About Us
The Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) is a collaborative, interdisciplinary service-learning program housed out of the University of Oregon's Environmental Studies Program. ELP matches student teams with non-profit organizations, governmental agencies and businesses to address local environmental needs. As students we gain leadership, communication and professional skills by engaging directly in applied problem-resolution while providing valuable assistance to our community partners.
Alyssa- Has called Eugene home for the past 10 years but grew up in Southern Oregon. She is finishing up her Bachelors degree in Environmental Studies this year and hopes to find a job working for the State or Federal Government with nature. She has a passion for all types of wildlife and the outdoors and loves hiking, camping, working in the garden and spending time with her husband and two dogs.
A.J.- Was born and raised in Portland, OR before coming to Eugene for school. He loves the Willamette Valley and is proud to call it home. He is pursuing a Bachelors degree in Environmental Science and hopes to eventually work in the restoration field. He is passionate about creating aware and engaged bio-inclusive communities in which the whole of the environment can prosper. He also cares deeply about environmental justice and hopes to provide restoration services in a way that is synergistic with and respectful of traditional land-use practices and knowledges.
Brady- In his third year at University of Oregon, Brady is an Environmental Science Major and Comparative Literature Minor working towards graduating next year. His diversity in interests has led him to dabble in a wide variety of activities, from making documentaries to writing articles for academic journals to political activism. His hopes are that his experiences in the last two years with the Environmental Leadership Program will pave the way for a fruitful career in environmental public policy and sustainable planning.
Cassidy- Is originally from Palm Springs, California and transferred from College of the Desert community college to UO in 2015. She is pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies and is excited to find a job in her field. She has great appreciation for the diversity of wildlife and the outdoors, from the dry deserts of southern California to the moist green forests of the PNW. She loves hiking, camping, music, and most of all, her family.
Joe- originally came to Eugene for school 5 years ago, and to escape southern California, but has since fallen in love with the area. He thinks issues like water quality and sustainable agriculture are central to a healthy community, and is interested in a career mitigating the environmental hazards from agriculture. In fall of 2016 he will be graduating with a degree in Environmental Studies and a minor in business.
Katrina- is currently a senior at the University of Oregon, she is majoring in Environmental Sciences with a minor in Biology. She was captivated by the wilderness at an early age and she is continuing to pursue her dreams of conserving and exploring this planet. Her passion for the natural environment is driving her to continue her work after graduation in sustainable agriculture, restoration, wilderness therapy and environmental education.
Nathan- Is originally from Saint Louis, Missouri but has been living in Eugene, Oregon for over 4 years. While living in Saint louis he earned an Associate Degree in Art and General Studies from the Saint Louis Community College. In the winter of 2014, he transferred to the UO to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies. He will be graduating in the summer of 2016. After graduation, he plans on moving farther north into Washington, and hopes to find a job working with the State or Federal Government on environmental issues, primarily related to agriculture, food security, or sustainable design/development.
Emily-Bell- A New York City native, Emily-Bell is now a Masters candidate at the University of Oregon's Environmental Studies Program studying wetland ecology and natural resource management. Most recently she worked as the Program Educator for the Rockaway Waterfront Alliance, leading youth development programming through dune restoration and beach stewardship. As the former NYC Compost Project Coordinator at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, she also has a strong dedication to helping community gardeners keep their cities growing green with healthy soils. Having served as an educator with the NYC Parks Department and Manhattan's Lower East Side Ecology Center, she is well experienced working with environmental non-profits ensuring urban residents have equal access to nature.
