Hi, my name is Teo (they/them) and I am from Phoenix, Arizona. I am a rising senior in between a couple of majors right now. I am involved in Familia and Sibs at Wellesley, two student orgs on campus, and I am a Scoop and Cafe Hoop member. I like to skate and play basketball in my free time. Around Wellesley, I like to swing near the chapel and walk around with my friends. At home, I like to spend time with my parents and siblings. I am doing the Paulson Initiative internship this summer because I am interested in learning more about the plants and animals living on the Wellesley campus and seeing how they all work to coexist in this space. 

My name is Rachel Carethers (she/her). I am class of 2024 at Wellesley College with an interest in Environmental Studies with Economics or Architecture. I am curious about the merging of environmental knowledge, design, and human-environment interactions to develop conservation strategies and regenerative innovation for the purpose of strengthening existing communities with cultural competency. I enjoy long walks, and reading historical fiction, about nature, and cultures around the world. I am excited to explore and engage with the landscape and better learn how to communicate and document all that I learn through the Paulson Initiative!

Hi! My name is Katherine Muniz (she/her) and I'm from Los Angeles, CA. I'm class of 2022 and an Environmental Studies major at Wellesley. On campus, you can spot me dancing with Cielito Lindo, conducting environmental chemistry research, or taking pictures of all things ~nature~. At home, I spend my time exploring the city to try new foods and satisfy my ice cream obsession. I am very passionate about climate change and want to learn all aspects of it. Through the Paulson Initiative Internship, I hope to learn more about systemic racism of the landscape and become more environmentally conscious of my surroundings.

Hesper (she/hers) is a sophomore on the pre-med track, majoring in American Studies. She grew up in Los Angeles, California but moved to Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas a few years ago… as you can tell ~autumn~ in Massachusetts (and basically any weather outside of humid and/or scorching heat) was a very pleasant surprise for her. Some of her favorite pastimes include reading, painting, listening to poetry and podcasts, and exploring ethereal places in nature (like the riverbank at Wellesley with willow trees and frogs)!

As a first generation, low income student and Vietnamese American woman she often struggled with the notion of ‘belonging’, but taking things one step at a time and basking in our vast, endearing world has helped immensely. While at Wellesley, she came to love many aspects of nature, including the bewitching, (somewhat) eerie croaking and chirping of various nocturnal animals, pitter-pattering and petrichor of heavy rainfalls, and comforting, lovely gardens.

Through the Paulson Initiative, she hopes to continue learning, reflecting, and cultivating inclusive, meaningful connections with our community and nature.

Roxie Miles ’23 is a New England transplant from coastal Northern California, and is an enthusiastic (although not altogether talented) runner, hiker, and camper. Her love for the natural word was fostered in the redwood forests and foggy beaches of her home state, although she has since fallen in love with how Massachusetts’ regularly rotating seasons are splayed across the deciduous trees on campus. She is majoring in Political Science, and is passionate about community-centered environmental justice. She applied to the Paulson Initiative after being drawn to its interdisciplinary approach to environmental education, as well as its commitment to adopting anti-racist practices in naturalist work.

Hello! My name is Dayna De La Cruz, and I am currently a first-generation college senior majoring in Biology and minoring in Global Portuguese Studies. Although I have been living in a city (Houston, Texas) for most of my life, I am pursuing a career as a field researcher and have had several seasons at Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, Harvard Forest and abroad in Peru through the School for Field Studies. I feel extremely blessed to already be involved in my dream job and plan on earning a Ph.D. in ecology. Not only do I gain amazing knowledge as a field worker, but am out in nature for most of it! I am passionate about science inclusivity and have opened up a scientific Instagram (@data_dayna) where I make my research understandable to wide audiences. Please feel free to follow and interact! I enjoy a good hike as it is a perfect way to explore the natural beauty around Texas. My favorite thing to do at Wellesley is to hammock in front of the lake while listening to music, eating fruit and doing work. I am participating in the Paulson Initiative Internship because I want to continue growing my relationship with nature. I believe this amazing organization truly has the ability of turning the campus (or any surrounding) into a living laboratory.

My name is Jada Onwuta, and I'm Class of 2024 majoring in Cognitive Science with a Concentration in Computer Science and a potential minor in Chemistry. I was born in Boston and moved to San Diego, CA a few years ago. Moving cross-country from one port city to another really opened my eyes to the kind of connections we develop to the land. I strive to be unapologetically in love with the natural world, and I want to share my joy with anyone and everyone!! I love open-world games and very beautiful scenery, creatively writing about anything and everything, and lots of music. I’m doing the Paulson internship to round out my time spent in STEM classrooms and to nurture my growth as a human being that deserves love and care.