- MEM Environment Concentration: Terrestrial and Freshwater Environments (TFE)
- MEM Management Concentration: Community Engagement and Environmental Justice (CEEJ)
- Expected Graduation Date: May 2026
What is your previous work experience, if any? Please describe briefly.
Since graduating from college, my work experiences have spanned the clean water pipeline, from Alaska Native villages without piped water/sewer service to the Office of Wastewater Management at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These experiences sparked my interest in a career in just and sustainable water management. I have also worked as an environmental educator in Denali and Yellowstone National Parks, where I deepened my commitment to ensuring our wastewater systems return clean water to the environment and I practiced making environmental science engaging to diverse audiences.
Why did you choose the Nicholas School's professional master's degree program(s)?
I wanted a master’s program that would prepare me to apply the Earth science and science communication topics that I feel passionately about to water management projects that improve public health and climate resilience. The Nicholas School feels like the perfect place to be part of an optimistic, open-minded, interdisciplinary community that is envisioning what socially just and environmentally sustainable futures might look like. I can’t wait to join the Nic School community and learn about how my classmates and teachers are building this future.
Do you have any areas of interest or special focus you plan to undertake during your time at the Nicholas School and 51±¬ÁÏ?
I will be pursuing concentrations in Terrestrial and Freshwater Environments, so that I can understand the Earth systems that set the rules for how freshwater cycles, and Community Engagement and Environmental Justice, so that I can pull apart the human systems that have impacted these cycles and study models of community-driven approaches to restoring and protecting them. I am eager to learn about nature-based solutions like green stormwater infrastructure and hope to work on projects that integrate citizen science, geospatial mapping, and environmental education.
What are your career aspirations?
After graduation, I want to work for a government agency or an organization that bridges the gaps between water quality challenges and financial, legal, and policy solutions. Whether I am helping communities write grant applications to access resources or agencies develop programs to distribute funding, I hope to apply my knowledge of environmental systems and experience with community engagement to implement projects that improve environmental health. I would love to come home to the D.C. area and be part of the effort to make the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers swimmable and fishable once more!