Fellows List
Sahar Arbab
Sahar will complete her master’s degree in environmental studies at Western Washington University this spring. At Western, she has focused her studies and research on environmental justice, environmental education, and youth-led action. Previously, Sahar was the High School Program Coordinator at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical gardens in Pittsburgh, PA where she oversaw an environmental challenge for K-12 public and private schools and a high school internship program. Sahar’s work is motivated by the desire to create a more just and inclusive environmental movement.
Foundation Sponsor:
Overbrook Foundation
Host Organization:
Grist
Reflection Entry:
Chris Askew-Merwin
Chris is a dual-degree MS/MPP student at the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability and the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. He also received his BS from the University of Michigan in the Program in the Environment. Chris studies environmental policy with a focus on environmental justice and climate change adaptation. He hopes to someday help frontline communities in their efforts to plan and prepare for climate change.
Foundation Sponsor:
New York Community Trust
Host Organization:
Natural Resources Defense Council
Amber Carter
My name is Amber and I’m a master’s student at Villanova University, currently working on finishing up my degree in environmental science! I’m interested in the environmental non-profit sector as well as land and watershed conservation. I love exploring the outdoors and adventuring to new places, particularly in and around my city of Philadelphia.
Foundation Sponsor:
William Penn Foundation
Host Organization:
Watershed Protection Grant Center
Lorena Cortés Torres
I am currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Conservation Ecology at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. I am originally from Puerto Rico, where I obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science at the University of Puerto Rico I am very passionate about the environment and am interested in topics such as wildlife management, endangered species conservation, environmental awareness and community and biodiversity resilience towards natural disasters.
Foundation Sponsor:
C.S. Mott Foundation
Host Organization:
Clean Wisconsin
Gloria Desanker
Gloria Desanker is working as an environmental analyst for the San Francisco Estuary Institute. She uses remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) to facilitate environmental restoration and conservation. She received her master’s degree from the Department of Forestry at Michigan State University and her bachelor’s degree from the Department of Environmental Science at the University of Virginia.
Foundation Sponsor:
New York Community Trust
Host Organization:
The Nature Conservancy
Reflection Entry:
Jon Espitia
Jon is pursuing an MEM/MBA dual degree from Duke and UNC Chapel Hill. Jon loves engaging with people and has worked as an anthropologist in Peru and has experience cooking in NYC farm-to-table restaurants. He is passionate about creating sustainable, climate change resilient food systems and supply chains, and wants to pursue a career in corporate sustainability.
Foundation Sponsor:
Barr Foundation
Host Organization:
Ceres
Rashidah Farid
Rashidah H. Farid is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Florida where she studies Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. Her dissertation focuses on the population dynamics of Gunnison’s prairie dogs. She completed her bachelor’s degree at Tuskegee University in Animal Science and a Master of Science at Alabama A&M University in Plant and Soil Science. She is also a 2018 Environmental Fellow. Farid is also the president of the Natural Resources Diversity Initiative (NRDI) in Gainesville, Florida.
Foundation Sponsor:
Island Foundation
Host Organization:
New England Grassroots Environmental Fund
Reflection Entry:
Antionette Fowlkes
A native of Birmingham, AL, Antionette is an ambitious servant leader, problem solver and organizer. She obtained her bachelors degree in environmental science and environmental health from Alabama A&M University. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree at Iowa State University in Community and Regional Planning. After graduating in in December she plans to attend law school to receive her JD to assist communities in the fight against environmental inequality, social justice and environmental justice. She is a driven, energetic and compassionate person who desires to see all people living in healthy and vibrant communities.
Foundation Sponsor:
McKnight Foundation
Host Organization:
Pillsbury United Communities
Reflection Entry:
Genora Givens
Genora Givens was born and raised in Oakland, CA and is passionate about all things water. Genora is graduating from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies with a Master of Environmental Management in May 2018. She is focused on flood risk and stormwater management in the urban context and is most interested in developing ways to incorporate understandings of social vulnerability and inequity into analysis of geographic risk and watershed management and planning.
Foundation Sponsor:
Singing Field Foundation
Host Organization:
Clean Water Fund
Reflection Entry:
Derell Griffin
Derell is a current second year student in the Landscape Architecture program at the University of Michigan. He received BS in Horticulture from Michigan State University. As a native of Detroit, he is interested in green development of highly urban areas, not only in the U.S. but also in developing countries. Water management issues, whether it’s storm water or the quality of a stream is of high importance to him as well and he believes everyone should have access to environments that promotes ones mental and physical well-being.
Foundation Sponsor:
Wege Foundation
Host Organization:
West Michigan Environmental Action Council