Career, Leadership, and Travel Experience

This page highlights my recent and relevant career and leadership experiences, outlining what I have done and learned in each role and opportunity. The button on the side will take you to my most recent CV.

Internship and Research Experience

Undergraduate Member of Global Youth Storytelling Lab

(Feb. 2024 – Present) As an undergraduate member of the Global Youth Storytelling Lab at Penn State, my role involves assisting in the planning of activities and events that promote youth activism and engagement in efforts to combat climate change. I also help by sharing important updates on initiatives aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change.

Summer Internship at UrbanKind Institute – (Remote Position)

(Jun. 2024 – Aug. 2024) I worked with the UrbanKind Institute in Pittsburgh, PA, on an environmental zoning project. In this role, I conducted literature reviews on articles related to historical landslides and the geological background of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. I also researched Pittsburgh's city archives to trace the origins of the area's environmental zoning policies. Additionally, I created maps identifying current areas with slopes greater than 25% and landslide-prone regions, assessing their proximity to existing environmentally sensitive zones.

Summer Research Assistant for Penn State Geography Department – (Remote Position)

(May. 2024 – Aug. 2024)I worked with a Penn State Geography professor and her colleagues on an upcoming research project focused on Human-Wildlife Conflict Drivers and Responses in Africa. My role involved reviewing over a thousand articles related to the topic and categorizing the literature based on its relevance to the research.

Summer Internship at UrbanKind Institute – (Remote Position)

(Jun. 2023 – Aug. 2023) I worked with the UrbanKind Institute in Pittsburgh, PA, on their Trust Trees Initiative, which aimed to integrate trees into urban environments by educating the community about their benefits and involving them in tree-planting and decision-making processes. As an intern, I created educational materials, including presentations, infographics, and video scripts, based on independent research on the benefits of trees. I also traveled to Pittsburgh to attend a tabling event in the Beltzhoover neighborhood during a community day, where I engaged directly with residents about the importance of trees.

Summer Research Assistant for Penn State Geography – (Hybrid Position)

(May 2023 – Aug. 2023) I worked with a Penn State Geography professor, assisting with her research on energy preferences for cooking in sub-Saharan Africa. My contributions included conducting literature reviews, creating presentations, and performing data analysis on her findings. I also used Stata to help program graphs for the research.

Teaching Internship for Penn State (GEOG 438W: Human Dimensions of Global Warming)

(Oct. 2022 – Dec. 2022) This teaching internship, offered by Penn State's Geography department, involved helping design a Climate Change-focused course to be taught at the university. Throughout the internship, I adapted content from an existing online course, reorganizing it into a series of PowerPoint lessons for a 16-week semester. I also revised assignments to better align with the course structure and conducted research to incorporate new and supplementary materials into the lessons.

NCAS-M Experimental Training Summer Program for Rising Sophomores

(Jun. 2022 – Jul. 2022) The NCAS-M (NOAA Cooperative Science Center in Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology II) ETSP program was a summer initiative in partnership with Howard University, designed to educate rising sophomores about career opportunities at NOAA while focusing on professional development, networking, and post-undergraduate career paths. As part of the program, I began conducting undergraduate research on changes in air pollutant concentrations in the Mid-Atlantic region. Under the guidance of a Howard University mentor at the Beltsville data collection site, I learned about my research project and how to use the R programming language to create graphs from raw data. The program culminated in a Research Colloquium, where I presented my findings to NOAA officials and answered questions about my research.

American Association of Geographers 2023 Annual Meeting

Denver, CO - March, 2023

Attended as poster presenter.

Environmental Justice in the United States and Africa Workshop –

Washington, DC - March 2024

Assisted in the planning and organization of this workshop.

Attended as a panelist in a discussion about trees, environmental justice, and redlining.

American Association of Geographers 2024 Penn State Meeting Node

State College, PA - April, 2023

Attended as poster and lightening talk presenter.

Examining Facets of Justice in Government and Public Climate Responses and Operationalizing Transformative Climate Justice Workshop –

State College, PA - October 2024

Attended as workshop participant.

Conferences and Workshops

Presented Penn State Student's Food Waste Sorting Habits Poster:

American Association of Geographer’s Annual Meeting in Denver, CO (Mar. 2023)

Celebration of Undergraduate Engagement in State College, PA (Apr. 2023)

Presented Veteran Populations and Mental Health Facility Locations in PA Poster:

Celebration of Undergraduate Engagement in State College, PA (Nov. 2023)

American Association of Geographers’ Meeting Node in State College, PA (Apr. 2024)

Why We Don't Always Turn Around: A Look into Why People Drive in Floods

Lightning Talk:

American Association of Geographers Meeting Node in State College, PA (Apr. 2024)

Presentation Experience

Study Abroad Research Trip in Iceland with the GREEN Program

(March 2023) The GREEN Program is an organization that study-abroad programs focused on sustainability, using different countries as case studies. My trip was an eight-day experience in Iceland, where I explored Renewable Energy Innovation and Sustainability, with a focus on Iceland's geothermal and hydroelectric energy systems. I attended lectures on energy and policy at Reykjavik University's School of Energy and visited various power plants along the southern coast of Iceland. Additionally, I toured a greenhouse, a soil conservatory, and several national parks to deepen my understanding of how Iceland leverages its natural resources for energy.

Study Abroad Research Trip in Central Europe

(May 2023) I participated in a two-week study-abroad trip through the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences in May. During this experience, I worked on a geospatial capstone project alongside undergraduate and graduate students from Penn State, as well as students from the Vienna University of Technology. In addition to exploring the cities, we incorporated educational activities into the trip. In Vienna, Austria, I visited the Globe Museum and the Natural History Museum. In Prague, Czechia, our instructors organized a visit to the country’s office for Surveying, Mapping, and Cadastre.

Study Abroad Experience

Leadership Experience

President – Women and Gender Diversity in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (WEMS)

(Aug. 2023 - Present) WEMS is a social and professional development club at Penn State, aimed at providing a space for people of all genders to connect and grow within the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. We host a variety of events, including social gatherings, academic and professional development nights, and speaker-dinner events. As President of WEMS, I lead both executive and general body meetings, serving as the main representative of the club.

Secretary – Women and Gender Diversity in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (WEMS)

(Aug. 2022 - May 2023) As Secretary of WEMS, I manage communication with members outside the board. My responsibilities include sending out emails with details about upcoming events, as well as sharing opportunities and information that would benefit our club members. I also design and create informational flyers to promote our events.

President – Penn State Undergraduate Department of Geography Club (UnderDoGS)

(Aug. 2024 - Present) The Undergraduate Geography Club is a student-run organization primarily for students majoring in, minoring in, or pursuing a certificate in Geography, as well as those with an interest in the field. The club focuses on community building and professional development through activities such as club hikes, social events, and supporting members with the funds and information needed to attend geography-related conferences. As President of UnderDoGS, I lead both executive and general body meetings, serving as the main representative of the club.

Secretary – Penn State Undergraduate Department of Geography Club (UnderDoGS)

(Aug. 2023 - May 2024) As Secretary of UnderDoGS, I assisted with club communication, ensuring that members received timely information about various events and opportunities of interest.

Treasurer – Gamma Theta Upsilon – Alpha Tau Chapter

(Aug. 2024 - Present) Gamma Theta Upsilon - Alpha Tau Chapter is the Penn State chapter of the International Geography Honor Society. As Treasurer of our chapter, my role is to manage the organization's finances and assist in planning events that require budgeting and the procurement of goods.

Event Planner – Geospatial Information Science Coalition (GISC)

(Aug. 2024 - Present) The Geospatial Information Science Coalition is open to all undergraduate students interested in GIS, offering opportunities to develop supplementary knowledge and skills for success in the professional GIS industry. As the Event Planner for the Coalition, I assist in organizing social and professional events for members, collaborating with other student organizations and faculty to coordinate event logistics.

Event Planner – Minorities in the College of the Liberal Arts (MCLA)

(Aug. 2024 - Present) Minorities in the College of the Liberal Arts is an organization that fosters community and provides support for students of color and those across the LGBTQ+ spectrum within the college at Penn State. As the Event Planner for Minorities in the College of the Liberal Arts, I help organize both social and professional events for members, collaborating with other student organizations and faculty to coordinate logistics. My responsibilities also include creating promotional flyers and materials, and distributing them via group messages, emails, and our social media platforms.

Extracurricular Activities

Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences Diversity Council

(2023 - Present) As a member of the college-wide Diversity Council, I contribute my perspective on issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. I also collaborate with faculty and staff in the Penn State College of EMS to promote DEI principles both in the classroom and within my student organizations.

Ambassador for the Geography Department (Penn State Geography Guides)

(2023 - Present) Geography Guides are student ambassadors for the Penn State Department of Geography. As top students in the major, our role is to visit lower-level Geography classes to share our experiences and encourage undecided students to consider switching to a Geography major or taking on a Geography minor or certificate to enhance their education.

College of Earth and Mineral Sciences Ambassadors (Penn State EMS Ambassador)

(2023 - Present) As a Student Ambassador for the Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, my role involves giving tours of the college and university to prospective EMS students, participating in student panels to share my experiences as a current student, and helping future students get a sense of what it's like to be part of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences at Penn State.

Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences Academy for Global Experience (EMSAGE)

(2022 - Present) EMSAGE is a program that brings together highly involved students to share their experiences of success both in and outside the classroom. Students in the EMSAGE program have pursued a variety of accomplishments across different areas, including scholarship, experiential learning, global literacy, and service.

World in Conversation Dialogue Facilitator

(2022 - 2023) World in Conversations is an organization that brings strangers together to discuss social issues, allowing participants to learn from each other's perspectives while sharing their own. As a student dialogue facilitator, I helped lead these conversations by overseeing discussions, asking questions, and making connections to encourage participants to think more critically about what others were sharing. I facilitated dialogues with Penn State students from diverse backgrounds, as well as international participants from countries like Iraq, Russia, Colombia, and more.

Penn State Spring Semester Campus Band

(2021 - Present) Campus Band is a semester-long commitment in which I played clarinet multiple times a week. All practices take place after regular school hours in preparation for a concert held at the end of the Spring semester.

Minorities in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences Club (Penn State)

(2021 - Present) MEMS is a club designed to uplift minority students across the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences and to create a sense of community where students can engage and connect with each other.