Carlos Garcia Montalvo (he/him) is a senior majoring in Environmental Studies and minoring in both French and Sustainable Mineral Resources. Carlos has explored intersections of water, racial environmental justice related storytelling, during his time as a Student Fellow with the Future of Food and Social Justice Youth Storytelling Lab. He enjoys engaging with work that is collaborative and centers voices and experiences of marginalized communities. Experience as a tutor with the SALT Center has allowed Carlos to teach students with diverse learning needs and has reinforced his commitment to equity in education and bolstered his mentoring skills. Carlos is equipped with bountiful transferable skills, preparing him to teach, listen, and adapt to individuals needs. He is eager to approach complex environmental and community issues with sensitivity, creativity, and a focus on inclusion, preparing him to tackle the challenges of the world around him. Through the Earth Grant program Carlos will be interning with Southwest Decision Resources as a Collaboration Intern.
Cassandra Montano Arellano (she/her) is a junior majoring in Environmental Science with an emphasis in soil, air, and water. Growing up in a mining town in Sonora with few environmental policies in place sparked her passion for protecting the soil, air, water, and communities in a changing climate. Cassandra intends to continue in higher education after graduation or pursue a career to become an environmental health specialist for Pima County. She is looking forward to participating in the Earth Grant program to be a part of the change that she wants to see in her community. Cassandra has research experience working with Cochise County conducting PCR analyses of beaver tissue and aquatic insects from the San Pedro River. She has also participated in research trips to the Gulf of Mexico at Kino Bay in collaboration with Prescott College Center, contributing to her understanding of conservation and biodiversity in relation to local communities and the Seri tribe. These experiences have prepared her with many skills to start her new Earth Grant internship with Sierra Club Borderlands.
Danielle Hermosillo (she/her) is a sophomore studying Psychology & Care, Health, Society. She works part time as a care giver and is passionate about helping her Mexican and Native American community fight environmental issues. Danielle is interested in Environmental Health after seeing the impacts of toxic chemicals in her community and is motivated to educate others about safer alternatives to toxic chemicals. Her past internship with the Southwest Environmental Science Center has contributed to her public speaking skills and ability to communicate science using accessible language. Danielle loves working in team environments and wants to become an occupational therapist in the future. She is specifically interested in how environmental factors like water quality or chemical exposures can affect aging recovery rehabilitation. Overall she is excited to empower her community to make safer choices. Danielle will build on her extensive knowledge and gain new skills in her Earth Grant internship with Flowers and Bullets as their Administrative and Outreach Assistant!
Efaz Chowdhury (he/him) is a senior majoring in Biology with an emphasis in Biomedical Science. He is an international student from Bangladesh who has been volunteering at Banner Hospital supporting patient care, patient calls, and problem solving. Efaz cares deeply about how the environment and access to resources affect people's health. He has seen first hand how lack of access to clean water, economic opportunity, and education affects someone’s quality of life. Efaz worked for Apex on a project that culminated in a presentation to benefit indigenous farmers in Arizona. Through this project he learned a lot about communication and collaboration. These are transferable skills that apply to all problem solving with multiple people at the table. This project also developed his skills in grant writing and financial communication. Efaz’s future goals are to become a nurse and eventually work in public and community health. He wants to advocate for change that benefits the health of the entire community. He is excited to build skill through his Earth Grant internship with Community Gardens of Tucson as the Community Outreach and Events research.
Ella Anderson (she/her) is a senior majoring in Economics and Agribusiness Economics Management with an emphasis in Agricultural Economics and minoring in Statistics and Data Science. She is interested in the intersection of sustainability, agriculture, and economic opportunity. She wants to explore how local food systems can serve as a foundation for both environmental and community resilience. Ella spent this past summer interning for McCain Foods working with potato growers to conduct regenerative agricultural trials. Ella has lots of experience learning about agriculture’s effects on the environment, specifically those of pesticides and fertilizers. Ella spent the summer learning about how farmers can lower their Environmental Impact Quotient (EIQ), calculated using their fertilizers and insecticide use. Ella loves being involved in applied practice research that supports more environmentally sound farming while working directly with farmers to understand their needs and goals. Ella is also passionate about food justice and insecurity. Her studies in economics have taught her how policy, markets, and systems affect access to healthy food. She believes strong local community networks paired with outreach and education are essential tools to addressing food insecurity, climate vulnerability and environmental inequality. Ella will be pursuing a master’s in the future taking an important step towards her goal to work in sustainable agriculture or environmental policy. Earth Grant will add to the wealth of knowledge that Ella already has through her internship with the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona!
Elyse Jolie LaVallee (she/her) is a senior at the University of Arizona studying Veterinary Science / Animal & Comparative Biomedical Sciences and minoring in Spanish. Elyse has experience with the University's AIR programs as both a student and employee involved with the Diana Liverman Scholars program. Elyse is an outdoor enthusiast with a special interest in birding. Elyse has built community and excitement for the environment through her love of birds and photography. Elyse believes that the health of avian populations reflects the health of the environment as a whole because bird populations are very sensitive to their environment. Bird threats such as lead poisoning and environmental toxins seen in bird populations indicate issues that affect humans and other species as well. Elyse works as a community educator at the Tucson Village Farm teaching kids about organic farming, how to have a healthy lifestyle and bird caretaking. Elyse is pursuing a future career in wildlife veterinary specializing in avians and is excited for the opportunity to work in the McNew Lab of Disease Ecology to work towards that goal! She is eager to get more hands-on experience helping the animals that take care of the environment around us.
Frankois Zebasthian Valdez (he/him) is a sophomore studying Global Studies and minoring in Spanish at the University of Arizona. He has grown up in Tucson enjoying the many natural landscapes such as Sabino Canyon, Tumamoc Hill, and the desert night sky! As a Tucson resident Frankois has seen environmental inequality within his own community. Experiencing the disproportionate presence of landfills, chemical spills, and power plants in South Tucson has inspired his pursuit of tackling environmental inequalities. Community composting, exploring the Santa Cruz River, and distributing Nat Geo Kids copies at his school library were all impactful experiences that have planted seeds of environmental curiosity. Frankois has experience translating storytelling guides for Spanish-speakers and interning for the Future of Food and Justice Youth Storytelling Lab. He has assisted with qualitative research and drafting reports on philanthropic inequality in the Global South teaching him skills he will bring with him to future academic and professional opportunities. Frankois is eager to engage with more outreach and education events to equip his community with knowledge! This year Frankois will continue pursuing these goals by interning with Compost Cats as an Environmental Education Specialist.
Isabel Ross (she/her) is a senior studying Natural Resources with an emphasis in Wildlife Conservation and Management. Isa is also pursuing certificates in Rangeland Management and International Environmental Conservation. Seeing the anthropogenic threats on the environment and wildlife at a young age, Isa has been dedicated to protecting these ecosystems that she cares deeply about. She has been involved in both the Keys and Star Labs programs that added to her drive to join the community of people at the UA working towards better conservation. Isa’s main interests are in habitat restoration and environmental protections for endangered species. She is interested in both the research that supports the cases for these animals as well as the advocacy work that goes into making sure they stay protected. Isa takes any chance to share her research with the public and educate our community about conservation as it is not always knowledge that the public has access to or interacts with. Another part of her advocacy has been through UA Divest, demonstrating student pressure on the university to divest from fossil fuels. Isa intends to pursue graduate school after completing her undergraduate degree. This year she will be interning with the National Parks Conservation Association, using her academic knowledge in the field!
Jillian Smith (she/her) is a junior studying Environmental Science. Jillian has recognized the importance of water conservations from a young age. Experiencing her community’s lack of urgency about issues such as water conservation contributed to her motivation for pursuing higher education in Environmental Science. Jillian sees a lot of value in teaching others how the environment and natural resources relate to everyone individually as that can be a method to change people’s perspectives. She has volunteered with Sonoran Desert Weedwackers to control invasive species and learned a lot about local knowledge and community efforts to protect our biodiverse desert habitat! Jillian wants to use her degree to add to this community knowledge and continue to educate others about local and global changes that need to be made. Most recently, Jillian volunteered with Sky Island Alliance to help make rock erosion-control structures in the Catalina Mountains to help slow runoff, enhance soil stability, and support native vegetation recovery after the 2020 Bighorn Fire. Her internship this year with AZ Department of Fire and Forestry Management in the Magnificent Tree Program will continue to equip her with the tools to make a difference!
Karina Siemens (she/her) is 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 is excited to expand her professional network and skills and will have the opportunity to do so at her internship this year with the Community Food Bank of Southern AZ!
Khusan Jumaboev (he/him) is 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 will be interning with the International Rescue Committee this year through the Earth Grant program!
Kylo Blanco-Soto (he/him) is 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. This year Kylo will be interning with the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition!
Lamley Andrews (she/her) is 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. This year Lamley will be interning with the Sonoran Institute as the Living River Research & Outreach Intern!
Maya Amor Castle (she/her) is a senior majoring in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Her research has focused on disease emergence wild bird populations. Working in the McNew Lab, she investigates how ecological and evolutionary processes shape host-parasite dynamics, particularly in avian species. Through the Earth Grant Program, Maya hopes to expand 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.
Rogelio Alexander Zepeda Gonzalez (he/him) is 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 recently 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 will be completing his internship with Tucson Bird Alliance as a Bird Conservation Intern!
Vanessa Wernz (she/her) is 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. This year Vanessa will be interning with Pima County Conservation Lands and Resources as the Conservation Lands Intern!
Wynton Barnett II (he/him) is 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. This summer Wynton will be interning with the AZ Department of Fire and Forestry Management as the Aleppo Pine Blight Monitoring Assistant!