MESM 2025
Pronouns: she/her
Bio
Natalie Mayer is a Master of Environmental Science and Management student who is interested rainwater catchment and water equity in California. Natalie was born and raised in Southern California, and she graduated from UC Davis in 2019 with a B.A. in Biological Sciences. After her undergraduate education, Natalie worked as a high school math and science teacher with an emphasis in Biology and Chemistry between 2019-2023 in Ojai, CA. During this time, Natalie pitched and designed an Environmental Science & Global Impact course focused on local issues such as unsustainable logging in the Los Padres National Forest, endangerment of native species, and diminishing water levels of the Matilija and Lake Casitas dams. She also helped create a Green Initiative program which encouraged students to conserve water, compost, cultivate a community garden, and reduce plastic waste. This work inspired Natalie to contribute to California’s efforts to conserve water directly through environmental policy. She continues to teach as a Graduate Student Instructor for the Earth Science department at UC Santa Barbara. Natalie plans to use her degree to innovate water resource management to better serve the people and ecosystems of California.