Cohort 16 (2025-2027)
Name: Brandon Isenman
Hometown: Satellite Beach, Florida
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Economics and International Studies from the University of Florida
Experience: Brandon grew up by the intracoastal waterway on Florida’s East coast before moving to Gainesville in 2021. During his undergraduate program at UF, Brandon’s studies focused on mixed-methods research in economics and political science, receiving the University Scholars Award to produce a manuscript on political participation among youth in Africa. In 2024 he was awarded a Foreign Language Area Studies Fellowship to study Portuguese language and Brazilian culture in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Brandon’s undergraduate studies culminated in his honors thesis, “Café de Moçambique: Assessing Coffee’s Potential as a Catalyst for Sustainable Development in Mozambique,” combining political-economic analysis with his interest in the global coffee market. This work serves as a stepping stone for his current studies in the MDP program, where he focuses on interventions to improve economic sustainability in the global coffee industry.
Interests: Global systems, value chain analysis, direct trade relationships in coffee, supply chain transparency.
Name: Charlie Hochfelder
Hometown: Orlando, Florida
Education: B.S. in Industrial and Labor Relations, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
Experience: Charlie holds a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University’s ILR School, where he studied global labor markets and development economics. He gained early international experience through internships in Nicaragua and Indonesia, before working in data analytics and M&E roles in New York City.
He later served as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Uganda in the Agribusiness & Economic Development sector, where he collaborated with rural farmer groups to increase access to improved local seed varieties and establish demonstration gardens. This work strengthened his skills in agricultural extension, project management, and cross-cultural communication.
Building on this foundation, Charlie worked in Ghana with Texas A&M’s Borlaug Institute through the International Agricultural Education Fellowship Program. There, he implemented school-based agricultural education, led youth development initiatives with 4-H Ghana, and provided extension services to smallholder farmers.
These experiences solidified his commitment to advancing sustainable agriculture and youth development in Sub-Saharan Africa. Charlie now seeks to integrate his practical experience with graduate study and research in sustainable development.
Interests: Smallholder farming, sustainable agriculture, income distribution, household nutrition, positive youth development, global food systems, biking, hiking, music, and gardening.
Name: Donna Sipata
Hometown: Sorong, Southwest Papua, Indonesia
Education: Bachelor of International Relations, President University
Experience: Donna’s university experience is based upon community-based development and international relations. She finished her undergraduate thesis on the part of NGOs in promoting environmental justice and indigenous land right in Papua where she carried out qualitative research in the field with a local NGO that works in forest protection and indigenous people rights.
She was also an active member of AIESEC and conducted and took part in some of the youth-led initiatives; these qualifications embraced the SDGs including; an education outreach program, an intercultural exchange, and a program on community-based empowerment. Such experiences enhanced her interest in inclusive development and helped her better understand the issues encountered by the marginalized people.
Interests: Social justice, Indigenous rights, gender equity, community empowerment, participatory development, environmental justice, storytelling for impact.
Name: Jordan Gannon
Hometown: Big Rapids, Michigan
Education: B.S. in Organismal Biology and Evolutionary Science, minors in Environmental Studies and Spanish from High Point University, NC
Bio: Throughout her academic and professional journey, Jordan has sought to bridge the gap between conservation science and community engagement. While earning her undergraduate degree in biology, Jordan held federally funded positions with educational non-profits and wildlife centers, where she rehabilitated native wildlife species, performed outreach at local schools, and ran muti-lingual tutoring programs to improve literacy and expand access to environmental education.
Jordan has conducted widespread research throughout her career, in collaboration with the National Science Foundation, as well as museums and zoos throughout the country. Her topics ranged from the ecological impacts of horseshoe crab harvest, the evolutionary effects of diet on functional morphology, to prefrontal cortex use across various animal taxa. Since her graduation, she has completed internships with AmeriCorps and the Student Conservation Association and worked hands-on as a wildlife technician for the National Park Service, facilitating peaceful human/wildlife interactions, responding to attacks, managing research initiatives for endangered species, and outlining steps for continued wildlife management.
Building on her scientific background, Jordan is now focused on integrating interdisciplinary approaches to conservation, blending her love for science with a commitment to education and social impact. She has previously worked with non-profits in Honduras and the Dominican Republic and indigenous communities in the U.S. to expand access to education and resources. Recently, she began working part-time in the Chicago public school system and volunteering with refugees and victims of human trafficking. Her experience has further solidified her dedication to using education as a tool for change, and she continues to seek opportunities to contribute meaningfully to both the conservation field and broader social causes.
Interests: Sustainability, environmental justice, education, outdoor recreation, reading about niche wildlife species, playing instruments badly.
Name: Julia Taylor
Hometown: Vero Beach, Florida
Education: Environmental Studies major, Sustainable Development and the Environment minor, Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida
Experience: Julia, a Florida native, was motivated to pursue her undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies at Rollins College after becoming aware of the environmental degradation the world is facing. With a drive to make change, Julia joined EcoRollins student club and Rollins Sustainability Program to lead productive dialogue and campus-wide events on topics like environmental justice, climate change, and overconsumption. In her senior year, her impact on the community was recognized when she was awarded Outstanding Campus Environmental Advocate in the Environmental Studies Department.
Upon graduation in 2023, Julia served two of The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) preserves in Central Florida as their Outreach and Education Intern. She assisted with event planning, managing volunteer workdays, and developing content for newsletters, guided tours, and outreach events. She designed three seasonal bloom guides for Tiger Creek Preserve’s trailheads to allow hikers to identify and learn about Florida’s native plants. Additionally, Julia designed a canoe tour program at Disney Wilderness Preserve which focused on watershed management and the preserve’s role as part of the headwaters to the Everglades.
After her internship with TNC, Julia spent the summer kayaking and working with high schoolers as an Outer Banks Expedition Leader for Green River Preserve in North Carolina. When Julia returned to Florida, she grabbed her lifejacket once more and went back to kayaking – this time for Fin Expeditions and Brevard Zoo. In these roles, Julia reached over a thousand people with conservation success stories, always highlighting the joy of biodiversity.
Interests: Environmental history, environmental education, climate action, fast fashion, overconsumption, native plants, freshwater scarcity, and ecosystem services. For fun, Julia loves to read, travel, swim, and hike.
Name: Kaylee McDonald
Hometown: Navarre, FL, USA
Education: Bachelor of Arts, Sustainability Studies; Bachelor of Arts, Arabic Language; minor in International Development and Humanitarian Assistance, Gainesville, Florida, USA
Experience: Kaylee graduated from the University of Florida in 2025. During her undergraduate years she completed a year-long internship at Peaceful Paths–a non-profit organization working with survivors of domestic violence. There, she worked with the economic empowerment team to address housing needs, create content for economic empowerment classes, and perform follow-ups with clients. Additionally, this internship involved one-on-one meetings with survivors to address short- and long-term needs as well as prioritize individual goals. Over the course of her undergraduate program, she also participated in two study abroad programs: a two-month, immersive Arabic language program in Fez, Morocco (2023), and an urban studies and ethnographic research program in Istanbul, Turkey (2025). During her final year of undergraduate studies, Kaylee worked with Dr. Renata Serra’s lab, coding qualitative data with NVIVO. The research analyzed vulnerability and resilience to climate change hazards in the Sahel. Kaylee is passionate about resource accessibility and empowerment approaches in nonprofit settings with regional interests in North Africa, the Sahel, and the Middle East.
Interests: Community-led initiatives and accessibility, women’s empowerment, environmental sustainability, climate change adaptation strategies, migration and placemaking.
Name: Lordia Blay
Hometown: Bonyere, Western Region, Ghana
Education: BA in Economics, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
Experience: After earning her Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Cape Coast, Lordia Blay began her career with the Ghana Meteorological Agency, where she supported climate data work and public awareness initiatives. This early experience sparked her interest in the intersection between environmental data and community impact. Motivated to do more, Lordia later joined the Ghana Statistical Service as a field data collector, where she worked on several national surveys focused on health, population, and socio-economic conditions. Through these roles, she deepened her understanding of how data can drive equitable planning and policy. During fieldwork in the Nzema area, a rural area in the western part of Ghana, she witnessed the impact of illegal mining on water quality, livelihoods, and public health. This experience reinforced her commitment to inclusive environmental policies that reflect the lived realities of women, children, and other marginalized groups affected by extractive industries. In addition to her professional roles, Lordia served as a community reporter for the Ghana Environmental Advocacy Group, where she raised awareness about how environmental degradation undermines community health and economic stability. Currently, she volunteers with GreenLead, a youth-led environmental NGO that empowers young Africans to lead on climate change, greenwashing, and sustainability issues. As part of the research team, she supports policy engagement and advocacy that centers local voices and drive community-led climate action. Lordia’s vision is to contribute to a sustainable Africa where economic activities no longer come at the expense of nature or human dignity. She is committed to shaping policies and driving actions that integrate the perspectives of every stakeholder especially those historically left out of environmental decision-making.
Interests: Environmental justice, resource governance, community development and empowerment, inclusive climate policy, sustainable education, field research. For fun, she enjoys music, road trips, photography, and exploring nature.
Name: Maryam Aman
Hometown: Islamabad, Pakistan
Education: Bachelor of Science in Politics and International Relations, University of London, UK
Experience: Born and raised in Pakistan, I had always focused on our decades-long struggle against terrorism. This national security crisis initially inspired me to study international relations. However, midway through my undergraduate, my focus began to shift as I explored more of my country and became deeply aware of another looming crisis: climate change.
A lesser-known fact, Pakistan holds the largest concentration of glacial ice outside the polar regions. These glaciers are melting rapidly, forming nearly 3,000 glacial lakes—many of which pose serious risks of outburst flooding. This alarming situation compelled me to dedicate myself to the preservation of our natural environment.
I have travelled extensively throughout Pakistan, witnessing firsthand the devastating effects of climate change, especially in the northern valleys. I strongly believe that local and indigenous knowledge must be central to the creation of sustainable solutions that can preserve livelihoods and protect people from displacement. Involving them in development strategies is integral at this stage.
My time at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad—a research think tank operating under Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs—was instrumental in shaping my academic and professional direction. There, I participated in discussions on Pakistan’s urgent need to transition toward sustainable development models. I wrote policy briefs on how sustainable agricultural practices in Europe could be adapted for Pakistan, where climate change induced weather events (floods, droughts, changes in weather patterns) are threatening the agricultural sector. Additionally, I worked as a research associate to the former Federal Minister of Human Rights in Pakistan, a PhD and accomplished author in the field of international relations.
I helped establish an online platform for the University of London’s distance learning students in 2023. I manage communication between students and the University of London Worldwide team and support community engagement across diverse global cohorts. Today it includes +2,400 students and alumni and continues to rapidly expand.
Interests: Climate justice, sustainable policy designing, traveling, glacier preservation, agro-sustainability, ethnic language conservation, painting, reading, gaming, photography.
Name: Samagya Kharel
Hometown: Dhading, Nepal
Education: BS, Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Purbanchal University, Nepal; MSc, Animal Science (Animal Breeding), Agriculture and Forestry University, Nepal
Experience: Before coming to UF, Samagya has taught animal science courses to undergraduate students at two universities in Nepal: Himalayan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (HICAST) and Kathmandu University. She also worked with rural communities on capacity-building initiatives aimed at promoting agro-ecological practices and sustainable development, as well as empowering vulnerable populations and women. She is a recipient of a faculty research grant from HICAST to “Study livestock production systems and management practices adopted by small ruminant farmers in Bagmati province, Nepal” and a young scientist award to “Study the prolificacy (FecB) gene and its effect on lamb growth in Kage sheep of Nepal” from Nepal Academy of Science and Technology.
Interests: Biodiversity, Conservation, Sustainable Livestock Systems, Climate Change, Women’s Empowerment, Science Communication.
Name: Susana Quevedo
Hometown: Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Education: Bachelor of Arts in International Development Studies and Political Science
Experience: Susana is a development practitioner from Guadalajara, Mexico, with extensive knowledge and experience in migration, sustainable agriculture, and rural development. Her early international travel experiences shaped her understanding of the risks and challenges many migrants from Latin America and around the world face in their pursuit of better opportunities.
Motivated by a desire to better understand global migration, Susana earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Development Studies and Political Science from Saint Mary’s University (SMU) in Halifax, Nova Scotia. During her time at SMU, she served as co-chair of the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) local committee, where she supported refugee students from various African countries in their transition to a new life in Canada. She also volunteered with the Halifax Refugee Clinic, providing translation services for Latin American asylum seekers.
Following graduation, Susana joined Canadian Crossroads International where she developed and managed projects in Southern Africa focused on promoting girls’ education, reducing poverty, and advancing women’s rights.
Since 2011, Susana has been based in Salihli, Turkey, where she co-founded agricultural businesses with her family. Her work integrates economic development with social responsibility, promoting equal pay and hosting workshops on women’s economic independence. In 2020, she completed a 74-acre reforestation project in collaboration with the Turkish Department of Forestry. Most recently, in 2024, she was awarded a rural development grant by the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture to establish a local olive oil extraction facility focused on fair trade, local sourcing, and sustainable practices.
Interests: Forced and seasonal migration, sustainable agriculture, fair trade, rural development, reforestation, nutrition and food security, climate change and its impact on human health, children’s rights, cultural and linguistic preservation, tennis, electronic music, reading, and travel.
Name: Tierra Bartolotti
Hometown: Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Education: Bachelor of Applied Science in Sustainable Community Food Systems, University of Hawaiʻi at West Oʻahu
Experience: My educational background and professional experience primarily encompasses food systems, agribusiness, and environmental non-profit work. I’ve worked in Hawaiʻi, the Indo-Pacific, and most recently Latin America. In addition to my academic and professional background, my perspectives have been greatly enriched through global experiences. I’ve taught filmmaking workshops in New Zealand, The Bahamas, and Ecuador, along with volunteering on a Medical Service Mission in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea. Currently, I’m an active member of the North American Food Systems Network (NAFSN) Leadership Circle & F3 Local Advisory Board. My technical expertise includes agribusiness development, farmers markets, food policy, research, along with web & editorial design. While pursuing the MDP Program, I currently work as the SARE Program Assistant within the IFAS Department at UF.
Interests: Supply Chains, Food Systems, Latin American Cooperatives, Rural Economic Development, Social Entrepreneurship.
Cohort 15 (2024-2026)
Name: Cecilia Picoaga
Hometown: Lima, Peru
Education: Bachelor of Communication for Development, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP), Lima, Peru
Experience: Cecilia has more than 7 years working as CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) and Sustainability Manager for multinational companies such as Diageo and Samsung. She also worked in the government and the nonprofit sector. The areas/topics where she worked are: education, youth empowerment, environment, health, disabilities, coding, social skills, innovation and robotics.
Interests: ESG, climate change, children and youth empowerment, supply chains and food systems.
Name: Eluagu Izuchukwu Innocent
Hometown: Imo, Nigeria
Education: Bachelor of Arts, International Relations, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria; MBA in Marketing, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
Experience: Innocent has spent over a decade working as Business and Sustainability Manager at Mitsubishi Corporation. Under this role, he has gained extensive experience in global business operations, contracting, project management, cross functional communication and supply chain management.
On the sustainability front, Innocent has developed and coordinated several social intervention and community outreach activities in Nigeria building capacities of Early-stage young entrepreneurs and small-scale farmers. A few of such project includes the donation and distribution of energy efficient cook stoves with briquette machines and solar home systems to co-operatives of Small Holder Cocoa Farmers in Nigeria to support their well-being and improve Quality of Life. This initiative aimed to improve health, promote forest conservation, and mitigate CO2 emissions.
Moreso, he facilitated and supported a community-driven program aimed at boosting the productivity and income of smallholder farmers. By donating farm kiosks, he enabled easier access to improved agricultural inputs and markets for their produce. Additionally, he aided provision of motorized mini tractors, including harvesters, planters, and tillers, which reduced the farmers’ reliance on manual labor. This program notably enhanced the productivity and income of sesame farmers in Doma Community, Nigeria.
He has also been involved in forest regeneration and conservation projects aimed at restoration of nature, biodiversity and reduction of carbon emissions.
Interests: Nature, sustainability, food security, social and environmental value creation, traveling, leisure walking.
Name: Graham Linehan
Hometown: Sarasota, FL, USA
Education: Bachelor of Arts in International Studies, Summa cum laude; minors in Spanish and International Development and Humanitarian Assistance, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
Experience: Graham graduated from the University of Florida in spring of 2024. Throughout his undergraduate years, Graham participated in the Lombardi scholarship and through this, had the opportunity to complete service work and short term courses regarding policy and non-governmental organizations in South Africa, human ecology in Mexico, and anthropology in Peru. Additionally, he completed an honors thesis investigating the discourse of climate migration, using the island nations of Tuvalu and Kiribati as case studies. By performing critical discourse analysis on government statements from the two states, he identified the two states’ plans in the case of climate change-related displacement and migration and compared how each state had a distinct envisioning for how their people would be classified under international law. This research was recently published in the UF Undergraduate Research Journal. In the time since his graduation, Graham volunteered with an organization in Colombia named On the Ground International. Located along the eastern border with Venezuela, he worked in several of the organization’s local shelters to provide aid such as food, clothes, information about the route ahead, and basic medical attention to the Venezuelan refugees fleeing. Overall, Graham is interested in the intersection of climate change and politics, both in the way that displacement due to climate change conflicts with the current refugee regime, and what policies states enact to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Interests: Climate migration, refugee studies, climate adaptation policy, small island state politics, electronic music.
Name: Guiecniza Dehesa Blas. She is a proud member of an indigenous group named Zapotecas from El Espinal, Oaxaca.
Hometown: El Espinal, Oaxaca, Mexico
Education: Bachelor of Computer Systems Engineering, Universidad Técnologico del Istmo, Juchitán de Zaragoza, Mexico
Experience: Guiecniza received her bachelor’s degree in Computer Systems Engineering at the Técnologico del Istmo in 2015.
Guiecniza has been working for more than 6 years at the Wind Energy Sector, first at General Electric Company and later at Vestas company, in the South of Mexico. She is passionate about nature and the environment. In congruence with her studies and her career she is now focusing on the master’s degree of Sustainable Development Practice at the University of Florida.
Interests: Nature, leadership, management, circular economy, climate change, wind energy, supply chains, hazardous waste management.
Name: Tayler King
Hometown: Orlando, FL, USA
Education: Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in Russian Language and Culture, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Experience: Tayler graduated from the University of Florida in 2023 with degrees in Biology and Russian. During their undergraduate years, Tayler was actively involved in the Pride Student Union, leading initiatives such as the Pride Student Assembly, organizing social and educational LGBTQ+ events, and raising funds for the New Day Scholarship, which supports black, queer femmes at UF.
In their gap year, Tayler worked with the Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars program, a scholarship program for low-income first-generation students at UF, where Tayler is also a proud alum. Their work focused on developing academic workshops, facilitating career development sessions, and reimagining a first-generation pre-law mentorship program.
Since May 2022, Tayler has been engaged in research at the UF Martin Lab, testing the In2Care mosquito trap in Gainesville’s Pleasant Street neighborhood. This project aims to explore innovative public health solutions, particularly in lower income neighborhoods.
Tayler’s academic journey includes participation in the UF Biology Immersion Program, which provided opportunities to travel and study in diverse environments such as the Highlands, St. Augustine, the American Southwest, and the Northwest Pacific.
Passionate about bridging the gap between social justice movements and environmental conservation, Tayler is dedicated to preserving biodiversity in urban areas and advocates for a holistic approach to conservation in the Anthropocene. Their regions of interest include southern and sub-Saharan Africa, as well as the American deserts.
Off campus you may find Tayler on a hike through Loblolly Woods, catching a movie at the theater, or playing Dungeons and Dragons with their friends.
Interests: Urban biodiversity, social and climate change, desertification, Southern African sustainability.
Cohort 14 (2023-2025)
Name: Veronica Manguinho de Souza
Hometown: São Paulo, Brazil
Education: Bachelor in Psychology, U Cruzeiro do Sul, São Paulo; MBA in Strategic Management, Specialization in Change Management and Regenerative Leadership, Fundação Instituto de Administração Business School, São Paulo, Brazil.
Experience: Veronica has more than 15 years working as Head of Organizational Development and Change Management in multinational companies such as Natura, Sodexo, and Citroen. In these companies she led Cultural Transformation, Diversity and Inclusion, Organizational Design and Employee Experience.
She is recognized for her genuine commitment to creating inclusive, high-performance work environments. Her approach is based on the principles of TEAL organizations, redesigning areas such as Corporate Education, Talent Management, Attraction, On and Off Boarding to align with these principles.
In her academic journey, she serves as a guest professor at Fundação Dom Cabral, and lectures on Equity and Inclusion, Innovation in HR, Acceleration Programs for Young Leaders, Regenerative Leadership, Future of Work among other topics.
Interests: Traveling, nature, spirituality, indigenous leadership, inclusion, women and youth empowerment, regenerative design, eco psychology, donut economy, shamanism, ancestry.
Name: Wendy Mesa
Hometown: Miami, Florida, USA
Education: B.S. in Agricultural Education, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
Experience: After receiving her B.S. in Agricultural Education, Wendy returned to her hometown where she briefly worked at the University of Florida’s Tropical Research and Education Center as a biological aide focusing on seed embryology, and an agriculture assistant within the Agroecology lab. After her time at TREC, she began teaching Veterinary Assisting, Environmental Science, and Agricultural Foundations in the Miami-Dade County Public School District. Wendy is currently an Education/Training Specialist where she focuses on pipeline programs from the elementary to the undergraduate level.
Interests: Academically she enjoys learning about the many intersections between agriculture and its impacts on Climate Change. For fun, she enjoys playing tennis, gardening, and spending time at the beach/pool/springs.