People

Scholars

Mason Henry Avelar

  • 2022 Cohort
  • CSU Channel Islands, Class of 2023
  • EERREC: Andrew Whitehead lab
Mason Henry graduated in May 2023 and joined the Scott Loss lab at Oklahoma State University as a field technician. He worked with graduate student Tucker Taylor to study the interplay between birds and the ticks they carry, and woody plant encroachment in grasslands. He's now employed by the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology as a museum and field research assistant.

Nitse Avila

  • 2024 Cohort
  • Sacramento City College
  • EERREC: Laci Gerhart lab
  • 2025 Cohort
  • Sacramento City College
  • EEWL: Kate Laskowski Lab
Nitse returned to Sac City College for a final year in preparation for transfer to a four-year institution. Fingers crossed for admission to UC Davis!

Molly Clemons

  • 2021 Cohort
  • Sonoma State University, Class of 2023
  • EERREC: Jennifer Gremer lab
Molly graduated from Sonoma State University in May 2023. After a fellowship with the California Climate Action Corps at St. Mary's College in Moraga to teach regenerative agriculture techniques, she began a position as an ecosteward conservation technician with the Contra Costa Resource Conservation District.

Brooke Culler

  • 2022 Cohort
  • Cal Poly Humboldt, Class of 2023
  • EERREC: Emily Meineke lab
Brooke Culler incorporated her EERREC research into a senior honors thesis, and will soon begin a MS program at Cal Poly Humboldt. In June 2024, Brooke wrote, "The work did with Dr. Meineke is still ongoing! We're currently working together, along with several other co-authors, to get that research published... I'm also working as an on-call biologist for an environmental consulting company while I pursue my masters at Cal Poly Humboldt."

Kenneth Damper

  • 2023 cohort
  • Truman State University, Class of 2024
  • EERREC REU: Kate Laskowski lab
Kenny is headed back to California by way of Wisconsin! Kenny will join the Peery Wildlife Ecology + Conservation lab at the University of Wisconsin, where he will work on a program to remove invasive barred owls from forests in Mendocino County.

Avery Davis

  • 2022 Cohort
  • Elon College, Class of 2023
  • EERREC: Nann Fangue lab
Avery, a 2023 graduate of Elon College, has a position with the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute as a Reintroduction Assistant. She'll work to reintroduce vulnerable species, such as Lake Sturgeon, brook trout, darters, and other aquatic animals, back into the Tennessee River. In Fall 2024, Avery will join the lab of Kit Wheeler at Tennessee Tech to study the federally threatened Spotfin Chub.

Philip Duchild

  • 2023 cohort
  • Pomona College, Class of 2024
  • EERREC REU: Jay Stachowicz lab

Makayla Finn

  • 2024 Cohort
  • California State University, Fullerton
  • EERREC: Elizabeth Crone Lab

Nicole Flores

  • 2024 Cohort
  • Sacramento City College
  • EERREC: Rachel Vannette lab

Caleb Freeman

  • 2021 Cohort
  • Howard University, Class of 2023
  • EERREC: Andrew Whitehead lab
In 2022, Caleb will be part of the Blandy Experimental Farm REU (University of Virginia).