Next-Gen Scholars Program

The University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) Next-Gen Scholars program offers first-year MS/MLA students access to strengths-based support and the opportunity to be part of a small cohort across SEAS specializations. Cohort members have unique backgrounds as first-generation students, Pell Grant recipients, and underrepresented students. The students in the program have an interest in consciously contributing to diversity, equity and inclusion both at SEAS and in the professional world of sustainability. 

The program has been designed to help scholars develop their personal potential while building a reliable and supportive community—the start of a growing professional network. It also offers a mentorship component, which has been designed to help students chart their paths to realize aspirations, allowing them to build a lasting relationship with someone who can help them grow both personally and as professionals in the environmental and sustainability fields. 

SEAS welcomed the first cohort of NextGen Scholars in the fall of 2022. 

• Carlina Arango, Environmental Policy and Planning
• Lauren Bennett, Ecosystem Science and Management
• Jamie Brackman, Environmental Policy and Planning
• Grace Carbeck, Landscape Architecture
• Christina Contreras, Landscape Architecture
• Maria Di Cresce, Ecosystem Science and Management
• Mary Edwards, Sustainability and Development
• Abril Galang, Behavior, Education and Communication
• Alexa Garnet, Landscape Architecture
• Deanna Geelhoed, Environmental Justice
• Megan Gross, Environmental Justice
• Warren Gunn, Sustainability and Development
• L’Oreal Hawkes, Sustainable Systems
• Nayethzi Hernandez, Ecosystem Science and Management
• Laramie Jeude, Ecosystem Science and Management
• Annie Katheiser, Sustainability and Development
• Jacob Kennedy, Environmental Justice
• Lora Kralik, Sustainable Systems
• Latia Leonard, Environmental Policy and Planning
• Praveen Mahendran, Sustainable Systems
• Anastasia Marie, Landscape Architecture
• Kaia McKenney, Landscape Architecture
• TK McKenzie, Environmental Justice
• Megan McLaughlin, Geospatial Data Sciences
• Summer Mengarelli, Geospatial Data Sciences
• Taylor Mitchell, Sustainable Systems
• Maya Morgan, Ecosystem Science and Management
• Tre’Nard Morgan, Environmental Justice
• Alifaire Noreen, Sustainability and Development
• Lars Panquin, Sustainability and Development
• Jayna Sames, Landscape Architecture
• Cameron Scharff, Environmental Justice
• Naajia Shakir, Environmental Justice
• Japjyot Singh, Environmental Justice
• April Sunid, Environmental Policy and Planning
• Valerie Tafoya, Ecosystem Science and Management
• Sailing Tang, Geospatial Data Sciences
• Dominique Valentine, Ecosystem Science and Management
• Kristina (Tina) Waterbury, Ecosystem Science and Management
• Caleb Wegener, Ecosystem Science and Management
• Savannah Whaley, Environmental Justice
• Haley Willman, Sustainable Systems