2022 Student-Mentor Teams

2022 Scholar/Faculty Mentor Teams

Our 2022 scholar/faculty mentor teams are approaching climate change in innovative ways through habitat assessments, carbon mitigation, sports, economics, renewable energy, community engagement and public policy and education. The teams worked with their internship partners to develop solutions that mitigate and adapt to the challenges of climate change.

Student Highlights: See what our Climate Leaders Program scholars are doing to help find viable solutions for climate change.

Rhianna Absher and Dr. Marcelo Ardon

Undergraduate – 2025
College of Natural Resources –
Dept. of Forestry and Environmental Resources – Environmental Sciences

Climate Change Interests: Biodiversity of plants, dendrology, evolution, invasive species, and waste management (recycling, terracycling, composting, etc.). 

Jon Barley and Dr. Chistopher Galik

Master’s Student – 2023
College of Humanities and Social Sciences-
School of Public and International Affairs

Climate Change Interests: Public policy and public attitudes towards climate change policies especially around energy and transportation infrastructure. 

Laura Gomez Rodriguez and Dr. Natalie Nelson

Undergraduate – 2023
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Dept. of Biological and Agricultural Engineering – Biological Engineering

Climate Change Interests: Intersection of engineering, public policy and community equity for water quality and accessibility. 

Alexandra Hays and Dr. Justin Baker

Master’s Student – 2023
College of Natural Resources
Dept. of Forestry and Environmental Resources

Climate Change Interests: Socioeconomic impacts of climate change policy implementation, especially for marginalized communities. 

Katy Hollinger and Dr. Gary Lackmann

Ph.D. Student – 2025
College of Sciences
Dept. of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

Climate Change Interests: Predicted future precipitation extremes and social science and community engagement with areas most at-risk of experiencing the impacts. 

Ishita Kamboj and Dr. Veronica Augustyn

Ph.D. Student – 2024
College of Engineering
Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering

Climate Change Interests: Energy storage research to develop strategies and direct funding for renewable energy generation, sustainable sourcing, and energy justice. 

Sonia I. Preisser R., Dr. Kyle Bunds and
Dr. Jonathan Casper

Ph.D. Student – 2024
College of Natural Resources
Dept. of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management

Climate Change Interests: Alternative sports as a tool to foster pro-environment and pro-social behaviors to help achieve the SDGs. 

Jethro Ssengonzi and Dr. Jeremiah Johnson

Ph.D. Student – 2025
College of Engineering
Dept. of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering – Civil Engineering

Climate Change Interests: Calculation of capacity credits for variable renewable energies to provide reliable energy infrastructure in extreme weather events. 

Brian Vaughn and Dr. Gavin Smith

Master’s Student – 2023
College of Design
Dept. of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning

Climate Change Interests: Design, community engagement and rural economic development approaches to green infrastructure and nature-based solutions. 

Kyle Vogt-Lowell and Dr. Fanxing Li

Ph.D. Student – 2025
College of Engineering
Dept. of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Climate Change Interests: Carbon capture research and development for the creation, optimization and implementation of gigaton-scale carbon capture systems.