MESM 2022
Bio
Janelle Gaun graduated from the University of Arizona in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Hydrology and Water Resources. As an undergraduate student, she worked as a park ranger at Grand Canyon National Park, where she led backcountry education trips for middle and high school students. These early career experiences fostered a respect for the diverse relationships people have with the environment that remains a central pillar in all her work. After graduating, Janelle studied freshwater springs at Saguaro National Park before transitioning to a role with the Arizona Land and Water Trust, a small non-profit in Tucson. There she assisted agricultural producers protect private and public land and find creative strategies to sustain the water resources of the region. While at the Trust, Janelle was exposed to the challenges and opportunities of environmental conservation in rural communities, where conservation initiatives struggle to incorporate local community needs and secure sustainable funding. Inspired by the need for creative solutions that foster social and economic health, Janelle will focus on Economics and Politics and Water Resource Management. While at Bren, her goal is to gain the skills to develop measurable, scalable strategies to preserve the West’s vibrant lands and waters.