What inspired your interest in Planetary Health?

I grew up in Seattle, where a love and respect for the natural world was deeply woven into the culture. Being surrounded by lush forests, mountains, and the Puget Sound, I was constantly in nature growing up. Environmental stewardship wasn't just something we talked about; it was ingrained in our everyday lives, from the curriculum in school and values of the community as a whole. A huge part of that awareness came from recognizing the Native communities who have long cared for this land, teaching us what it means to truly respect and protect the planet. In Washington, where there are so many prominent Native American communities continue to lead in environmental advocacy, it always felt clear that we were privileged to live on Native land and with that privilege comes responsibility.

In college, I studied Political Science and Environmental & Ecosystem Sciences. This gave me the chance to dive deeper into the policy and science behind the environmental values I grew up with. I learned how laws, conservation efforts, and sustainable practices shape the communities we live in and the broken systems that we have to function within to try and make meaningful change. It was also during college that I discovered event planning. What started as organizing student events quickly turned into a passion for creating events with purpose. Focusing on how events could foster community, inspire action, and reflect the values of sustainability and inclusivity.

Bringing these worlds together, I see Planetary Health as an opportunity to merge science, policy, and public engagement to create events that are catalysts for conversation and action.

Tell us about your Planetary Health work at JHU

At the Institute for Planetary Health I design and execute events that foster collaboration, build community, and amplify the institute's mission to catalyze scholarship and practice in Planetary Health across JHU. With over seven years of experience planning events across universities and industries, I am dedicated to creating gatherings that are engaging but also sustainable and impactful.

I am passionate about the intersection of event planning and environmental responsibility. Through my work at JHIPH I have had the opportunity to further explore waste-conscious event strategies that minimize environmental impact while maximizing engagement. My primary focus is on reimagining events as platforms for collaboration and community-building, ensuring that each program leaves a lasting impression—not just in the moment, but in the way attendees connect and take action beyond the event itself.

I am particularly interested in how academic institutions can lead by example in sustainable event practices, integrating thoughtful material choices, ethical sourcing, financial sustainability, and innovative programming to align with planetary health goals.

What excites you about the future of Planetary Health?

What excites me about Planetary Health, as an event organizer, is the opportunity to rethink how we live, work, and collaborate in ways that benefit both people and the planet. It's exciting to sit down and explore how an event can be not only more accessible but also more responsible and sustainable in every aspect—then see those principles take root in future events. There's something incredibly rewarding about witnessing another event adopt similar practices to your own and to lead by practice.

Planetary Health feels like an open invitation to break down preconceived ideas of what an event should be and instead ask: What can an event become? It's about reimagining events as catalysts for change—where sustainability, creativity, and impact go hand in hand.

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