MESM 2027
Bio
Elena earned her Bachelor of Science in Anthropology and Geography, with a concentration in Environmental Studies and Sustainability, from California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo. As an undergraduate, she wrote her senior research paper on the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary and its management, which involved collaboration between the Chumash people and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). For this project, she created several GIS maps to illustrate the ranges of endangered species within existing sanctuaries.
After graduating, Elena completed two internships related to GIS. Her first internship was with the Student Conservation Association and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE), where she served as a GIS Inventory Team Member. She traveled nationwide to collect spatial data on USACE recreation and transportation assets. In her second internship, she worked as a GIS Technician for Ducks Unlimited, focusing on updating the National Wetland Inventory.
Building on her experience in wetland conservation and mapping, Elena is particularly interested in how GIS technology and Traditional Ecological Knowledge can inform adaptive strategies for water conservation and climate resilience. At Bren, she intends to specialize in Water Resources Management and Conservation Planning.