Meet the dedicated Summer 2023 Equity and Environmental Justice (EEJ) interns, a diverse and passionate group committed to addressing environmental challenges with a focus on environmental justice. This talented cohort is paving the way for a greener and more equitable future, driven by their enthusiasm and determination to make a positive impact on the environment and society as a whole. Continue reading to learn more about their background and what they’ve been working on this summer.
Name:
Kameron Lloyd
School and Major:
Vanderbilt University majoring in Earth and Environmental Sciences and Communication of Science and Technology
How did you get interested in environmental justice? What drew you to NASA?
I was first introduced to environmental justice in a climate change journalism class where I wrote an article on the EJ movement in Newark, NJ. I was inspired by the incredible activists I had the opportunity to speak with throughout the project and continued pursuing research and work related to EJ. I then had the opportunity, my junior year, to intern for NASA DEVELOP on an EJ project related to flooding in Kansas City and this summer I am interning with the EEJ program. I was drawn to NASA as I believe scientific research, specifically the way it is conducted and communicated, has the potential to empower environmental justice communities historically excluded from these academic spaces. I think remote sensing data can be used to complement lived experiences shared by these groups and call attention to environmental inequities that often may otherwise go unaddressed.
Describe what your work is like at NASA. What’s your favorite part of the job so far?
As an EEJ intern, I’m responsible for writing a white paper identifying areas of opportunity for the EEJ program as well as the most effective outreach and management strategies. I also work on various other communications projects including creating a hyperwall presentation demonstrating EEJ work to present at conferences, creating project summaries, and developing a newsletter. My favorite part of the job so far is getting to meet so many other people who are also passionate about EJ and learning more about the ongoing EEJ projects at NASA!
What are your goals?
My goals for the term are to speak with people across the program and learn as much as I can about environmental justice and the way that research is conducted at NASA!
What are your hobbies?
Running, traveling, and waterskiing!
Kameron in her backyard
Kameron water skiing at Loon Lake in the Adirondacks
Kameron at Montserrat (outside of Barcelona where she studied abroad)
Name:
Izellah Sanchez
School and Major:
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Double majoring in Sociology and Geography
How did you get interested in environmental justice? What drew you to NASA?
Growing up in what is considered an environmental justice community, I became interested in understanding why communities like my own dealt with the burdens of pollution, contamination, etc. Much of my involvement with environmental justice first came about as I intended to learn of ways to mitigate the effects of environmental hazards and injustices. As I began to familiarize myself with the various histories of environmental justice communities, including my own, I began to feel compelled to continue to expand the scope of my environmental justice involvement with the hope of being able to bridge the gap between institutional resources and the communities that need them.
Thus, NASA was an intriguing next step as I thought it exciting to be able to work with what is largely known as a space agency, but to do work that focused on using NASA resources to address environmental justice concerns. I wanted to learn more about what NASA was doing regarding environmental justice and, ultimately, bring that knowledge back home!
Describe what your work is like at NASA. What’s your favorite part of the job so far?
So far, much of our work as interns has involved working with recent ROSES proposals. We have learned of the process and the details of the projects that aim to address various environmental justice concerns in different regions of the country.
My favorite part of the job so far has been working with the EJ team at NASA and learning of the different ways people are working to improve upon environmental justice work at NASA. Every intern has such unique paths, and each strives for different goals, it has been very exciting going into the work that we do knowing that there is much to learn from the different perspectives being brought from the team.
What are your goals?
As I am working to finish my undergraduate studies, I hope to continue to work within communities on mitigation efforts as well as familiarizing myself with environmental justice policies. While much is still unclear, I am currently thinking of pursuing a master’s in urban planning, and potentially going to law school to become an environmental lawyer.
What are your hobbies?
When I am not working on my academic or NASA intern duties, I like to thrift at the various thrift shops and flea markets here in Los Angeles! I love to upcycle clothing and help run a sustainable fashion club at UCLA!
Izellah visiting a greenhouse in Northampton, Massachusetts
Izellah tanding in front of an art display while attending the Hammer Museum’s annual Arts Party in Westwood, California
Name:
Madison Stephenson
School and Major:
Antioch College, Business Communication & Innovation, B.A.
How did you get interested in environmental justice? What drew you to NASA?
I was first introduced to the concept of environmental justice in my first year of college when I took an environmental science course. Like many of my studies throughout my college education, the course was rooted in an anthropological and sustainability lens, highlighting environmental inequities toward marginalized communities. Throughout the rest of my education and experiences at this small, liberal arts school, many of my practices were also rooted in sustainability. While my education has been centered in business and communication, it has also been through an anthropological lens also focusing on environmental justice and equity.
I had first heard about the internship at NASA through the Environmental Studies professor at my school and was hesitant to apply at first, in not having an Environmental studies or Science degree, but felt my uniquely focused education could be a great addition to the team.
Describe what your work is like at NASA. What’s your favorite part of the job so far?
So far, my work has been establishing the projects I would feel most comfortable making an impact with to provide the necessary materials and information needed to communicate the topic. The projects I am most heavily interested in pursuing and contributing to are the EJ Hyperwall graphic story and the Resource Guide. I am also very excited to arrange a White Paper centered around water quality and infectious disease and how EJ work can be done to improve conditions in these topics. Additionally, I am interested in specifically connecting the necessary information and resources to the specific communities affected by these EJ issues and am excited to talk more about how to go about doing this.
What are your goals?
My main goals in this internship are expanding my network into the necessary fields of these issues I am so passionate about relieving and contributing to. I believe this is the perfect place to be able to do so and learn from others already in the process of doing this work and those just beginning, like myself. I have a lot to learn from my peers and superiors and that is essentially my main goal as well as being able to make a significant contribution to the tasks and projects at hand.
What are your hobbies?
In my free time, I love to cook and bake, travel, spend time with my family and dog, and work on my side hustles and businesses. I own two small side businesses selling all natural, organic cosmetics and making sweet treats for catering purposes like cake pops, chocolate dipped pretzels, strawberries, cookies, etc.
Madison at Santa Monica Pier
Madison in Nashville, Tennessee with mom and sisters
Madison on a Grand Canyon trip with friends last spring break
Name:
Maribel Torres
School and Major:
B.A. in Psychology from California State University Northridge
How did you get interested in environmental justice? What drew you to NASA?
I became interested in environmental justice when I was in high school. My older sister got her B.A. in urban planning so she taught me about environmental injustices as food deserts, water contamination, and gentrification. It made me aware of my surroundings as I grew up in a low-income community and witnessed first-hand how issues such as gentrification impacted my community. It also encouraged me to notice the differences between my community and richer neighborhoods. For example, a few towns away from my house there is a landfill and plenty of houses located around it. The air quality is not healthy, yet the city decided to place a community so close to the landfill. This would never be allowed in a richer neighborhood, yet it was deemed appropriate for the working class. I am drawn to EJ because I want to make a difference and help marginalized communities from being taken advantage of. In college I was a member of the program ARCS (which is funded by NASA) and I worked on a diabetes project that was looking to identify how the resistance to use insulin pumps was impacted by a lack of trust. Through this project I learned how to operate in a research environment. Through this program I was able to connect with NASA and I learned of this project through the NASA STEM gateway website. Once I read the description, I knew I wanted to become a member of this project and work towards making a difference in my community.
Describe what your work is like at NASA. What’s your favorite part of the job so far?
So far, my work at NASA has consisted of attending weekly meetings and reading material provided by my mentors/peers. The weekly meetings would have to be my favorite part of the job because I like being able to connect with others. Since this is a virtual internship, the meetings allow me to integrate with the team.
What are your goals?
My goals are to strengthen my leadership skills. I grew up very introverted, so I had to learn how to advocate for myself and feel comfortable making decisions. I also want to learn from my peers. This team consists of unique members, and I want to learn different skills from everyone. Some members have great organizational techniques and I want to learn first-hand what their methods are like. This will hopefully inspire me to find what routine works for me, and allow me to strengthen my own skills.
What are your hobbies?
I enjoy hiking, reading, cooking, and I am currently learning how to play guitar.
Maribel and her sister hiking in Silver Falls, Oregon.
Maribel matching with the autumn leaves in Eugene, Oregon.
Name:
Nati Kurutach Phan (She/Her)
School and Major:
Tulane University: Bachelor of Science in Public Health
Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine: Master of Science in Public Health in Environmental Health Sciences
How did you get interested in environmental justice? What drew you to NASA?
Studying environmental health in New Orleans, we often had real world examples of environmental health issues from the city or surrounding areas used in our classes. In a city with such a strong sense of community, it was hard not to see the human impact of environmental injustice. The stories of marginalized communities of color being subjected to the numerous detrimental health effects of toxic waste exposure in areas close to my new home brought feelings of anger and frustration. It ignited a passion and determination to be a force that incites change for the community. This was personally meaningful to me because, as an Asian American I have experienced the value of living in a diasporic center. Living in a place surrounded by others who share your culture and ethnic background can relieve minority stress and help in feeling connected to your community. To think one’s entire community could be subjected to a slew of health hazards, in a place that should have been a space of safety and joy, struck me quite deeply. It is my firm belief that health is a human right, and this must encompass both physical and mental wellbeing.
When I finished my master’s program in environmental health, I wanted to expand my skillset in geospatial techniques for environmental justice. I applied to the NASA DEVELOP program as it seemed like a great fit for learning new skills and connecting with others that shared my passions. Participating in the Fall 2022 term at the Virtual Environmental Justice Node, I learned a great deal of technical skills, but I felt the most valuable part of the experience was what I learned from my teammates and how I connected with them all as people. I really enjoyed working with people from different disciplines, as we all shared a passion for environmental justice work and a curiosity to learn. Through my DEVELOP internship, I found out about the EEJ Research Support position, and it felt like a perfect transition to learning more about how NASA can participate in environmental justice work.
Describe what your work is like at NASA. What’s your favorite part of the job so far?
It has been exciting to be working in the EEJ program as it is in its early stages. However, it is also challenging at times. I believe NASA has a unique roll in the world of environmental justice, and with the field gaining more attention, we are all striving to put our best work forward. We are given a lot of freedom as interns to come up with creative solutions or ideas and explore our personal interests. I have had an interest in science communication and outreach, so I have been able to work on some of our communication materials for the program. I am also interested in the research to action aspect of environmental justice work. Especially with environmental justice research, I believe it is important for us to build trust, maintain relationships, and see things through. I have been researching ways we can make sure the research and work we do turns into actionable change for the community.
My favorite part of the job has been working with such a great a team. Similar to my experience with DEVELOP, our team is filled with a diverse array of knowledge. I have been so grateful to collaborate with and learn from my fellow teammates! We always have great conversations during our daily tag ups, and usually this is where we come up with our best ideas.
What are your goals?
As a recent graduate I am still figuring out my goals, but I hope to find where and how I can contribute my skills and passion to my fullest potential to create change. The things I love most about science are creative thinking, the ability to try, fail, and learn from our mistakes, and the fact that we’re always learning new things. I want to push more scientists to think in new ways and continue learning from people from different backgrounds and across different disciplines. I think that connection and collaboration between different, diverse groups of people is something that will be key in advancing environmental justice. I hope to continue learning from those around me and come up with new solutions that will bring positive change to those suffering environmental injustice.
What are your hobbies?
In my free time, I enjoy being creative through different outlets. I love trying out new forms of arts and crafts but most recently I have been enjoying crocheting, film photography, and working with clay. I also enjoy spending time outdoors with friends. When I lived in California, I would often go on hikes, but here in New Orleans I have opted more for bike rides through the city. I also love watching live music and trying new restaurants around New Orleans!
Nati and her friend Imani at their grad school graduation
Nati on a hike in Marin, California
Nati and her Virtual Environmental Justice DEVELOP teammates
Name: Molly Kimball
School and Major: Columbia University’s Climate School, Climate and Society (M.A)
How did you get interested in environmental justice? What drew you to NASA?
I grew up in an ethnically and racially diverse household. My two younger sisters were adopted from Haiti. I also have an older brother who is adopted and is of Hispanic/Puerto Rican background. My oldest brother is half Persian. My mother raised us to value ourselves for who we are inside and to be proud of both the cultures we come from and the cultures we meld into. Because of my unique upbringing, I knew at a young age that I wanted to go into a field that focused on social justice and equity—even if I didn’t always have the ability to articulate what that meant exactly.
By the time I entered high school, that was a pivotal moment for me. I took a social studies course called “global studies” which was in essence, a beginner’s guide in topics in international relations. I found the course to be extremely interesting and deeply enlightening. From that point forward, I knew I wanted to study political science through an international lens. When I started college, I knew early on Poli-Sci would be a major I would pursue.
I added Marine Affairs (environmental studies with a particular focus on the marine and coastal environment) to my studies because just as different groups of people have been undermined, so too has the natural environment. I knew from watching the news and reading, that climate change would continue to grow in urgency. As mentioned before, I grew up in a coastal community so going to the beach and just being out in nature was a daily occurrence for me and I was lucky to have grown up in a community that in general was healthy and thriving—but this is something I am fortunate to have grown up with and experienced—but that is not always the case. There are many communities and people who live in built environments made of concrete and steel who lack that kind of experience and opportunity and there are also communities who live in natural environments faced with pollution and exacerbated climate change impacts such as urban heat island, and it’s not fair.
I did not learn about “environmental justice” until mid-way into my studies in Marine Affairs— learning about the disproportionate environmental impacts and burdens that certain groups, particularly marginalized communities face—that for me, is when it all clicked. It almost felt like it was meant to be because I had ALL the pieces, I just needed that one connector piece and for me, environmental justice was that connecter piece that just made everything make sense, and that was very satisfying for me to discover.
What drew me to NASA initially was the “environmental justice” in the role’s title, “Environmental Justice Research Support.” “Research” is also another keyword for me. I knew this opportunity would be a good fit for me. I’ve engaged in many EJ research projects during my undergraduate studies and throughout my time in graduate school—I tailored both my Bachelors’ majors to fit an EJ lens. I’ve had the opportunity to explore EJ through different facets and intersections, including international EJ, gender EJ, public health EJ, and racial/ethnic EJ and most specifically, the impacts environmental degradation and climate change poses on indigenous groups/Native Americans, and black and brown Americans... I made it my goal to dedicate research projects on these varied topics. I have not settled on what area of climate/environment I want to focus on. I have kept my research varied and a bit broad—because I was so interested in exploring the different intersections of EJ and climate and exposing myself to many of the topics. Environmental justice is extremely interdisciplinary.
Describe what your work is like at NASA. What’s your favorite part of the job so far?
So far, I’m really enjoying the collaboration opportunities offered by the internship. Entering into this internship—I knew it would be a 100% remote role. I was a little tentative about how independent of an experience it may be. And while it’s true I am painfully shy and very introverted—I am really enjoying the Teams meetings I’ve attended. I’ve really enjoyed listening to the people I’ve met, and learning about their work, their experience, passions, and what new projects and efforts are being undertaken in the agency. I appreciate the digital collaboration that is integrated into the internship and/or is being offered optionally.
What are your goals?
My number one goal for this summer internship is to expand my professional network, and specifically to initiate networking opportunities with NASA interns and other colleagues across the agency. I plan to attend different online events that are offered through our NASA email—this is something I did not often take advantage of during my time in undergrad which I regret.
I would also like to organize at least one informational interview with someone from NASA who may be working in an area I find interesting or want to learn more about—to glean advice and knowledge from their experience. After this internship with NASA, I will be on the job/career hunt! As I mentioned, I do not exactly know what field in climate/environment I want to pursue in particular—the reason being, I am open to different career pathways, so the chance to connect and meet with someone from NASA would be useful in my career-finding journey!
What are your hobbies?
I love indoor rock climbing! I find it exhilarating. I’m not a super athletic person nor am I a competitive person either. However, rock climbing allows for me to challenge my own body without any of the external pressure from others. I can go at my own pace as I meticulously figure out my way up to the top, and when I reach the top, I feel such a thrill. It’s also never a bore to climb a rock wall because it takes strategy, balance, strength, and coordination to figure out your way to the top before you grapple down. Other hobbies of mine include swimming and walking along the beach, writing (specifically journaling), spending time with my family, friends, and partner, and playing with my kitties!
Molly with her partner in New York City (2023) 
Molly is a Columbia University M.A Graduate (2023)
Molly at a Volunteer Beach Clean Up in Narragansett, RI
Name: Saxon Stahl
School and Major: M.A. in Climate and Society at Columbia University’s Climate School
How did you get interested in environmental justice? What drew you to NASA?
I became interested in Environmental Justice while in undergrad at UC Santa Cruz, with majors in Environmental Studies and Political Science and was heavily involved with campus politics. UC Santa Cruz is situated by the forest of Henry Cowell State Park and the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fires displaced myself and other students on campus and left the forest surrounding our campus in imminent danger, however, it further affirmed my role of being at the forefront of advocating for resiliency measures to be implemented as “unprecedented events” were becoming, well, precedented, in the area and frankly, the rest of the world. Furthermore, I’m Pascua Yaqui and Diné (Navajo), so the importance of having Indigenous perspectives across different disciplines is imperative. Being here at NASA and already in close approximation to the Indigenous People’s Initiative is a great opportunity to be a part of the federal support for community advocacy and backing our advocacy with the fundamental research we produce.
Describe what your work is like at NASA. What’s your favorite part of the job so far?
I’ll be tasked with working on an array of individual and team projects that will range from leadership to team support roles for the EEJ Team. My favorite part is the exposure I’ll gain with NASA’s history of intellectual labor contributing to the advancement of science, technology, and exploration beyond terrestrial lines. In addition, working with a team of dedicated individuals to emphasize the importance of the projects the team is working on across different internal and external stakeholders is a plus in itself.
What are your goals?
My primary goal for this internship is to support the progression of the ongoing Landscape Analyses projects on behalf of the EEJ team and developing a White Paper topic that adds to the holistic effort of what we’re trying to accomplish through merging Environmental Justice and Data Analysis in a way that guides the Science Mission Directorate towards a continuous and equitable decision-making process.
What are your hobbies?
I’m an avid perfume collector with gourmands and white florals as my favorite scent families. I also love museums and my favorite artist is Claude Monet. I also dedicate time aside for rare extraterrestrial events that can be seen by the human eye, the last event I
Saxon at Columbia University graduation.
