Meet the 2024-25 Diana Liverman Scholars

Nadera Alami is a senior at the University of Arizona, majoring in Veterinary Science with a minor in Biochemistry. Her passion for helping animals started at a young age, leading her to pursue a career in veterinary medicine with a focus on wildlife. Recognizing the impact of deforestation and climate change on wildlife, she is also dedicated to environmental conservation efforts. In her free time, she enjoys reading and taking nature walks with her mom, often accompanied by her cat, Snowy.

Brandolyn Baeza is a senior at the University of Arizona. They are majoring in Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences with an emphasis in Atmospheric Sciences. Growing up in Arizona, Brandolyn has always loved the extreme differences the state offers with weather and wanted to learn more about it, as well as how the climate crisis will worsen the heat that the state is known for. Their dream career, however, is to work for the National Weather Service. In their free time, Brandolyn is a big enjoyer of all thing's tabletop games.

Nandika Barjatya, a freshman at the University of Arizona majoring in Computer Science, and she has a deep-rooted passion for environmental sustainability and technology. Raised in central India, Nandika developed a love for nature during her childhood, often spending weekends exploring waterfalls, jungles, and lakes. Witnessing the adverse effects of tourism and overdevelopment on these natural landscapes sparked her commitment to environmental protection.

Hope Barton is a sophomore at the University of Arizona, majoring in Natural Resources with an emphasis on Global Change Ecology and Management and minoring in Urban and Regional Development. After earning her bachelor's degree, Hope plans to pursue a master's degree in Environmental Policy. Her ultimate goal is to work for an environmental advocacy organization.

Emery Byrd is a transfer student majoring in Environmental Studies and minoring in Educational Psychology. They are also studying American Sign Language and are an organizer with Tucson Effective Altruism. Emery does not have specific career goals yet, but they are very interested in the intersection between environmental awareness and how knowledge is conveyed. They have always had a deep love and respect for the Earth, but it wasn’t until the pandemic that they realized that they wanted to help pave the way for a sustainable future.

Olivia Cabelli is a senior at the University of Arizona working towards majors in Linguistics and Studio Art. Growing up in the Phoenix metropolitan area exposed them to both the incredible Sonoran desert landscape, and the often grim reality of human impact on the environment. As such, Olivia is interested in incorporating sustainability practices and environmental consciousness into their linguistic and artistic work. They hope they can inspire people to take action in caring for their communities.

Jada Jenkins is a freshman at the University of Arizona, majoring in psychological sciences with aspirations to become a surgeon. She is passionate about understanding the human mind and how it intersects with the physical body, which she believes will be crucial in her future medical career. Jada is also deeply interested in the environment and sustainability, and she's always looking for ways to incorporate eco-friendly practices into her daily life. Outside of academics, Jada plays tennis and enjoys volunteering at different organizations.

Zoe Johnson is a junior at the University of Arizona majoring chemical engineering and with minors in music and Future Earth Resilience. She grew up in Bend, Oregon, where she developed a passion for the environment through camping, swimming, and hiking in the beautiful nature there. She’s excited to explore career opportunities in sustainability and clean energy.

Myles Kashanipour is in his fourth year at the University of Arizona and is an Organismal Biology major. Myles has lived in Tucson, Flagstaff, Sedona, and Williamsburg Virginia and gained an appreciation for the natural world particularly the Sonoran desert. Myles has a fascination with the topics of entomology, paleontology, zoology, ecology, and evolution. He is also expanding his horizons and has been learning more about plant botany, mythology, and history. He hopes to find opportunities for professional experience around his academic interests.

Audrey is a senior at the University of Arizona, pursuing a major in Nutritional Sciences with an emphasis in Dietetics and a thematic minor in Weight Inclusive Health and Sustainability. She currently works as a manager at North Campus Recreation Center, a Pilates instructor at FR!DAY Pilates, a social media manager for the Arizona Diabetes Prevention Program, and a W.A Franke Ambassador through the Honors College.

Alyssa Manriquez Paredes is a senior at the University of Arizona who currently majors in biology with a minor in studio art. She hopes to bridge the gap between the arts and science. As a first generation college student, born in Tucson, Arizona, she greatly values her community and the natural beauty of the desert’s plant and animal life. Alyssa enjoys community outreach and most recently worked as the Science Day VP for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, hosting over 150+ middle school students in 5 science themed workshops.

Riley Remen is a senior at the University of Arizona, pursuing a major in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Science, Technology, Health, and Society, and two minors in Sustainable Built Environments and Studio Art. They would like their career to include creating art that inspires people to demand a more sustainable society for everyone. She mostly grew up in Arizona and is fascinated by all the beauty that can be found in the desert. They love being outside and learning about nature from nature.

Grace Toftner is a junior who is majoring in Chemical Engineering and minoring in Biosystems Engineering. Grace became interested in engineering because she enjoyed problem solving, and she feels that it gives her the opportunity to make technical changes that could make a large impact on the world. Grace's main interests lay in the areas of clean energy and food security. She is from Minnesota, but chose to go to Arizona with hopes of being somewhere where she can enjoy her outdoor hobbies for more of the year.