Student Stories

Grace Toftner is a senior majoring in chemical engineering at the University of Arizona. In this Q&A, Grace talks about how her engineering background connects with her sustainability goals, how students can lead by example, and why caring about the environment matters no matter what you’re studying.

Aracely Rodriguez is a senior studying studio art at the University of Arizona. In this Q&A, Rodriguez discusses the connections between art and environmental justice, as well as how she uses art to fight for protecting our homelands and community.

Stephanie Winick is a senior double majoring in environmental science and Spanish. In this Q&A, Winick discusses the value of learning from other students, how intentional everyday actions can contribute to bigger change, and her goals to pursue a career dedicated to environmentalism.

Natural Resources and Public Management and Policy student Hope Barton shares how her rural upbringing shaped her passion for environmental justice and reflects on how nature and community have inspired her academic and professional journey.

Joey Bishop is a sophomore at the University of Arizona studying Optical Sciences & Engineering and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology with a minor in Marine Sciences. In this Q&A, Bishop discusses how he hopes to help people feel empowered to create change by connecting them more deeply with their environments both near and far.

Bianca Rodriguez is an incoming student planning on studying architecture at the University of Arizona. In this Q&A, she discusses what she's looking forward to during her first year at the U of A and share a reminder to appreciate the everyday beauty of Tucson amid the hustle and bustle of the school year.

About to begin his journey as a Wildcat this August, Ruben Aguirre shares what he's looking forward to as he starts his college career, his recommendations for surviving the Arizona heat, how growing up in the Sonoran Desert has influenced his view of the environment.

A University of Arizona junior majoring in biosystems engineering and dance, Katie Sweet embraces crossing disciplines and exploring new opportunities.