Melissa Rivas Hernandez

Pronouns:  she/her

Bio
Melissa Rivas Hernandez is a first generation graduate from the University of California, Merced, with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Systems Science. During her undergraduate studies, she interned for the Sustainable Foods Programs where she helped coordinate food security events within the city of Merced through the People's Fridge initiative, which aimed to combat the issue of food insecurity and food waste in the city of Merced. Additionally, she researched the impact of temperature and moisture availability concerning pine tree's health and survivability in the Sierra Nevadas for the Moran lab and contributed to other climate and plant adaptation research projects. After graduating, she interned for the Natural Resources Defense Council's climate and energy program where she collaborated and formulated clean transportation policies. She co-authored a blog, titled, "Breathing in Harm: The Toll of Freight Pollution in California". Driven by environmental justice and her curiosity in various environmental topics, her mission is to promote and bridge equitable access and diversity by addressing the disproportionate impacts on people of color and low income communities. At Bren, Melissa plans to specialize in Environmental Policy and Water Resources & Management to deepen her scientific background in pursuit of becoming an environmental scientist.