Sustainability Undergraduate Research Fellow Profiles
Pronouns: she/her
Year: 2027
Major: Communication | Minors: Environmental Studies
What is your project about? Previous community engagement efforts in the City of Santa Clara revealed key climate concerns such as drought and worsening air quality, as well as a strong preference for incentive-based solutions and expanded green space. However, existing planning processes have not fully addressed barriers to participation, including language access, trust, and a lack of clearly defined roles for community-based organizations serving residents in Santa Clara. This project explores how to meaningfully engage those most vulnerable to climate change impacts, particularly low-income households, non-English speakers, undocumented residents, and unhoused residents, and collaborate with these groups to co-create a structure that centers their voices, experiences, and priorities for climate adaptation.
How will this fellowship support you in your future scholarship/career goals? Over the past three years, I have worked closely with frontline communities across the Bay Area, documenting their stories through photography and videography. Through this work, I have witnessed firsthand the importance of ensuring that community voices are represented at policy-making tables and reflected in climate adaptation planning. This fellowship offers a unique opportunity to build on that experience by engaging directly with the policy side of climate resilience work. It will allow me to connect my background in community-centered storytelling with a deeper understanding of how local governments develop and implement policies that affect frontline communities. As I prepare to pursue graduate school, I hope to use the knowledge and experience gained through this fellowship to deepen my understanding of community-centered policymaking and strengthen my ability to serve my community throughout my future career.
What extra/co-curricular activities are you involved in on campus? On campus, I am a peer career advisor for the Communications Internship Lab, a social media associate at Santa Clara University School of Law, and a member of Alpha Phi Omega. This upcoming school year will mark my fourth and last year as a SVP Sustainable Futures Scholar.
Other passions, hobbies, fun facts, or anything else you want to share: I am passionate about hosting dinner parties, perfecting my Singaporean laksa recipe, diving with sharks in Sāmoa, growing tomatoes, and horseback riding.