Practicum

 My practicum deliverable is to create a formalized biological training index for internal personnel at Alluvion Biological Consulting. The manual will include information regarding common native and nonnative species throughout the state of California, habitat (including nest, burrow, and botanical identification), behavior, along with additional details on status, agencies involved with protection, established buffers, and how to safely handle or remove species from project zones.

I did my practicum at the California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR). OPR was established as the comprehensive planning agency for the State. It is responsible for formulating long-range goals and policies, including land use, state and local planning, climate change, environmental justice, and other major policy issues in California.

I am currently working as an intern with California Fish and Wildlife's North Coast Kelp Lab at Bodega Marine Labs. The role of macroalgae in storing carbon in these ecosystems has been studied in depth, however when a kelp stand is decimated by sea urchins and they become the dominant fauna in the system, there is a gap in knowledge of their role in storing carbon. The primary focus of my practicum is a scientific study to determine the role of purple sea urchins in north coast kelp forest carbon sequestration.

I work as a graduate intern for Sacramento County Planning and Environmental Review. Planning is such a diverse field that has given me hands-on experience in communicating with the public, researching policies, conducting environmental review, and applying local ordinances to development projects. Some of the most satisfying moments of the internship are when I'm able to apply concepts from the classroom directly into my work and vice-versa. For example, the skills exercises facilitated by Mark Schwartz in ENV200A helped frame my thinking on how to improve my argument structure.

I am interning with the Humane Society International in the Wildlife department. Through education and advocacy, the organization helps shape public opinion and legislation to advance animal welfare and end animal cruelty around the globe. I assist the Wildlife department on their big fights against wildlife crime such as trophy hunting, illegal wildlife trade and human-wildlife conflict. Through this, I have had hands on experience reviewing CITES proposals, applying the Open Standards framework and have participated in legislative hearings in Washington D.C. 

This summer I am working as a Green Buildings Intern with UC Davis' Energy Conservation Office. ECO's mission is to determine ways to save energy at the building level in order to meet carbon neutrality goals and practice sustainable stewardship across UC Davis. We work on a variety of projects on campus, including LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) certifications.

 I am conducting my practicum with the Sierra Institute for Community and the Environment. The Sierra Institute is a non-profit that promotes healthy forests, watersheds, and communities by investing in the well-being of rural communities and strengthening their participation in natural resource management. Their work is grounded by the concept of triple bottom line values, supporting initiatives that simultaneously benefit the environment, economy, and equity within a given landscape.

I’m the Environmental Protection Assistant to the Chief of the Planning and Compliance Division in Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks. My job is to shepherd park projects through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. I review and help develop proposals, monitor ongoing projects, and perform due diligence on completed programs.

I landed my internship at the State Water Resources Control Board with the Division of Water Rights (DWR). Coming from the East Coast where water is plentiful, California water law has always fascinated me. I even wrote my senior capstone report on California water recycling! Upon entering the EPM program, I took Keith Casto's ENV 202. A crash course in all environmental policy, water rights were only briefly discussed. I was left wanting more! Luckily, in April 2019, DWR hired me as an intern of the Sacramento Valley Enforcement Unit. 

As a Marine Policy intern for Ecoconsult, I have seen a lot in these first few weeks! Ecoconsult is an environmental lobbying firm that represents the policy interests of a variety of organizations like Heal the Bay, Surfrider, NRDC, 5 Gyres, and several environmental health groups. I am working behind-the-scenes on the single-use plastics bills AB 1080 and SB 54, researching harmful algal blooms and kelp methane reductions, and attending committee hearings for both the California State Senate and Assembly.