Michelle Kalinkina

Michelle Kalinkina earned a B.S. in Community and Regional Development from UC Davis in 2026, specializing in policy, planning, and social services, and was recognized with the department's Ted Bradshaw Award for community engagement. She previously worked as a gardener, installing and maintaining native plant landscapes across San Francisco. She currently works as a research assistant with the Urban Science Lab, assisting with a leaf litter flammability study for the U.S. Forest Service informing fuel management. She also served as a GIS Intern for the City of Davis Open Space and Habitat Commission, where she compiled geospatial data on habitat, hydrology, and open space to create a map for the city's general plan update process. She is interested in CEQA and its role in environmental planning, as well as how data-centric approaches can strengthen wildfire resilience, restoration efforts, and ecological connectivity.