Winter 2020 Contributors

Alex Anderson

Alex Anderson is a senior majoring in Environmental Science, and minoring in Planning & Public Policy. She is a part of the SEBS Honors Program and Douglass Residential College. Her past experiences include research with Dr. Lisa Rodenburg of the Environmental Science Department, interning abroad at the US Embassy in Rome, Italy in the Environment, Science, Technology, and Health Section, and interning at the NJ Public Health Laboratory where she lead a team testing blood lead levels of Newark mothers and babies. She is also a DRC Red Pine Ambassador, worked for Women Organizing Against Harassment’s “Take Back the Night” march as an organizer and Speak Out Emcee, and a Barbara Vorhees Mentor. Alex has served for four years as a Cook/Douglass Representative to the Rutgers University Student Assembly (RUSA), and served as the Internal Affairs Chair on the Executive Board. She hopes to work someday as an Environmental Policy lawyer on international treaties.

Aliya Ali

My name is Aliya! I am in my fourth year as a nutritional science major. My goals are to become a Registered Dietician after graduation. I will be graduating from Rutgers in the fall of 2020. I am actively involved in the Nutrition Club and a member of Kappa Omicron Nu, National Honor Society for Human Sciences. I worked as a dietary aide in a nursing home where I get shadow dieticians and learn more about my career. I have a passion to volunteer and work with others. I volunteer at the Youth Empowerment Services with the RU Healthy Kids New Brunswick, Elijah’s Promise, and more recently RAH: Rutgers against Hunger. I have always had an interest in food and living healthy. My passion for food has expanded as I dive deeper into my degree. I am excited to go to Thailand to learn about the practices of sustainability and agriculture, as well create unforgettable memories with the people I will spend time with during the course of this international duration.

Catherine Powell

I am currently a fourth year student in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. I am studying Marine Science with a minor in Environmental Policy, Institutions, and Behavior. My passions involve the future of sustainability of our everyday lives and the marriage of environmental policy with the climate-driving applications of our oceans. I have conducted research in the past on sea level rise effects on coastal dune vines and possible conservation efforts. I have also worked on projects regarding the intensification of hurricanes in the Atlantic. I plan to go into policy work involving the environment and possibly attend graduate school in that field.

Francesca Buchalski

Hi, I’m Francesca, a sophomore majoring in Animal Science with the pre-veterinary track. I’ve had a passion for animals since I was a little girl, and as I’ve grown, so has my passion! I’ve always been especially excited about the science behind animals and the environment, and to this day I love exploring and learning about the natural world. At SEBS, I’m trying to take advantage of every hands-on opportunity I can get my hands on—pun very much intended! I thoroughly enjoy participating in equine research with the Rutgers Equine Science Center, and I’m so excited to (hopefully) be taking my first Animal Practicum course this coming spring semester. I am also an avid equestrian, and have been riding horses for over eleven years. When I’m not studying or helping out at the Equine Science Center, you can usually find me training my off-the-track-Thoroughbred, Atlas. Between school and riding, I’m usually very busy, but when I can find some down-time, I like to fill it with creative, relaxing activities—singing, writing, and birdwatching, just to name a few.

Madeline Procopi

Hello, my name is Madeline Procopi! I am a junior at Rutgers University, majoring in Animal Science on the pre-vet track, as well as minoring in Environmental and Business Economics. I plan on applying to veterinary schools in the summer of 2020. I am so excited to be going to Belize through the C.E.L.A. Large Animal Veterinary Practice in the Tropics program this winter. I have had only limited experience with large animals, so I am looking forward to the hands-on skills I will learn in Belize that I can then take with me to veterinary school. This is going to be a great opportunity to meet new people, work with animals, and embrace a new culture!

Megan Wang

Hi there- my name is Megan, and I'm a junior majoring in food science and minoring in microbiology and sustainability. I'm actually a bit of a homebody, and my hobbies until recently were mainly limited to cooking/baking, knitting, gardening, playing the piano, and other domestic activities. I love spending time with my family. But as attending Rutgers has taught me, there is so much more world out there than we could ever hope to see in a single lifetime, and a single lifetime is all we have. So why not study abroad? Why not take what you learn in the classroom and see it play out in a different cultural context? I'm hoping to return home from the Food and Sustainability in Thailand program with a broader perspective and a better understanding of the paths I can take with a future in food science.

Ryan Kirchner

My name is Ryan Kirchner and I am a senior here at Rutgers. I am excited to say this is my second time studying abroad with the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences and I cannot wait to see what I learn in Thailand during the Food and Sustainability course this winter break. Soon, I will be graduating with a degree in food science and I am optimistic that I will be able to apply what I experience abroad to my career post undergrad. I have never been to this part of the world before and I am extremely excited to see it first hand while learning about different aspects of food science that can strengthen my performance in the field. When not in school, you can find me working and volunteering as an EMT for both Rutgers University and my hometown of Clinton, long distance running, or cooking at home. Stay tuned and follow mine and my classmates travel blogs to keep up with this awesome adventure.

Veronica Useche

Hello, I am a rising junior, class of 2022, majoring in Animal Science on a Pre-veterinary medicine/Research track. I will be attending the “Large Animal Veterinary Practice in the Tropics” program provided by CELA Belize where I will be exploring hands on veterinary examination techniques, animal agriculture, and laboratory specimens. I am excited to further my knowledge on animal medicine while delving into the Belizean culture.

Victoria Armas

Hi, my name is Victoria Armas. I am currently a junior at Rutgers, majoring in Animal Science Pre-Vet. I intend to pursue a career with exotic animals, and get my license in Veterinary Science. During Spring break, I will be studying abroad in South Africa, Africa. Within this program, I can gain hands on experience with wild animals such as rhinos, giraffes, and antelopes. Working with these types of animals is like a dream. I would've never thought I would get the chance to travel to a foreign country, and work with some of my favorite types of animals. Thank you SEBS for helping me in my journey, and giving me the opportunity to follow my dreams.