Madisyn Cook, an Environmental Policy major at Western Washington University, centers her work on environmental justice and equity. She investigates how historic redlining in North St. Louis continues to shape health disparities. Through Western Washington’s RISE program she studies community resilience to natural hazards. Madisyn aspires to become an environmental lawyer advocating for marginalized communities, ensuring that environmental protection is a right, not a privilege.

Wise Goodluck Datsomor, a PhD student at Portland State University, began his journey in Ghana, where he witnessed the impacts of plastic pollution on coastal communities. His research now spans continents, assessing microplastic contamination and toxicology in fish species and exploring behavioral change strategies to reduce plastic waste. Wise combines ecological science with social policy to advance environmental justice and empower communities worldwide. 

Jasmine Suarez is a graduate student at Oregon State University and brings a unique perspective from her background in technology security and public policy. Her work focuses on reducing systemic risk and advancing sustainable infrastructure across critical lifeline sectors, including energy, water, communications, and transportation, with attention to how digital and physical systems interact at scale. Jasmine is passionate about expanding pathways for underrepresented voices in STEM and environmental leadership.