. Now working as a Compost Systems Specialist with Compost Cats through Earth Grant, Dimi is bringing these interests together through sustainability and waste reduction. He enjoys finding ways to turn complex information into practical tools that people can understand and use
Jett
Hailey
Hanna Wilkens (she/her) is a senior majoring in Environmental Studies with minors in GIS and Creative Writing. Her passion for environmental work grew through hands-on experience with the Chelan County Natural Resource Department in Washington, where she observed projects involving forest health, stream restoration, and tributary sampling. That experience introduced her to the many stages of conservation work, from collecting field data to collaborating with different organizations and supporting project implementation. Hanna also enjoys storytelling and sees writing as a way to help people connect with environmental topics. As an Invasive Plant Program Assistant with the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management through Earth Grant, she looks forward to building on her field experience while exploring how communication and community involvement can support conservation.
Karina Siemens (she/her) was a senior studying Biosystems Engineering and originally from Yuma, AZ. She had two opportunities that had a large impact on both her life and drive to work in the environmental field. The first experience was participating in the UA Ag Discovery program as a high school student which showed her the diversity of jobs that exist regarding the environment. This inspired her to pursue a career in agriculture and the environment. The second experience was being a part of an exchange program her senior year of high school traveling to Bosnia. This exchange taught her to approach things from different perspectives and helped Karina become more adaptable and resilient. Now in undergrad, she is interested in conservation, controlled environment agriculture and building community. Conservation and ecological restoration go hand in hand as Karina is passionate about protecting our planet so that future generations have the same opportunities to enjoy it and engage with it that we have had. She has also been paying attention to generational differences in how we build community and wants to promote neighborly connections that are seeming to disappear with younger generations. This kind of community promotes health, sustainability, and an overall greater sense of purpose and is very important to creating a more sustainable future. Karina expanded her professional network and skills during her time in Earth Grant at the Community Food Bank of Southern AZ! She created a poster to share about her time as an Earth Grant intern.
Khusan Jumaboev (he/him) was a senior double majoring in Resource Economics and Management and Political Science. Growing up in rural Uzbekistan, Khusan saw the ins and outs of farming which inspired his passion for agriculture, environment, and community. Khusan is concerned about the lack of representation of small farming voices in big sustainability conversations and sees the dangers of these communities being left behind. He has experience working with international delegations from UA, Spain, and Germany, at the Uzbekistan Ministry of Agriculture to bring sustainable farming technologies to local farmers. Khusan also has experience analyzing soil degradation, water shortages, and rising temperatures. He is interested in using market strategies to benefit rural farmers who are impacted by these issues such as his grandfather. Khusan believes that building climate resilience is not optional, it is urgent and he is bringing an important voice to the table. In the future he wants to work at the intersection of environmental policy, economic development, and global agriculture. Khusan wants to be involved with international organizations such as the UN Food and Agriculture Organization that work towards food security and shaping climate adaptive trade policy. Khusan interned with the International Rescue Committee this year through the Earth Grant program!
Kylo Blanco-Soto (he/him) was a senior studying Environmental Science with an emphasis in soil, land, and water and a minor in American Indian Studies. He is passionate about issues that disproportionately affect indigenous communities. This often comes in the form of policy issues with water and mineral rights, public health disparities particularly from mining and the burning of trash, and food sovereignty. Other environmental interests include fighting invasive species that are harming native ecosystems as well as ecosystem restoration in general (mine tailings, river restoration, superfund sites etc). Professionally, Kylo wants to do research that involves working closely with his community and achieves tangible results in environmental restoration and resilience. Kylo has research experience in both field and lab settings through the UA, including post fire surveying for the AZGS in Mt. Lemmon in 2022 and working in a lab under Dr. Alicja Babst-Kostecka in the Plant-Soil Environment Laboratory since 2023. Kylo interned with the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition during his time as an Earth Grant intern! Kylo researched and presented on livestock grazing practices and shared his findings.
Lamley Andrews (she/her) was a senior studying Geoscience with an emphasis in Earth, Oceans, and Climate. She is particularly focused on Geology and Climatology in her studies. Growing up in central Phoenix and feeling the impacts of air pollution and big industry contributed to her motivation to address the impacts of climate change on minority communities. Lamley enjoys field work and getting hands-on experience in research spaces and also has experience in climate modeling which has contributed to her understanding of what our climate and world has looked like in the past. Additionally, Lamely has an extensive background in the arts with interests and experience with media, film, and drawing. She has used her creative talents to create graphic designs that help to communicate environmental information, an important aspect of the Earth Grant program. She enjoys working in collaborative, team environments that give the opportunity to highlight everyone's talents and specialties. Lamley interned with the Sonoran Institute as the Living River Research & Outreach Intern and shared about her experience on this presentation!
Maya Amor Castle (she/her) was a senior majoring in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Her research focused on disease emergence wild bird populations. Working in the McNew Lab, she investigated how ecological and evolutionary processes shape host-parasite dynamics, particularly in avian species. Through the Earth Grant Program, Maya expanded her research to explore Darwin’s finches and understand how tolerance to parasitism varies among species, contributing to broader insights into adaptation, biodiversity, and wildlife health. Check out Maya's poster about her time in the McNew Lab.
Rogelio Alexander Zepeda Gonzalez (he/him) was a junior studying Natural Resources with an emphasis in Wildlife Conservation and Management. He is particularly interested in conserving aquatic and semi-aquatic wildlife both freshwater and marine based. He developed an affinity for this community because it is a rare but integral part of the desert ecosystem. Alex has participated in fish and turtle surveys as well as lizard research through the UA. He enjoys the resources at the UA that provide ample opportunities to volunteer with various graduate program projects and faculty research. Alex completed an internship with the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum and will continue to volunteer as an Outdoor Educator at the stingray touch exhibit. He also supports the herpetology studies at the Desert Museum that branch into Saguaro West. Alex looks forward to working towards a master’s degree in the future and is excited about opportunities now and in the future to make a meaningful impact on conservation. He completed his Earth Grant internship with Tucson Bird Alliance as a Bird Conservation Intern! Alex shared about his internship and what he learned on this presentation.
Vanessa Wernz (she/her) was a junior studying Natural Resources with an emphasis in Ecology Management and Restoration of Rangelands. She is excited to continue exploring wildfire prevention and fire ecology. Vanessa is an avid community volunteer at local organizations such as the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson Mission Gardens and the Tucson Wildlife Center. Ecosystem preservation is very important to her and maintaining ecosystem health. She also loves fostering connections between others and their environment, allowing everyone to feel the benefits of nature. Wildfires, climate change, anthropogenic impacts, bark beetle populations, and vegetation moisture are all issues that affect the stability of the jenga stack that is our ecosystems and Vanessa is passionate about preserving the stability of our earth’s systems. In the future Vanessa wants to work with communities to connect with the environment as well as learn more about wildfire prevention and make an impact on her local ecosystems. Vanessa interned with Pima County Conservation Lands and Resources as the Conservation Lands Intern! Vanessa shared about her internship on this poster.
Wynton Barnett II (he/him) was a sophomore majoring in Biology. Having grown up surrounded by nature he has a deep respect for the environment and surrounding ecosystems. He cares a lot about the relationship between environmental and community resilience especially in underserved communities facing growing pressure from climate change. Wynton is particularly interested in habitat loss and biodiversity decline caused by urban expansion and industrial development. Seeing the direct impacts of these urban threats in Tucson, the most biodiverse desert in the world, has largely impacted his dedication to these issues as well as water scarcity. He sees how the communities surrounding this kind of development are impacted and do not always have the resources to adapt. This adds to his interest in how environmental justice plays a role in resilience as marginalized communities that face some of climate change's most dramatic impacts are also full of creativity, knowledge, and strength when it comes to protecting their surroundings. Wynton wants to help amplify that strength and create lasting systems of support. Professionally, he hopes to become a botanist or wildlife biologist focusing on ecological restoration and environmental education. Wynton interned with the AZ Department of Fire and Forestry Management as the Aleppo Pine Blight Monitoring Assistant during his time in the Earth Grant program! Wynton worked on an info sheet about Aleppo Pines care during his internship and shared it with us!