MESM 2025
Pronouns: she/her
Bio
As a Forest Sustainability Fellow at Bren, Kelsey Warren is specializing in Conservation Planning with a Communication focus. She graduated summa cum laude from UCLA in 2022 with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Environmental Systems and Society. During her undergraduate career, Kelsey captained the UCLA marine research vessel and published a paper investigating the timing of phytoplankton blooms off the coast of California. She then taught environmental field courses in Hawai’i and New Zealand, educating undergraduates about island and alpine ecosystems. In these courses, Kelsey collaborated with Native Hawaiian and Māori communities to blend Western conservation practices with indigenous science. Living in Tahoe, CA, her interest in marine systems shifted into a passion for forest conservation. Kelsey currently volunteers with the Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation to establish conservation efforts at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area that will benefit both skiers and whitebark pines. She is excited about engaging outdoor recreationists as citizen scientists in this project. Kelsey hopes to contribute to future conservation science that is guided by indigenous land stewardship and offers environmental education opportunities to surrounding communities.