Denisse Ortega Lorona

Denisse Ortega Lorona is the program manager for AIR Education Initiatives. Denisse provides administrative and program support to the AIR education programs including Carson and Liverman Scholars, Resilience Internships and Student Experiences, Indigenous Correspondents, Vertically Integrated Projects, and Earth Grant. AIR education programs provide UArizona students with experiential learning opportunities as well as paid internships where students can strengthen their workforce skills in environmental and ecological field work, research, community outreach, and science communication. AIR education programs also provide students with networking opportunities through various events hosted throughout the year.

Denisse has worked in education for 9 years, providing educational opportunities for students of all ages from pre-school to postgraduate. Throughout her work, Denisse developed a love for education, and discovered a parallel passion for the environment and sustainability. Denisse has led educational programs that include outreach, mentorship, and experiential learning with UArizona’s Pima Cooperative Extension: The Garden Kitchen. She also had the opportunity of launching the Sonoran Field Course, a unique environmental leadership immersion program for Mexican university students and young professionals in Sonora, Mexico during her time at Borderlands Restoration Network. Denisse believes that environmental education and mentorship are important building blocks in inspiring the next generation of environmental leaders.