Jocelyn is a first-generation Latina college student that will be graduating with a degree in Environmental Systems Science this spring. She grew up the eldest of four sisters in the district of Canal, a barrio community surrounded by environmental injustices in San Rafael, California. There, she led an urban farm to provide locally grown produce to marginalized families impacted by food insecurity. Her passion for natural science and social justice started in her hometown and traveled with her from the Bay Area to the Central Valley. At UC Merced, Jocelyn engaged in interdisciplinary coursework that inspired her interests in field ecology, natural science education, and environmental justice. Despite learning virtually for a part of her undergraduate career, Jocelyn had the opportunity to work with Dr. Emily Moran as a fieldwork student assistant where she traveled throughout Sierra Nevada to assess forest trees’ response to environmental change. She also worked with Dr. Rebecca Ryals as a student fellow for a podcast project shedding light on the impacts of industrial agriculture in the San Joaquin Valley and the intersectional approaches established to create change. In the spring, she also helped collect data for the UC Merced Phenology Project at the Merced Vernal Pool and Grassland Reserve. This summer, she will be working with Dr. Jason Sexton as a plant science technician for projects in Sierran ecology and conservation. Jocelyn is grateful for her experiences at UC Merced and all the support she received along the way.
