Shina Cortez Garcia

Shina graduated from UC Merced with a bachelor's degree in Environmental Systems Science and has a strong background in environmental research and community engagement. During her undergraduate research, Shina investigated subsurface weathering and porosity in Yosemite’s Sequoias, exploring links between lithology, hydrology, and forest ecosystems. She presented this research at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research in Long Beach. During her internship with Environmental Science Associates (ESA), she contributed to projects such as reducing groundwater demand in the East Turlock Subbasin MLRP and editing a Mitigated Negative Declaration for a major environmental project. Shina also played a key role in analyzing environmental data to support impact assessments. Additionally, she collaborated with a team of interns to develop a restoration plan for a site in Elk Grove, focusing on sustainable land use. Shina aspires to continue working with low-income communities and conducting fieldwork with a focus on climate change and city/regional planning. She is passionate about creating sustainable solutions that improve the quality of life for underserved populations while addressing critical environmental challenges.