2024 Scholars

Grace Cohen

Grace Cohen is a senior at the College of William and Mary, double majoring in Environmental Science/Sustainability and Hispanic Studies. She is a first-year Yale Conservation Scholar and is delighted to intern with the Mystic Aquarium’s Education Department this summer. At the aquarium, Cohen mentors young adults in community outreach and participates in various conservation projects, including endangered bird surveys and pollinator planting. She strives to inspire curiosity about the natural world through conservation education. 

Katherine Escalante

Katherine Escalante is a rising senior at Eastern Connecticut State University, majoring in Philosophy and Political Science with a minor in pre-law. Born in El Salvador and raised in South Dakota, her experiences as a DACA recipient have fueled her advocacy for immigrant communities and other marginalized groups. This summer, she is exploring the intersection of climate and migration as a Central America Research Intern at Climate Refugees. With aspirations of a future career in law, she successfully applied and was recognized with the Future of the Legal Profession 2024 Scholar Award, presented by the Connecticut Legal Bar Association.

Kiera Hale

Kiera Hale is a Howard University sophomore pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biology and minors in Environmental Science, Chemistry, and Community Development. As a Yale Conservation Scholar, Kiera is interning at the Bent of the River Audubon Center where she is learning about bird conservation, land management, and environmental education. She is also working on an independent research project cataloging the previously unopened Althea Clark Herbarium and digitizing its specimens in collaboration with the Yale Herbarium. Kiera plans to pursue a Ph.D in environmental science or ecology with an emphasis on frontline communities.

 
 
Tyler Hall
Tyler Hall is an undergraduate Environmental Science major at the University of Florida pursuing a certificate in Geographic Information Systems.  In his second year as a Yale Conservation Scholar, he was recognized as a peer mentor and selected to work with the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station(CAES), in the Department of Analytical Chemistry. His research at CAES involves the use of nanoparticles to promote plant viability and resistance against disease. Tyler also has an extensive background in communication. He’s hosted many panels, most notably serving as moderator on a panel for black professionals in medicine, with an attendance of over 400 students and has interviewed an ex-Florida circuit court Judge. Tyler has a passion for hearing the stories of others and uses them as a source of inspiration for his work.

Assata Hanif

Assata Hanif (she/her) is a full-time student at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). She is currently working on a B.A. in Geography and Environmental Studies, and a minor in Sociology. She is a UMBC REM 33 McNair Scholar and a first year Yale Conservation Scholar of 2024. Her YCS-ELI placement is John Hienz National Wildlife Refuge in Tinicum. At UMBC she works at the Academic Student Success Center and Student Disability Services. She is also an Eco-Ambassador for the Office of Sustainability, GBM Coordinator for Sisterhood: A Woman of Color Coalition, and Social Justice Chair for the BSU.

Damaris Ibrahim

Damaris is a rising junior at Pacific Lutheran University, majoring in Environmental Studies with a minor in Data Science. Damaris aims to bridge public understanding of the sciences through storytelling. She does this through environmental education as a youth consultant for Root of Our Youth (ROOY), utilizing her experience with R and Tableau for data visualization in her internships, and harnessing her creativity in writing and poetry, including publishing a children’s biology book through Canva (“The Amazing You!” on Amazon). This summer, Damaris is participating in her second year with YCS-ELI, working with Citizens Campaign for the Environment to fight climate change and advocate for clean water and air on Long Island, New York.  

 
Chris Kalman
 
Chris Kalman graduates with a degree in Environmental Science from Ohio State University in December of 2024. His work as a cross-disciplinary researcher at OSU gave him experience conducting field-based data collection on invertebrates, hydrology patterns, and fish behavior.  During his second year as a Yale Conservation Scholar, Chris took on the role of Peer Mentor within the cohort while placed in Rhode Island with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Southern New England Coastal Program. Here, he captured, banded, and collected data on the federally “Vulnerable” Saltmarsh Sparrow at sites throughout New England to better understand the population and how it responded to ongoing restoration efforts. Chris looks to leverage his experience and understanding of ecosystem interactions to move into a role quantifying the environmental impact of corporate entities and influencing policy to mitigate their effects.
 
Roksanna Keyvan
 
Roksanna Keyvan is an undergraduate Stamps Merit Scholar at Wake Forest University pursuing a self-designed interdisciplinary major in Environmental & Social Justice. This summer she worked as a federal policy intern at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) at the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO).  Beyond her academic pursuits, Roksanna actively engages in policy and advocacy work with Citizens’ Climate Lobby, supports international humanitarian efforts to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene practices as an intern for Wine to Water, and serves on the steering committee for the ‘Mapping Prejudice in Forsyth County’ initiative, which aims to uncover concealed histories of discrimination in Forsyth County. With a focus on the intersection of human and environmental rights, she is dedicated to advancing research in sustainability, with experience in community-based renewable engineering and public policy spanning national and international frameworks.
 
Natalie Lopez
 
Natalie Lopez is a rising third-year at the University of Southern California pursuing a B.S. in Environmental Studies and concurrently pursuing her Master’s in Integrated Design, Business, and Technology starting Fall 2024. Lopez is interning at the Mystic River Watershed Association as an Environmental Science and Stewardship Fellow for Summer 2024 through the Yale Conservation Scholars - Early Leadership Initiative program. She is originally from Imperial Valley, California, where her interest in water quality work and its relationship to the nearby communities sparked due to local concerns with the Salton Sea and sewage water coming from the Mexico- U.S. border. Lopez is passionate about the changes happening due to human impact on the planet and the energy transition. With her interests in the energy transition, she previously worked as the Associate Producer for the podcast Electric Futures through the USC Annenberg Center for Climate Journalism and Communication. She currently holds the role of Research Assistant for the department. She hopes to pursue a career in a start-up environment to help find innovative solutions that will keep communities healthy and create equitable opportunities for them to adjust to the inevitable changes that are happening.
 
 
Tezmamu Magnea
Tezmamu Magnea is currently a Yale Conservation Scholar and is pursuing a Bachelor of  Science degree in Biology with a concentration in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at Brown  University. His passion for ecology and wildlife conservation is evident through his current  internship at the Sharon Audubon Center, where he plays a crucial role in wildlife research and  rehabilitation. Magnea has been actively banding purple martins, capturing wood thrush for GPS  tagging, and assisting in the center’s rehabilitation clinic. His current independent project focuses  on forest ecology, specifically researching the impact of relict charcoal hearths on insect  abundance and diversity. Magnea’s academic pursuits are complemented by his hands-on experience as an Emergency  Medical Technician (EMT) in New York City, where he provided emergency medical care and  support to the community. He also gained valuable insights into legal practice through the  Thurgood Marshall Summer Law Internship Program, where he interned at Kramer Levin, a  prominent law firm.
 
 
 
 
Jason Marte
 

Jason Marte, a first-year Yale Conservation Scholar, is currently interning with Open AQ for 2024. At Open AQ, Jason is heavily involved in outreach and communications in New York City. Notably, he is leading the research for the 2024 Global Landscape Report, demonstrating his leadership skills and commitment to his work. His impactful work with BioBus, where he served as a Junior Scientist for four years, was instrumental in community-based air pollution projects and collaborative reports on participatory research design. Furthermore, he played a key role in improving the air quality monitoring systems on the Baylander in Manhattan Harlem and creating a mobile air filtering system for kids in STEM. Notably, his work made him a finalist for the paradigm project.

 
 
Mary Nguyen
 
Mary Nguyen studies Environmental Biology and Religion, Ethics, and World Affairs at Georgetown University. As a 2023 and 2024 Yale Conservation Scholar, Mary interns for the United States Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS). She contributes to field data collection for Dynamic Soils and survey initiatives in the Connecticut State Office. By linking knowledge to accessible strategies for farmers in the Northeast, Mary demonstrates an ongoing commitment to ethical labor, land ownership, and sustainable development.
 
Skyler Nix
Skyler Nix, an Ecology and Conservation Biology student at Texas A&M University, is a  first-year Yale Conservation Scholar working with the National Audubon Society.  Over his five years working in the Houston Zoo’s Conservation Education department,  Skyler connected communities with animals at the Zoo and inspired them to take action to protect  wildlife in their own lives.  He was awarded the Alban Heiser  Conservation Award during his last year at the Zoo for his notable contributions to the conservation  of Texas wildlife and their habitats.  He is now leveraging the program’s data baselines to advocate  for bird-friendly building design and lighting standards at Texas A&M. Skyler is also an  undergraduate researcher in the Avian Communities and Ecophysiology Lab, where he’s investigating the impacts of  urbanization on the avian-gut microbiome in the species Purple Martin (Progne subis). Skyler received his  department’s 2023 High-Impact Undergraduate Research Award for his outstanding contributions to avian conservation.
 
Daniel Peñaloza
 
Daniel Peñaloza is a Junior at Claremont McKenna College, where he is dual majoring in Public Policy and Biology. As a first-year Yale Conservation Scholar, he was matched to the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES). For the summer, he is working under a post-doc to develop plant-derived nanoparticles for foliar application to increase plant productivity and yield. While his research interests broadly constitute the biochemistry of plants and the environment, he plans to transition to include public health, immigration policy, and labor rights as his area of study, particularly as these factors exist as determinants of health.
 
 
Bella Santos
 
Bella Santos (she/her) is a rising sophomore at the University of California, Berkeley, studying Environmental Science and Public Policy. As a first-year Yale Conservation Scholar, she works at Greenpeace USA on their Beyond Seafood Fisheries campaign, focusing on ending the exploitation of oceans and people in the global seafood industry. She is an active organizer with the California Youth Versus Big Oil Campaign, advocating for a just transition away from fossil fuels across the state. Inspired by her childhood in San Diego and her Philippine immigrant family, Bella is passionate about environmental justice and leveraging culturally relevant solutions to climate change.
 
 
 
Anooshka Sethi
 

Anooshka is a rising senior at Colby College majoring in environmental policy and minoring in economics. Growing up in Singapore, New York City, and Connecticut bloomed their interest in different types of agricultural techniques. Anooshka’s research at school is focused on exploring global methods of seed conservation and how to support community seed-saving projects to become economically self-sufficient. She is particularly interested in policy work that supports building food sovereignty. At Colby, Anooshka is involved with the woodsmen (lumberjack) team, first-year outdoor orientation committee, and on-campus greenhouse.  Anooshka is a second year scholar working at the National Marines Fisheries Service under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

Malvika Shrimali

Malvika Shrimali (they/them) is a recent graduate from William & Mary, where they studied Environmental Science and Hispanic Studies. This summer, they are a 2nd year Yale Conservation Scholar placed with Waterkeepers Chesapeake in Silver Spring, Maryland. Shrimali is mapping PFAS contamination in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and developing informational maps and products in English and Spanish. In 2025, they will join the Peace Corps to support conservation efforts in Panama. Shrimali is interested in cultural and ecological preservation in the Global South, with a focus in Latin America. “

Helena Souffrant 

Helena Souffrant (she/her) is a rising senior at Bowdoin College double majoring in Environmental Studies and Africana Studies. Helena is interested in conservation ecology, ornithology, and using socio-ecological reasoning to understand how different ecological questions affect various communities. This summer she is a second-year Yale Conservation Scholar interning at Waterkeepers Chesapeake mainly focusing on their PFAS project. She is conducting policy research, community outreach initiatives, and creating various deliverables centered on PFAS pollution. Her interests in the environment include conservation ecology, GIS mapping, field data collection, and socio-ecological reasoning to understand how ecological questions affect various different communities. She also has extensive experience in ornithological research, bird banding, water quality monitoring, and freshwater and marine ecosystem monitoring. 

Isabella Symington St. John
 
Isabella Symington St John is a first year YCS-ELI scholar working with Mystic Aquarium for the summer of 2024. She has an interest in marine conservation, ichthyology research, and coral reef restoration! As she works towards her goal of becoming a marine biologist, she obtained her Padi Open Water Scientific Diving certification while studying abroad in the U.S. Virgin Islands. She also has a newfound love for travel after visiting 10 different countries in the last year thanks to her ability to study abroad in England. 
 
 

Allyson Thompson

Allyson is completing her second summer within the prestigious Yale Conservation Scholars – Early Leadership Initiative. She is a conservation intern in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pennsylvania Field Office, actively working on restoring stream, riparian, and wetland areas to provide wildlife habitats and support healthy ecosystems throughout Pennsylvania. Allyson graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Environmental Studies, emphasizing Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity, complemented by a minor in biology. Allyson is committed to wildlife conservation through land management practices, reflecting her indigenous heritage. She received the NIU Institute for the Study of the Environment, Sustainability, and Energy Outstanding Research Award for studying small mammal populations in tall-grass prairie ecosystems with varying land management techniques.  She is NWCG Firefighter Type 2 certified and participated in an alternative spring break doing prescribed fires in restored prairies.

 

Marta Tobar

Marta Tobar (She/Her/Ella), originally from Guatemala and now based in Berkeley, California, recently graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.S. in Environmental Studies, focusing on Global Environmental Politics, and a minor in Sustainable Design, following her Associate degree in Geology from the College of Marin.  Marta is working as a Climate Researcher Intern at Greenpeace USA this summer in Washington, D.C., which aligns perfectly with her commitment to environmental activism. She is passionate about environmental and climate justice, human rights, and social equity. She has a keen interest in environmental law and brings a strategic mindset and strong collaboration skills.  Recognized with awards like the Regents and Chancellor’s Scholarship and the Major Citation Award from UC Berkeley, she is committed to driving positive change through leadership in environmental advocacy and community engagement.

 
 
Logan Torres
 
Logan Torres recently graduated from Brown University, receiving two Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and Political Science. With a passion for the intersection of law and policy and critical environmental issues, namely conservation, climate change, and energy, Logan dedicates his craft to engaging communities in creating long-lasting environmental solutions. Currently, Logan serves as an intern for the Nature Conservancy on the Stewardship Team, primarily working on public trail accessibility, monitoring, and maintenance. In the Fall of 2024, he will begin his Master’s in Environmental Management at Yale University. In his free time, he enjoys spending time at the park with his husband, playing old-school Pokemon games, and kayaking in the ocean.
 
 
Mandy Tran
 
Mandy Tran is a recent environmental science and public policy graduate at The University of Texas at Austin. After organizing mutual aid alongside fellowHoustonians in the aftermath of Winter Storm Uri, Mandy seeks to become an urban ecologist whose research informs policies related to climate resilience within cities. Their past work includes facilitating the development of more than twenty federal climate adaptation plans at the Council on Environmental Quality, informing tribal co-management efforts at The Connecticut Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, and proposing greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategies for The Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center. As a Yale Conservation Scholar, Mandy is excited to continue advancing environmental justice-centered climate work after graduation.
 
 
Zoe Tripp
 
Zoe Tripp is a third-year student at Vanderbilt University’s College of Arts and Sciences, pursuing a double major in Public Policy Studies (BA) and Architecture and the Built Environment (BA). She is an awardee of the Yale Conservation Scholar program through Yale School of Environment’s JEDSI initiative, which has deepened her exploration of the natural and built environment within the context of Black urban studies. Zoe’s academic interests are centered on understanding how Blackness operates within geographic frameworks, particularly in the US South. Inspired by narratives of communal spaces like the porch, where acts of community care and altruism flourish, Zoe is passionate about exploring how Black Americans utilize architectural interventions to shape and create urban spaces. Upon completing her undergraduate studies, she plans to pursue graduate school to further her expertise in urban studies and embark on a career focused on community engagement and research.
 
Amalia Tuchmann
 
Amalia Tuchmann (she/her) is a rising sophomore at Yale University raised in New York City and New Haven, Connecticut. This summer, she was placed in an internship at The Ocean Project in Providence, Rhode Island, where she is working to uplift youth voices in the ocean conservation movement and organize programming for World Ocean Day. At Yale, she is majoring in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Environmental Policy and is the New Haven Outreach Chair for the Yale Student Environmental Coalition. Amalia is particularly interested in sustainable urban design and urban environmental justice, especially in coastal cities, and hopes to work in those fields in the future.
 
Iunisi (Nisi) Tuitupou
 

Iunisi (Nisi) Tuitupou is a rising junior at Bowdoin College, pursuing a degree in Environmental Studies and History with a minor in Chemistry. Originally from Gardena, CA, Nisi’s environmental interests span from Public Healt to Environmental Chemistry. As a second-year Yale Conservation Scholar, she’s passionate about community empowerment and environmental justice. This summer, she is interning with The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut, engaging in fieldwork and community projects. Nisi believes in the power of community and is dedicated to making a meaningful impact through sustainability initiatives and education.

 
 
Andrew van Baal
 
Andrew van Baal (he/him) is an incoming Master of Science student at the University of Michigan’s (UM) School for Environment and Sustainability, planning to specialize in Environmental Policy & Planning and Environmental Justice. He is currently completing his undergraduate degree at UM with a major in the Environment with a Climate Resilience and Adaptation specialization, and a minor in Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences. He is currently a second-year Yale Conservation Scholar (YCS) under the mentorship of Dr. Dorceta Taylor at the Yale School of Environment. He is placed at an internship with Environmental Defense Fund that focuses on freight electrification and community pollution reduction at seaports. He also contributes as a YCS Peer Mentor, fostering a sense of community and professional growth among his fellow scholars.
 
 
AJ Villaruel 
 
AJ is from Brooklyn, NY, and is a junior at Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He majors in Bio/Environmental Engineering and Global Development, with minors in Mechanical Engineering and Environment & Sustainability. His academic interests lie within the intersection of engineering, environmental justice, and community engagement and how it can be used to develop underserved populations worldwide equitably. He hopes to attend graduate school in a related field and use his passion for engineering research to impact the world for those most in need positively.
 
 
Livia Weiner
 
Livia Weiner recently graduated from Brown University, where she studied Environmental Studies, specializing in environmental and climate justice. She also studied Visual Art and completed an Honors painting thesis. Livia is now a second-year Yale Conservation Scholar and Peer Mentor at the Black Appalachian Coalition (BLAC). There, she amplifies voices on environmental justice issues through art activism and grant writing.
 
 
Mary Weiss
 
Mary Weiss (she/her) is a member of the Yale Conservation Scholars - Early Leadership  Initiative 2024 cohort. Her host site for the summer is the Lenape National Wildlife Refuge  Complex, where she is based out of Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. In this role, she  engages in community outreach events with urban partners, biological surveying, social media  content creation, and invasive flora GIS mapping and removal. After earning her bachelor’s degree, Weiss plans to pursue postgraduate education in the  fields of wildlife biology and conservation. She aspires to work with nonprofit or government  wildlife organizations to engage in wildlife management, surveying, and research. Furthermore,  her future research interests include animal cognition, the adaptation of vulnerable species to  climate change, and finding solutions to mitigate human-wildlife conflict.