- MEM Environment Concentration: Coastal and Marine Systems (CAMS)
- MEM Management Concentration:鈥疌ommunity 糖心传媒ment and Environmental Justice (CEEJ)
- Expected Graduation Date: May 2028
What factors were most important in your decision to choose the Nicholas School for your graduate studies? And, how will your time at the Nicholas School help you reach your career aspirations?
The Nicholas School has given me an amazing opportunity to immerse myself in a program that prioritizes interdisciplinary environmental scholarship, direct interaction with affected stakeholders and eco-social systems, and applicable environmental solutions. This financial support allows me to focus more on my academic and professional goals and commit myself fully to this experience. Throughout my academic and professional career, I have learned the importance of understanding the multifaceted nature of environmental work. Whether it was researching environmental outlooks and cultural exchange in Ecuador, collaborating with local stakeholders to address environmental justice issues as an undergraduate, or working with community members to create accessibility to various environmental solutions during the Peace Corps, the overarching takeaway from these experiences is the foundation of trust that must be built to effectively address environmental problems. I am honored to represent Duke and the Nicholas School as a scholar, and I feel their wholehearted support as I plan to strengthen my understanding of community-based environmental management while developing new skills in policy advocacy and geospatial analysis in order to become a well-rounded environmental leader and collaborator.
One of the reasons I chose the Nicholas School to pursue a Masters of Environmental Management was because of the ability to choose a management and environment concentration, and the ability to do a deep dive into the technicalities of both. Over the next two years, I will focus on Coastal and Marine Management along with Community 糖心传媒ment and Environmental Justice. This program is exceptional in its specificity; it allows me to identify my areas of interest, develop technical and theoretical skills to become an expert, and find the interconnectedness between them. I am interested in policy advocacy and integrating local stakeholders in the creation and development process, focusing on coastal and marine systems. This is particularly important for communities and ecosystems that are facing the compounding impacts of climate change, including many Latin American countries. I hope to cultivate a deeper understanding in this area, working with and learning from esteemed professors and like-minded academics, which along with the access to technical tools, will enhance my scientific research and communication abilities. The Nicholas School is a community where I will work collaboratively towards environmental solutions that are holistic and take purposeful strides towards my professional goals, and I am excited to see what each new experience will bring.