The students are the greatest strength of the Environmental Science program. Hailing from South America to Siberia and Provo to Accra, our students are seeking to understand environmental issues and develop creative and inclusive solutions. Check out the selection of student profiles below. Then come join our community of uplifting and insightful students to help us literally change the world.
STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS
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Cecilia Foster
I want to be a science journalist, more specifically an environmental reporter. By studying Environmental Science here at BYU, I can learn about the scientific basis for a lot of environmental issues and work on communicating those to a non-scientific audience. Studying Environmental Science also teaches me how to think like a scientist, while learning to talk and communicate like an activist.
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Derrek Wilson
I chose to study environmental science to understand how the natural world functions and how our interactions are affecting natural systems. I plan on going into the field of environmental law with the ultimate goal of creating environmental policy at a state or federal level. The environmental science major has provided me with scientific literacy to help me make more evidence based policy regarding environmental issues.
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Abigail Banks
I realized that I could make the difference I wanted to make in the world through majoring in Environmental Science. I'm minoring in Business and ultimately I want to do environmental nonprofit work. Studying at BYU gave me the opportunity to do my first internship at a nonprofit which made me realize how much I love it.
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Mitchell Greenhalgh
I’m very interested in how the environment is impacted by humans and how the environment impacts humans. I do research with a public health professor in addition to my main research in the environmental science program. Although my primary interests within environmental science (landscape and spatial ecology, ecological data science) aren’t really taught in the program, it’s providing me with a solid baseline that I would need to go into those fields later on.
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Isabella Errigo
I am an Environmental Science Major and International Development Minor. The ESci program has taught me a lot about environmental science, obviously, but it has also allowed me to connect my passion for environmental issues with my passions for other social injustices. I want to help nations create and enforce effective policies that reduce their emissions and promote sustainable development. I would also like to be a professor in environmental science and international development. After I retire, I want to be a park ranger.
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Sierra Curtis
I am an Environmental Science major and International Development minor.
I want to teach environmental science at community college to under represented minorities and first generation college students. I started in eco-business and while I still help with sustainable development initiatives I switched to an international development minor to better understand refugees or first generation Americans that I hope to teach someday.
I want to teach environmental science at community college to under represented minorities and first generation college students. I started in eco-business and while I still help with sustainable development initiatives I switched to an international development minor to better understand refugees or first generation Americans that I hope to teach someday.
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PHD STUDENTS
Sara Sayedi
Sara Sayedi is a Ph.D. student working on combining expert opinions to assess risk of dangerous change in Earth systems (permafrost collapse, global wildfire, and water security).
Qiwen Zhang
Qiwen Zhang is a Ph.D. student working on using Arctic river networks as multi-scale sensors to reveal terrestrial and aquatic signals of ecosystem change.
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MS STUDENTS
Sam Bratsman
Sam Bratsman is an M.S. student working on eutrophication in Utah Lake and the effects of climate change in the Abbott and Aanderud labs.
Hannah Burgin
Hanna Burgin is an Environmental Science master’s student conducting research about water conservation through sustainable landscaping in Utah.
Isabella Errigo
Isabella Errigo is an M.S. student studying the effects of wildfire on aquatic biodiversity in the Frandsen and Abbott labs. She is interested in the interactions between human policy and ecosystem sustainability.
Leslie Lange
Leslie Lange is an Environmental Science MS student from Modesto,California. She is studying different approaches to increasing science literacy in the public and reducing waterborne pathogens.
Madeline Malmfeldt
Madeleine Malmfeldt is a Master’s student in Environmental Science from Cumming, Georgia.
Aria McComber
Aria is a master's student in Environmental Science. She is interested in corporate sustainability, environmental health, international development, and environmental economics. Before being recruited by BYU's volleyball team, she received a degree in business administration from Washington State University.
Madeline McLaughlin
Madeline McLaughlin is a Master’s student in Environmental Science from Houston, Texas.
Adam Norris
Adam Norris is an M.S student studying soil fire responses and nutrient cycling following the Mt. Nebo Megafire of 2018.
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UNDERGRAD STUDENTS
Kallin Austin
Kallin is a junior at BYU studying exercise science and preparing to apply to medical school. He is a member of the BYU Army ROTC and is planning on commissioning as a 2nd lieutenant in the United States Army in the spring of 2022.
Addison Bliss
Addison is an undergraduate from Peoria, Arizona majoring in Environmental Science. She is interested in improving community and individual health by establishing gardening programs in environments such as elementary schools and urban areas. She can’t wait to encourage others to get their hands dirty and nurture the world beneath their feet. She loves reading, gardening, cooking, drawing, hiking, and meditating.
Sarah Buening
Sarah is a freshman at BYU and who is excited to gain experience in environmental research and sustainability efforts. She is interested in studying correlations between human and environmental health and advocating for stronger environmental protection policies, particularly reducing air and water pollution. She wants to ensure that our beautiful planet is healthy and strong!
Emma Bulter
Emma is an undergraduate student from Gaithersburg, Maryland studying biology. She has a strong interest in animals and veterinary medicine. In her spare time she likes to bake, play basketball, and watch movies. She loves visiting national parks and being in nature.
Kristina Cass
Kristina Cass is an Ohio native and is pursuing a degree in Environmental Science with a minor in Geospatial Science and Technology.
Sarah Chan
Sarah is a junior majoring in Environmental Science. She developed a passion for environmental science during her time at the School of Environmental Studies in Minnesota. While there, she was able to participate in a high altitude physiology field study which took her to Tlachichuca, Mexico to climb Pico de Orizaba. Since then, she has transferred to BYU and has taken many classes which have expanded her interest in the environment, such as environmental biology, soil science, and chemistry.
Taylor Chattin
Taylor is a sophomore in BYU’s wildlife and wildlands conservation major. She has aspirations of becoming a zoo curator and working with manatees.
Vivine Chen
Vivine is an undergraduate student from upstate New York studying Environmental Science. She enjoys to collecting and organizing data from different experiments. She likes to use her phone to stay connected and to be socially aware.
Elisabeth Currit
Elisabeth is sophomore from Texas majoring in environmental science and minoring in international development. She loves hiking (especially in Great Basin National Park), reading, mountains, and she plans on getting a PhD someday.
Sierra Curtis Nichols
Sierra Curtis Nichols is a junior studying environmental science from Midway, UT.
Madalynn Drennan
Madalynn is an undergraduate studying Wildlife and Wildlands Conservation. She is from Dallas,Texas and loves hiking in Zion National Park.
Danny Dudley
Danny is an undergraduate from Lake Tahoe, NV studying Strategic Management and Environmental Science. He loves listening to music, biking, reading, and spending time outdoors. He is passionate about the impact of environmental policy on people and places.
Zach Eliason
Zach is an undergraduate student in Bioinformatics from Provo, UT. He has strong interests in ecology and conservation.
Sara Frutos
Sara is an undergraduate from Corning, New York studying Environmental Science and Sustainability. She is passionate about protecting and preserving the beauty of the Earth. She hopes to bring sustainable practices to developing countries and improve their quality of life. She enjoys music, watching movies, hiking, and New York-style pizza.
Sterling Fuller
Sterling Fuller is an undergraduate student from St. Louis, Missouri studying Biology.
Mitchell Greenhalgh
Mitchell Greenhalgh is a senior studying environmental science and statistics. He is a lab manager in the Abbott Lab. He has experience in R and ArcGIS and introductory experience in Python, SAS, and SQL.
Jacob Gudmundsen
Jacob Gudmundsen is an undergraduate student majoring in Economics and minoring in Environmental Science. He has a strong passion for connecting the interests of economic growth with environmental stewardship.
Margaret Hancock
Margaret is a sophomore from the San Francisco Bay Area majoring in Nutritional Science and minoring in Chemistry. She is planning to go into medicine.
Brigham Jewkes
Brigham Jewkes is an undergraduate Biology student with aspirations of becoming a dentist and an advocate for environmental health.
Whitney Kingsolver
Whitney is an undergraduate student from Orem, Utah and she is studying Biodiversity and Conservation. She has always had a passion for protecting the environment. She enjoys rock climbing, hiking, and roller skating!
Lexanne Klimes
Lexanne is an undergraduate from Minnesota studying Environmental Science and Portuguese. She is interested in plants and water ecology, and hopes to help conserve river systems and prevent pollution in Latin America.
Shannon Lambson
Shannon Lambson is a sophomore undergraduate studying Environmental Science and Sustainability. Her interests include wildlife conservation, improving women’s health in developing countries, and watching reruns of the Crocodile Hunter.
Justin Lemke
Justin is an undergraduate student from Los Alamos, New Mexico studying Microbiology. He has a strong infinity for conservation and ecology. In his spare time he enjoys hiking, backpacking, cooking and watching videos of dogs for mental health.
Ethan McQuhae
Ethan is an undergraduate from Fort Worth, Texas, studying Environmental Science and Sustainability. He is an avid lover of all things plantae. In his free time he loves to hike, eat pizza, and hunt for new plants he hasn’t seen before. He hopes to help others understand the importance of plants in the environment and how we can be better stewards of our great, big planet.
Kylee Mecate
Kylee is a first-year undergraduate from Imperial, California. She’s majoring in Wildlife and Wildlands Conservation, and she’s always had a passion for animals.
Marina Merritt
Marina Merritt is an undergraduate student in Chemical Engineering. Her goal is to learn man-made as well as natural processes involved in delivering sanitary water to a community, and is currently helping with various projects in the lab. When she is not stumped by her homework, she enjoys running, pretending she can dance, and improving her cooking skills.
Haley Moon
Haley Moon is the field manager in the Abbott Lab. She is a senior from Sandy, Utah studying Environmental Science and Sustainability, with minors in Geology and Western American Studies. She loves exploring National Parks, reading, and watching John Wayne movies.
Savannah Muise
Savannah Muise is an Exercise Science major from Alberta, Canada who will be pursuing a medical degree.
Megan Nebeker
Megan is an undergraduate student studying exercise science from Oregon. She loves learning more about the environment, and ways that we can protect it. She is planning on becoming a physical therapist. In her spare time she enjoys go hiking, visit national parks, and play tennis.
Nick Newbold
Nick is an Environmental Science major from Kaysville, Utah. He loves everything from cheesecake, bigfoot stories, and his wife and baby daughter...not necessarily in that order. He is also minoring in International Development and would love to marry that with his major eventually.
Baylie Nusink
Baylie Nusink is an undergraduate studying Environmental Science. She currently studies how wildfires and rodents influence plant invasions in forest and desert ecosystems.
Luke Oldham
Luke is an undergraduate student from Eagle River, Alaska studying Exercise Science. He is planning on going to medical school and enjoys skiing, backpacking, traveling, and music.
Abbie Packard
Abbie is an undergraduate from Draper, UT studying Global Supply Chain Management. She has a passion for environmental sustainability in businesses and hopes to create a large impact by working with corporations to create a balanced and sustainable approach to the 3Ps: people, profit, and the planet.
Ryan Packham
Ryan is a sophomore from Idaho majoring in Environmental Science. He hopes to improve environmental stewardship in developing countries through research and educational outreach programs.
Isaac Parrish
Isaac Parrish is a Junior from Salem, Utah studying Exercise Science and Gerontology. He is very interested in healthy lifestyles and helping others making changes to have a happy and healthy life; especially the underserved. Isaac is also interested in the recent wildfires. He loves being outside with friends mountain biking and playing Pickleball. He plans to go to medical school and work in Family Medicine.
Heather Phipps
Heather is an Environmental Science major in BYU's Department of Plant and Wildlife Science. She has a strong desire to enhance environmental stewardship, personal accountability, and the application of science and technology.
Mary Proteau
Mary Proteau is an undergraduate student majoring in Environmental Science from Connecticut. She is a lab manager in the Abbott Lab.
Thomas Richards
Thomas Richards is an undergraduate student studying Wildlife and Wildlands conservation with minors in French and Chinese.
Sarah Rollins
Sarah is a BYU undergraduate student from Orlando, Florida. She studies Environmental Science and hopes to be an advocate for environmental health and sustainable living.
Jacob Spencer
Jacob is a junior majoring in microbiology. He is very interested in the environment and how we can best protect it. He love sports, dogs and family. He look forward to going to dental school in the future.
Dion Tapahe
Dion Tapahe is a senior majoring in Environmental Science and minoring in American Indian Studies.
Nathan Thompson
Nathan is an undergraduate from Rexburg, Idaho studying Environmental Science and Sustainability. He has a passion for outdoor recreation and helping others get involved in those types of activities (backcountrybasics.org). He cares deeply for the environment and hopes to help everyone to become better stewards of this beautiful world.
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Today we are faced with a challenge that calls for a shift in our thinking, so that humanity stops threatening its life-support system. We are called to assist the Earth to heal her wounds and in the process heal our own—indeed to embrace the whole of creation in all its diversity, beauty and wonder. Recognizing that sustainable development, democracy and peace are indivisible is an idea whose time has come
WANGARI MAATHAI
