Download 2009 Switzer Fellows

2011 Switzer Fellows - New England
ANDREA BOGOMOLNI –Ph.D, Univ. of Connecticut – Pathobiology & Veterinary Science: Andrea studies the effects of
environmental and anthropogenic stressors on marine mammals. Through her graduate work, she is integrating her
background in marine science with her interests in public health. Andrea plans to dedicate her work to understanding human
and animal disease transmission in the marine environment.
LAURA BOZZI – Ph.D, Yale University – Environmental Politics and Policy: Laura’s research focuses on the history of policy
development surrounding mountaintop removal and surface coal mining in Appalachia. Laura’s past experience includes work
as a fisheries policy analyst at the Pacific Fishery Management Council, and as a Knauss Marine Policy Fellow with NOAA. She
will continue her career in U.S. natural resources policy post-graduation.
REBECCA DELL – Ph.D, MIT – Oceanography: Rebecca studies the topography of the ocean bottom and how it influences the
behavior of the ocean in an effort to inform global climate change models. She was selected as the MIT Student Delegate to the
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change annual conference in Mexico in 2010. Rebecca’s career goal is to inform policies
to address climate change, particularly in the energy arena.
SHEREEN D’SOUZA – MS, Yale University – Social Ecology/Environmental Science: Shereen’s master’s research focuses on
poor farming communities and carbon finance initiatives in the Global South. She spent ten years working as a food justice
activist and advocate for a variety of organizations in California, including the California Food and Justice Coalition. Shereen will
dedicate her career to supporting justice and equity in global and local food systems.
COLIN HAGAN – JD, Vermont Law School – Environmental Law: While in law school, Colin has worked on Clean Air Act litigation
and researched constitutional issues in federal environmental policy. He is actively involved in a number of clean energy issues
and was recently selected to join the U.S. EPA’s Summer Honors Program where he will work in the Air and Radiation Law
Office. After graduation, Colin will work in the public sector to craft and enforce sound environmental regulations.
JULIA LEDEWITZ – MA, Tufts University – Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning: Julia studies the link between ongoing
green building commissioning efforts and overall energy reductions. She is the Sustainability Coordinator at MIT and is a
founding board member of the U.S. Green Building Council of MA. Her career goal is to create a model town or campus “office
of sustainability” to combine technical expertise and community education on the value of regenerative energy systems.
KRISTEN PRATT – MA, Lesley University – Urban Environmental Leadership: Kristen’s work focuses on building relationships
between grassroots environmentalists and local governments. She is a consultant to the Chicago Dept. of Environment’s
Conservation Corps, and coordinator of the city’s Low-Cost Weatherization and Education Program. She will continue her work
with urban conservation organizations across the country encouraging best practices for community environmental action.
SHARON SMITH – MEM, Yale School of Forestry & Env. Studies – Environmental Management: Sharon works on conservation
initiatives in the western Amazon and tropics with indigenous communities and extractive industries. Prior to Yale, Sharon was
the Program Advisor for the Brower Youth Awards at Earth Island Institute and has co-produced Emmy award-winning films for
the Sundance Channel and PBS. Ultimately, she will work in global conservation to employ financial incentives for conservation
and engage market players in best practices.
SARAH UHL – MS, Yale School of Forestry & Env. Studies –Environmental Science: Sarah studies strategies for improving the
system for protecting people and the environment from toxic chemicals. Prior to Yale, Sarah worked for Clean Water Action,
spearheading the Coalition for a Safe & Healthy Connecticut. Sarah plans to direct a federal environmental health-focused
organization or agency to promote safer alternatives to toxic chemicals.
MATTHEW VADEBONCOEUR – Ph.D, Univ. of New Hampshire – Natural Resources & Earth Systems Science: Matt studies
nutrient cycles in forest ecosystems as they relate to current policy discussions about using local forest biomass for energy
production in the Northeast. Matt has prior experience in research and directing field crews in the White Mountain National
Forest, and is involved in tropical forest research in Taiwan and Malaysia. He plans a career teaching at the college level while
staying engaged with policy makers on balancing the competing uses of forest resources.
2011 Switzer Fellows - California
CHRISTIAN CASILLAS – Ph.D, UC Berkeley – Energy and Resources: Christian’s research explores how renewable energy can
complement development goals in rural Nicaragua. He is passionate about the role of education to empower marginalized
communities. Christian plans to be active in both the academic and action-oriented non-profit sectors to equip communities
with the knowledge to solve their environmental problems.
TARA CORNELISSE – Ph.D, UC Santa Cruz – Conservation Biology: Tara aims to bring much needed science to endangered
species conservation through her work with the endangered Ohlone tiger beetle. As an outreach intern with the Center for
Biological Diversity, she learned much about public perceptions of conservation issues and will employ those lessons as she
embarks upon a career teaching environmental science and conservation to high school students.
MARK ELBROCH – Ph.D, UC Davis – Ecology: Mark’s dissertation work explores the ecological role of pumas (cougars,
mountain lions), and mitigating human-puma conflicts. He has spent a lifetime studying wildlife, including having authored and
coauthored several field guides to wildlife tracking and behavior. Post-graduation, Mark plans to continue his work as field
researcher and educator focusing on carnivore conservation.
TAVIS FORRESTER –PhD, UC Davis – Wildlife and Conservation Biology: Tavis studies the interactions between habitat and
predation in black-tailed deer and is also developing a local citizen science initiative for Audubon California to gather data on the
conservation of private working landscapes. Previously he worked in the field in Ecuador, Alaska, and Oregon. After graduate
school, he will continue to work on large mammal community ecology and engaging people with citizen science.
KELSEY JACOBSEN – MS, UC Santa Barbara– Coastal and Marine Resource Management: Born and raised on the shores of a
small island in southeast Alaska, Kelsey’s passion for the ocean runs deep. Her master’s project at the Bren School examines
ecological and socioeconomic impacts of Chile’s salmon aquaculture industry. Kelsey will devote her career to driving sciencebased policies for marine conservation.
KENDRA KLEIN – Ph.D, UC Berkeley –Environmental Science, Policy & Management: Kendra’s work is at the nexus of public
health and sustainable agri-food systems, collaborating with Health Care Without Harm to increase hospitals’ procurement of
sustainable food. She has worked as a community organizer at Breast Cancer Action, and has worked on organic farms in
Hawaii. Kendra’s career goal is to create ecologically resilient, economically viable and socially just food systems.
JEANNETTE LARAMEE – M.Eng, Stanford University – Civil and Environmental Engineering: Jeannette focuses on sustainability
of the built environment and ecological sanitation in sub-Saharan Africa. She has worked as a structural engineer consultant in
Washington, DC, and with a local Zambian NGO where she oversaw design and construction of a residential and educational
center for children. Jeannette’s career will focus on access to clean water and ecological sanitation in developing countries.
ERIN MCCRELESS – Ph.D, UC Santa Cruz – Ecology & Evolutionary Biology: Erin is interested in the eradication of introduced
mammals and restoration of native ecosystems on islands. For three years prior to her PhD program, she worked with the
American Museum of Natural History in New York on various international projects. Post-studies, Erin plans to contribute to
sound conservation policy that will benefit threatened species and people.
RYAN SHAENING POKRASSO – JD, UC Berkeley – Environmental Law: Ryan works with students, faculty and legal professionals
to establish an Environmental Justice Clinic providing pro bono services to under-represented communities in the Bay Area and
Central Valley in California. Prior to law school, he was Program Director for an NGO that focused on environmental justice
issues on tribal lands in New Mexico. Post-graduation, Ryan will work with under-represented communities impacted by
irresponsible industry practices.
JESSICA SHADE –Ph.D, UC Berkeley – Integrative Biology: Jessica studies two species of Lupine (Lupinus spp.) and their
biological processes as important plants in restoration work. She has worked as a field crew leader on restoration projects, and
with the federal Bureau of Land Management in its Seeds for Success program. Upon graduation, she will continue to
contribute to ecosystem restoration science through research and field studies.