5XÉçÇø

These students are actively working toward a better future, born leaders and creative thinkers, crafting new ideas, filling in data gaps, motivating others, and conducting cutting edge research and other creative activities. We are proud to support their undergraduate journey here at Kent State University.

Tessa Baker

Fashion Design and Merchandising

Hobbies: drawing, painting, sewing, and working out

Research interests: fashion sustainability, natural dyes, upcycling, and transformative clothing

Sophia Carmichael

Environmental and Conservation Biology; minor in GIS

Hobbies: crafts, archery, music, movies, and hiking

Research interests: sustainability, community and ecosystem ecology, pollution reduction, and green roofs

Niah Cohen

Environmental and Conservation Biology

Hobbies: foraging, rock climbing, hiking and backpacking, reading, and mushroom cultivation

Research interests: wetland ecology, mushroom identification, microbiology, conservation, and arbuscular mycorrhizae interactions

Toula Darakos

Fashion Design

Hobbies: drawing, sewing, spending time with family and friends, and running

Research interests: natural dyeing, biofabrics, and fashion sustainability and waste reduction

Drew Davis

Environmental Studies | Organismal Biology

Hobbies: gaming, hiking, and writing

Research interests: sustainability, ecological succession, and pollinators

Katie DeChant

Biochemistry and Psychology

Hobbies: reading, yoga, and drawing

Research interests: biogeochemistry, wetland chemistry, and environmental chemistry 

Annie Fink

Environmental Studies; minor in Biology for Environmental Management and Conservation

Hobbies: hanging out with friends, family, and pets, outdoor photography, crafts, being outdoors, gardening, and reading

Research interests: agroecology, mycology, and social justice and equality

Julia Fisher

Environmental Studies, minor in Business

Hobbies: crafting, painting, taking care of house plants, working, and going to the gym

Research interests: recycling systems, climate change, and soil science 

Lilia Ford

Biology, concentration in Animal Ecology

Hobbies: wildlife drawing, blanket making, hiking, and reading

Research interests: wildlife biology, bird gps tracking, and sustainability

Adam Frymier

Environmental Studies; minor in Climate Change

Hobbies: reading, hiking, biking, thrifting, coffee, and video games

Research interests: sustainability, agriculture, plant sciences, and climate change

Kyle Goertler

Biology (concentration in Molecular and Cellular)

Hobbies: playing the bass, guitar, and drums, writing music, and cooking

Research interests: sustainability and it's impact on animals, animal behavior, and AI modeling

Jami Greb

Zoology; minor in Environmental Studies

Hobbies: hiking, birding, and watching movies with friends

Research interests: wildlife biology, conservation ecology, genetics and genomics, and animal microbiome symbiosis

Nora Haddon

Environmental and Conservation Biology; minor in Environmental Studies

Hobbies: crocheting, embroidery, painting, hiking, camping, being outside, rugby, and reading 

Research interests: wetlands, ecology, biogeochemistry, sustainability, climate change, plant ecology, and montane ecosystems

Jason Lozano

Environmental Studies; minor in Political Science

Hobbies: movies, hiking, and playing video games

Research interests: environmental sustainability, and environmental justice and politics

Finn Machuga

Environmental Studies; minors in Environment, Peace, and Justice & Biology for Environmental Management and Conservation

Hobbies: being outdoors, hiking, reading, maps/world geography, and cooking 

Research interests: intersection of environmental justice and conservation science, sustainable international development, and sustainable food systems

Kiki Masters

Environmental Studies

Hobbies: birding, crocheting, reading, and hiking

Research interests: sustainability, wildlife conservation, ornithology, watersheds, and environmental education

Helen McLellen

Fashion Design; minors in Accessories and Textiles

Hobbies: crocheting, knitting, plants

Research interests: sustainable design, limited water use in fashion production, environmental justice

Jackson Miller

Environmental Studies; minor Biology for Environmental Management and Conservation and GIS

Hobbies: hiking, gardening, and reading

Research interests: water quality, conservation, and bat, insect, and wetland ecology

Amber Murzda

Environmental Studies & Zoology; minor in Paleontology

Hobbies: ice hockey, hiking, kayaking, glass blowing, and sports

Research interests: forestry, bat conservation, and wildlife and natural resource management

Rita Pierce

Botany

Hobbies: crocheting, gym, reading, and hiking

Research interests: plant pathology, rewilding, native plants, and urban gardening

Samantha Poore

Environmental Studies

Hobbies: hiking, skiing, playing the flute, and volunteering

Research interests: food/farming sustainability

Shaine Price

Environmental and Conservation Biology; minor in Chemistry

Hobbies: writing, hiking, painting, and watching wildlife

Research interests: bat ecology, insects and spiders, conservation, restoration, marine biology, and coral reef health

Allison Remick

Zoology; minor in Music

Hobbies: embroidery, birding, hiking, TV, hanging out with my cats, and crafting

Research interests: ecology, physiology, microbiology, and comparative biology, especially species that have similar linages but have evolved large differences. 

Aciano Rosales

Environmental and Conservation Biology; minor in GIS

Hobbies: video games and social & environmental justice

Research interests: remote sensing, non-invasive observation methods, and soil remediation utilizing mycorrhizal and microbial relations

Andrew Shenal

Environmental Studies; minor in Geography and GIS

Hobbies: hiking, birding, and traveling

Research interests: geospatial analysis: remote sensing and GIS, agriculture, and environmental science

Lauren Sigrist

Environmental and Conservation Biology with a concentration in Conservation Biology; minor in Environmental Studies

Hobbies: going to concerts & listening to music, horseback riding, hiking, kayaking, and snorkeling

Research interests: endangered and threatened species and integrating technologies for biological surveys (ex. camera trapping, thermal drone imaging)

Rachel Stauffer

Fashion Design

Hobbies: sewing, thrifting, hiking/backpacking, and reading

Research interests: circular/sustainable fashion, biodegradable fashion, and consumer behavior

Isabel Traska

Plant Biology

Hobbies: gardening, reading, baking, and video games

Research interests: agroecology, chemical ecology, and plant physiology 

Mallory Turnbull

Environmental Studies; minor in Environment, Peace, and Justice

Hobbies: art, drawing, playing games, reading, and horseback riding

Research interests: climate crisis, traditional Indigenous land care and bringing Indigenous voices to the forefront of the environmental movement, and animal behavior

Lana Felice Vistan

Public Health, concentration in Pre-Med

Hobbies: crotching and video games

Research interests: healthy food access and availability, disease prevention, pollution remediation, and antibiotic resistance

Simone Zingales

Architecture

Hobbies: 3D fabrication, wood working, drawing, and photography

Research interests: biophilic design: architectural psychology of space, sustainability, green architecture