2014 Switzer Fellows - New England
MELANIE ALLEN – MA, BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY – Sustainable International Development: As part of Melanie’s
master’s program, she is working with the African Cashew Alliance, helping rural farmers in Ghana to increase
the productivity of the cashew plant. Melanie has worked on community-based conservation efforts in Costa
Rica, Brazil, and Ghana. Post-graduation, she will work in the climate adaptation arena with Caribbean countries
that are being dramatically affected by climate change.
AMANDA BEAL – PHD, UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE – Sustainable Agriculture: Amanda studies food
production and its impact on the environment. She has a life-long interest in how we produce food which
started on her family’s dairy farm in Maine. In addition to her PhD work, Amanda is an independent research
and policy consultant on sustainable food issues, and an author and speaker on a range of food system topics.
She looks forward to a career in a policy-making setting.
BRIAN BOWEN –MCP, MIT – Urban Studies & Planning: Brian is analyzing the impact of “smart” thermostats on
residential energy efficiency. He was co-captain of MIT’s Better Buildings Challenge case competition team,
which won “Most Innovative” proposal at the Department of Energy’s 2014 competition. Brian’s career will
focus on promoting energy efficiency in cities.
CHRIS FIELD – PHD, UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT – Ecology & Evolutionary Biology: Chris is researching the effects
of climate change and sea level rise on birds, plants, and humans in Long Island Sound’s tidal areas. Prior to his
PhD program, Chris worked on a wide range of bird conservation issues with the Connecticut office of National
Audubon Society. Chris aims to work with conservation practitioners to improve conservation planning and
implementation.
YESENIA GALLARDO – MEM, YALE UNIVERSITY – Food & Agriculture: Yesenia studies urban food systems, food
access and food justice. She is a co-organizer of the Yale Food Systems Symposium, and is working on a research
project that examines the perceptions of Latina women toward organic foods. Yesenia plans to address food
injustice in the U.S. through market-based approaches to increase the production and consumption of organic
foods, particularly in Latino communites.
SARAH LUPBERGER – MEM, YALE UNIVERSITY – Environmental Management: Sarah studies the process through
which forest policy reforms are being undertaken in Peru, at the national and community levels. Sarah’s past
experience includes work at the World Resources Institute in Washington, DC, and in Peru, where she focused
on forest and electricity governance. Post-graduation, Sarah will continue to work with Peruvian communities
to create more equitable and inclusive public policies on forest management.
CHRIS MAROSHEGYI – MA, TUFTS UNIVERSITY – Law & Diplomacy: Chris’s work focuses on international
negotiation, conflict resolution, energy security, and business. Prior to graduate school, he was a water program
adviser to the UNESCO office in Iraq and recently received a Harvard Program on Negotiation Fellowship to
analyze ongoing negotiations over management of Iraq’s oil resources. Chris will play a leadership role in
helping developing countries leverage their natural resources to build peace.
JISUNG PARK – PHD, HARVARD UNIVERSITY – Economics: Jisung is studying the applications of economic theory to
sustainable development policy. He is a Rhodes Scholar and is the Founder and Co-Director of Sense &
Sustainability, a podcast and blog on sustainable development issues. Post-graduation, he will pursue an
academic position where he will provide research for engaging with business and policy communities on
sustainable development issues.
KARTIKEYAH SINGH – PHD, TUFTS UNIVERSITY – International Relations: Kartikeyah’s PhD research looks at the
factors affecting the distribution of decentralized solar lighting technologies in India. His overall research
interests include climate and energy policy, and innovation. Kartikeyah has worked with the Environmental
Defense Fund and he is a founder of the Indian Youth Climate Network. After his PhD, he will work in
environmental diplomacy while supporting the diffusion of clean energy technologies.
NICOLE TICHENOR – PHD, TUFTS UNIVERSITY – Agriculture, Food and Environment: Nicole is analyzing the
environmental impacts of beef production in the U.S. She has experience in domestic food and agriculture
policy from the local to national levels, the latter with the National Family Farm Coalition in Washington, DC.
Nicole will embark on an academic career where she aspires to lead through applied research, teaching and
mentorship.
2014 Switzer Fellows - California
ANDREA ADAMS – PH.D, UC SANTA BARBARA – Ecology, Evolutionary and Marine Biology: Andrea is researching
the decline of amphibian populations in southern California and the role of infectious disease in that decline.
She also works as a biologist with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service focusing on endangered species management
and recovery. Andrea plans to facilitate international community-based conservation at the intersection of
public health and biodiversity.
KAREN ANDRADE – PHD, UC BERKELEY – Environmental Science, Policy and Management: Karen’s two-part,
interdisciplinary dissertation looks at microbial communities and their ecology, and focuses on facilitating
collaborations between UC Berkeley students and Bay Area community research needs. She has accomplished
the latter through the creation and direction of the UC Berkeley Science Shop, launched in 2013. Karen’s career
goal is to build effective and accessible bridges between institutional research and community needs.
LARA CUSHING – PHD, UC BERKELEY – Energy & Resources: Lara’s dissertation focuses on the unequal health
burden climate change places on low income communities and communities of color in the U.S. She has worked
as a community organizer and advocate on issues of environmental justice in Texas and California. Lara will
work from an academic platform where she will collaborate with advocacy organizations and governmental
agencies to inform equitable environmental decision-making.
ANDREW FOWLER – PHD, UC DAVIS – Earth & Planetary Sciences: Andrew’s research studies the geochemical
interactions between rock and fluid, to better understand geothermal resources at previously unexplored
depths. Andrew is involved with efforts by the California Geothermal Energy Collaborative to connect rural
California communities with scientists to help make environmentally sound decisions about their energy
resources. Andrew is committed to reducing the use of fossil fuels by increasing the viability of geothermal as a
low emission energy resource.
RACHEL GOLDEN – MA/MPP, UC BERKELEY – Public Policy/Energy & Resources: Rachel studies energy policy in
California and how it can accelerate investment in, and deployment of, renewable energy resources. Prior to
graduate school, Rachel worked with the Energy Foundation on clean energy campaigns at the state and federal
level, and with the Natural Heritage Institute in San Francisco on water issues. Rachel is committed to ensuring
that disadvantaged communities directly benefit from statewide clean energy and climate mandates.
SARAH HAMEED – PHD, UC DAVIS – Marine Ecology: Sarah’s graduate work informs marine protected area
design and management, collaborating with conservation managers and scientists from government agencies,
non-profits, and industry. Sarah was a teacher for seven years before returning to graduate school. She serves
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on the Advisory Council for the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Sarah’s career will combine her marine
ecology background and her communications and collaboration skills to guide marine spatial planning.
SHRAYAS JATKAR – MS, UC DAVIS – Community Development: Shrayas is researching efforts to accelerate “deep
green” building energy retrofits in urban areas. His background includes work as a grassroots organizer and
policy advocate with the Sierra Club where his greatest accomplishment was helping to secure the adoption of
energy-efficient building codes statewide in New Mexico. Post-graduation, Shrayas will focus his efforts on
advancing the transition to a clean, low-carbon economy.
AARON ORDOWER – MURP, UCLA – Urban and Regional Planning: Aaron’s master’s work focuses on urban
sustainability and real estate development, and strategies for reversing urban sprawl. Prior to graduate school,
Aaron worked with the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank on sustainable development
investment programs for Latin America. Aaron’s career objective is to create walkable, livable cities with low
carbon emissions.
TOM ROBINSON – MS, SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY – Natural Resource Management/Conservation: Tom is
investigating ways to effectively prioritize protection and management of riparian systems in a changing climate.
He is a Conservation Planner with the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District. Tom
will take the products from his master’s thesis to his work in conservation planning, sharing his methodology
with other conservation organizations that focus on riparian protection, and working political avenues to firmly
tie local riparian protection to federal and state funding programs.
HEATHER HULTON VANTASSEL – PHD, UC RIVERSIDE – Ecology: Heather seeks to understand how species in three
different ecosystems respond to anthropogenic and environmental disturbances. She works with the Center for
Conservation Biology and the Joshua Tree National Park. Her career goal is to conduct applied conservation
research to inform land owners on how best to manage their landscapes to maintain or enhance biodiversity.
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