MESM 2024
Pronouns: she/her
Bio
Ashley Cooper is a Master of Environmental Science and Management candidate passionate about conservation policy. Ashley graduated from Duke University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science and Policy. As an undergraduate, she conducted participatory research in Chile to better understand the relationship between a community’s natural resource management and its economic wellbeing. Ashley continued to explore the intersection of environmental science and management as a social science research assistant at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) following graduation. Inspired by her drought adaptation and decision-making work at the USGS, Ashley joined the Natural Resources Defense Council’s (NRDC) Water & Wildlife team in San Francisco. During her time with NRDC, she addressed pressing freshwater management questions, including urban water management, wetland protection, and multi-benefit freshwater conservation planning. At Bren, Ashley plans to specialize in Coastal Marine Resources Management. She looks forward to expanding her conservation experience beyond freshwater work to include marine and terrestrial efforts. After completing her master’s, Ashley hopes to build a career in environmental policy to ensure effective, equitable natural resource management.