Current Fellows
The institute could not be more proud of the fellows that it supports!
These students are actively working toward a better future, born leaders and creative thinkers, crafting new ideas, filling in data gaps, motivating others, and conducting cutting edge research and other creative activities. We are proud to support their undergraduate journey here at Kent State University.
Meet The Fellows
Angelena Acierno
Environmental Studies; minor in Ceramics
Hobbies: hiking, art, writing, drinking tea, and gardening
Research interests: forest health, nature therapy, plant medicine, and natural art
Kathryn Burns
Environmental Studies; minor in Environment, Peace, and Justice
Hobbies: swimming, plant keeping, and hiking
Research interests: food waste and recovery, environmental education, and all things related to sustainability
Emily Campbell
Organismal Biology
Hobbies: hiking, crafting, video games, and writing
Research interests: wetland restoration, soil and water chemistry, and nutrient cycling
Lukas Capatosto
Environmental and Conservation Biology
Hobbies: golfing, fishing, hiking, weightlifting and video games
Research interests: genomics and evolutionary biology
Alicia Costello
Horticulture
Hobbies: reading, skiing, cooking, and gardening
Research interests: sustainable horticulture, botany, plant pathology, forestry, agroforestry, nutrient cycling, and climate change
Drew Davis
Environmental Studies | Organismal Biology
Olivia Eader
Environmental Studies | English
Hobbies: reading and hiking
Research interests: environmental justice and outdoor/environmental education
Hana Esber
Environmental Studies; minors in Peace and Conflict Studies | Geography | Parks Management | Environmental Management and Conservation
Hobbies: hiking, waterskiing, camping, and fishing
Research interests: wetland restoration and geospatial analysis
Phillip Kimbrough
Environmental Studies
Hobbies: thru-hiking, ultra-running, fungi, and photography
Research interests: wilderness therapy, ecosystem conservation/preservation, and mycology
Samuel Large
Environmental and Conservation Biology; minor in Climate Change
Hobbies: hiking
Research interests: landscape ecology, nutrient cycling, ecotoxicity, and landscape disturbance
Aciano Leipply-Caban
Environmental and Conservation Biology; minor in GIS
Hobbies: video games and social & environmental justice
Research interests: remote sensing, non-invasive observation methods, and soil remediation utilizing mycorrhizal and microbial relations
Abigail Leonard
Environmental Studies
Hobbies: bird watching, hiking, crafting, writing, and art
Research interests: ornithology, migratory behaviors, environmental justice, wildlife, and botany
Helen McLellen
Fashion Design; minor in Accessories
Hobbies: crocheting, knitting, plants
Research interests: sustainable design, limited water use in fashion production, environmental justice
Jackson Miller
Environmental Studies; minor Biology for Environmental Management and Conservation
Hobbies: hiking, gardening, and reading
Research interests: water quality, conservation, and bat, insect, and wetland ecology
Samantha Poore
Environmental Studies
Hobbies: hiking, skiing, playing the flute, and volunteering
Research interests: food/farming sustainability
Shaine Price
Environmental and Conservation Biology
Hobbies: writing, hiking, painting, and watching wildlife
Research interests: bat ecology, insects and spiders, conservation, restoration, marine biology, and coral reef health
Jenna Sawyer
Environmental Studies
Hobbies: horseback riding, hiking, going to the gym, and hanging with my cats
Research interests: environmental sustainability, environmental regulations, and soil/water contamination or hazards
Andrew Shenal
Environmental Studies; minor in Geography and GIS
Hobbies: hiking, birding, and traveling
Research interests: geospatial analysis: remote sensing and GIS, agriculture, and environmental science
Carla Wagner
Studio Art with a concentration in Painting
Hobbies: making art, trying new foods, cooking, spending time with family and friends, and spending time outdoors
Research interests: the idea of futurism and how I see it through my eyes, using the environment to make 3 dimensional and mixed media pieces to portray the issues happening in our environment as a whole
Grace Watson
Environmental and Conservation Biology; minor in Environmental Geology
Hobbies: tennis, kayaking, hiking, drawing, and reading
Research interests: wetland restoration and monitoring, aquatic ecology, nutrient cycling, and invertebrates