PhD Student
Education
BA, Geology and Environmental Studies, Cornell College
Bio
Cali Pfleger, a first-year PhD student, graduated from Cornell College in Mount Vernon, IA in 2020 where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in both Geology (with honors) and Environmental Studies. As an undergraduate, Cali was the president of both the Environmental and Geology Clubs while also serving as one of two student representatives on Cornell’s Sustainability Task Force. While serving as the president of the Environmental Club she implemented sustainable practices in the dining facilities along with organizing and leading a climate strike. During her undergraduate studies she spent two summers as a Guest Student at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in Woods Hole, MA where she used model-proxy synthesis to investigate the hydroclimatic response to large volcanic eruptions over the Last Millennium. At WHOI, she learned a variety of analytical techniques; SIMS, XRF, LA-ICP-MS and ICP-OES in order to look at trace elements released from volcanic eruptions and are captured in Australian stalagmite matrices.
Cali is passionate about advocating for sustainable changes along with her research interests in investigating the hydroclimatic response to anthropogenic climate change. At the Bren School, she is pursuing a PhD in Environmental Science and Management and plans to advance her climate modeling research with the goal to continue within academia post-graduation.
Year Admitted
2020
Faculty Advisor
Samantha Stevenson