Environmental Leaders

Interested in becoming a project leader? Learn more about the Leadership Program and how to apply. To see past ELP projects, see the Environmental Center annual reports.

Delaney Akridge

Majors: International Studies and Political Science

Expected Graduation: Spring 2023

Hometown: Jacksonville, Fla

Community Partner: Florida Native Plant Society, Ixia Chapter

My name is Delaney Akridge and I am a sophomore majoring in International Studies and

Political Science. I am also minoring in French and hope to live there someday. My dream is to become a lawyer with a concentration in international law, hopefully working overseas and living in a French-speaking country.

Adremae Alotaya

Major: Nutrition and Dietetics

Expected Graduation: Spring 2021

Hometown: Jacksonville, Fla

Community Partner: Center for Nutrition and Food Security

Food has always been my passion and I have used cooking as a way to express my creative side. This past year I become involved with Food Fighters at UNF and was able to see the positive impact the program has had in food insecure areas and home bound seniors around Jacksonville. Food Fighters ignited my passion for community work, and I am excited to be a part of the ECLP to learn more about the environmentally conscious programs in Jacksonville. I hope to apply the skills I will learn in the ECLP to serve my community through community health and dietetics.

Sophia Bertolino

Majors: Political Science and Criminal Justice

Hometown: Boca Raton, Fla.

Expected Graduation: Spring 2023

Community Partner: Timucuan Parks Foundation

Hello, my name is Sophia Bertolino I'm from Boca Raton Florida. I am currently majoring in political science and criminal justice and I am minoring in law. I am expected to graduate in spring of 2023. I am currently a sophomore in college. I am involved in the environmental center leadership program and I am a member of alpha chi omega. This is my 5th semester here at the University of North Florida.

Laurel Dalton

Major: Interdisciplinary Studies (Concentration: Environmental Studies)

Hometown: Tallahassee

Expected Graduation: Spring 2021

Community Partner: Community Gardens, Dr. Closmann

I am participating in the Environmental Center Leadership Program to help me develop my leadership and networking skills to prepare me for my future career in helping the environment. I have grown up hiking and appreciating nature as well as enjoying various creative pursuits including drawing, painting, sewing, acting, and playing instruments. I am also pursuing a minor in art and hope to utilize my creative talents in helping to protect the environment. I am excited to get to know fellow students, community partners, and others in the community who are passionate about the environment and to make a positive impact in the community.

Erin DelGrosso

Major: Interdisciplinary Studies- Environmental Studies

Expected Graduation: Spring 2021

Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Fla

Community Partner: Environmental Rights Maps/Environmental (In)Justice in Jacksonville

As a senior, I am very excited about making my last year in college impactful with the ECLP. I have always loved nature, but now I am passionate about protecting our planet and the people and animals on it and I hope to make it a central part of my future career. My favorite things include learning, reading, listening to pop music, traveling, and thrifting.

Lena Elemam

Major: Exercise science

Expected Graduation:

Hometown: Mansoura, Egypt

Community Partner: Center for Nutrition and Food Security

In the spring semester of my freshman year I was fortunate enough to be accepted in the Environmental Center Leadership Program (ECLP). My passion to help the environment made me very interested in being a part of this program. I began learning more about the program to work with a community partner with a project. Due to my extreme interest in helping my environment I wrote a children's character book about climate change. My book addresses the topic, climate change, in an easy way for little kids to understand. It also explains the bad habits that affect the environment negatively and tells them how to help our environment positively.

Kristin Gonzalez

Major: Nutrition and Dietetics

Expected Graduation: Spring 2021

Hometown: Weston, Fla

Community Partner: Feeding North East Florida

In the past year, since attending the University of North Florida, I have grown a new compassion for volunteer work that I did not know I had in me. I started volunteering with UNF Food Recovery and began to see the impact that it has in our community! My goal is to share my passion for healthy living through food. I hope to impact my community through helping to live a healthier life.

Alec Gunn

Major: Civil Engineering

Hometown: Jacksonville, Fla

Expected Graduation: Summer 2021

Community Partner: St. Johns Riverkeeper

Growing up in Florida and having access to the water has instilled in me a passion for the environment and marine ecosystem. I have been able to experience the state's beauty, and desire to protect it for future generations to enjoy. I am pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering and a certificate for specialization in Coastal Engineering. My hobbies have taught me skills relating to construction, electrical, boating, and most recently I have been involved with classic cars, with my personal project being a custom built 1964 Ford F100 pickup truck. I have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge both in classes and working on projects, and I hope to one day put my abilities to use relating to environmental conservation and design.

Jordan "Rory" Hampson

Majors: Political Science: Public Administration & Public Policy, and Sociology

Expected Graduation:

Hometown:

Community Partner: Springfield Preservation and Revitalization (SPAR)

I am an eighteen-year-old studying Sociology and Political Science at the University of North Florida. I believe myself to be a hard worker. I have perpetually put the needs of others before myself, and have proven to employers, supervisors, peers, and family that I am both trustworthy and responsible. I greatly value my education, and I put my best effort into my jobs, activities, and acquisition of knowledge. My desire to work with the Environmental Center Leadership Program stems from my care for the environment and serving my community through deliberate action. I hope to be paired with a fantastic business partner within our local Jacksonville community that will teach me about their interaction with the local economy and how they are impacting the environment. I would also like to learn about their direction with their company and how local, state, and federal policies affect their ability to perform meaningful work.

Waheed Khalili

Major: Biology

Expected Graduation:

Hometown:

Community Partner: Environmental Center

My name is Waheed Khalili, I am a second year undergraduate student here at the University of North Florida. Though I was originally born in London, I've lived in Jacksonville for a majority of my life and consider it to be my home. After university, I have aspirations of attending medical school and working as a primary care doctor in impoverished areas.

Hannah Kim

Major: Biology, Biomedical Science
Expected Graduation: 2023
Hometown: Jacksonville, Fla
Community Partner: My Green Doctor

I am currently a sophomore where I am studying in hopes to be involved in the health care field. I love to get involved within my campus by joining clubs and volunteering for my community where by joining the Environmental Center Leadership Program not only aligns with a lot of my goals and values but found that this opportunity will allow me to express the importance of our Earth and impact our community positively. What I do during my free time is run with my dog and currently trying to learn how to surf!

Ivan Korostenskij

Major: Biology

Expected Graduation: Fall 2023

Hometown: Vilnius, Lithuania

Community Partner: UNF Ogier Gardens

From the beginning of high school, I already knew I wanted to make an impact on my community. For years I explored options of service - being active in Habitat for Humanity, volunteering for my local public library, becoming a counselor for the Crisis Text Line, and much more. I so much enjoyed making a positive impact on the communities I was a part of that I continue to serve in all different kinds of ways even now. Coming into college and working through my major as a biology student, I was able to combine my passion for science and my want to help my community by getting involved in environmental advocacy. The Environmental Center Leadership Program (ECLP) is a perfect example of an opportunity for me to both grow and make a difference. Not only do I get to partner up with a sponsor to further my outreach and instrument real change in my community, but I get to take on a leadership role in doing so. Moving between Lithuania and Finland for 8 years, I moved to the US in 2008. I am a native Russian speaker and look to increase representation and involvement of my culture in medical and research professional fields.

Lexi Lindsley

Major: Biology

Hometown: Palm Coast, Fla.

Expected Graduation: Fall 2021

Community Partner: Duval Audubon Society

I am a Biomedical major at the University of North Florida, but I have always had a passion for the environment. I am fortunate enough to have been able to live in close proximity to the ocean my entire life, resulting in me developing a deep connection with it. Yet, the beach is only a small aspect of nature that I thoroughly appreciate. With the help of the Environmental Center Leadership Program I intend on creating a project that will have a positive impact resonating far beyond my local community.

Alexandra Marshall

Major: Biology

Hometown: Coral Springs, Fla.

Expected Graduation: 2023

Community Partner: Beaches Go Green

I'm currently a sophomore at UNF. I am originally from sunny South Florida by the Everglades. The main focus on my ELP project is more awareness for pollution. Since I can remember, I've always volunteered for things that deal with the environment; for example, I love doing beach clean-ups and park clean-ups. I also love to paint to express my creative side.

Mark Nugent

Major: Psychology

Hometown: Chicago

Expected Graduation:

Community Partner: Duval Audubon Society

My name is Ryan Nugent and I am a 4th year student here at the University of North Florida studying Psychology. I am originally from Chicago, Illinois, but moved to Jacksonville when I was ten years old. Aside from conducting research, studying for exams, and attending classes, I love to watch movies with my friends and cook various meals for my family. To me, Jacksonville is such a great city to live in because of its beautiful beaches, delicious restaurants, and great people. I am beyond grateful to be part of the Environmental Center Leadership Program because I know I will have a part in maintaining the gorgeous landscape that this city has to offer.

Maria Pugliese

Major: Electrical Engineering

Expected Graduation: Spring 2023

Hometown: Jacksonville, Fla

Community Partner: UNF Ogier Gardens

My name is Maria Pugliese and I am a sophomore majoring in Electrical Engineering. In the future, I would like to combine my interests in sustainability with engineering for a potential career in sustainable development. Although I am interested in everything related to environmentalism, I want to focus my time on sustainability and renewable energy. I am always open to exploring new opportunities and my goal is to improve my leadership and communication skills by giving back to my community!

Elena Pullumbi

Major: Political Science and International Studies

Hometown: Jacksonville, Fla

Expected Graduation: Fall 2021

Community Partner: Environmental Center

Emma Sheridan

Major: Nutrition and Dietetics

Expected Graduation: Spring 2021

Hometown:

Community Partner: Beaches Go Green

Anastasia Utley

Major: Biology - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Hometown: Jacksonville, Fla

Expected Graduation: Spring 2022

Community Partner: Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

I was introduced to the Environmental Center Leadership Program through the hick's honors college in my freshman year. In honors, I took a class called self and society which encouraged us to tackle an environmental issue and come up with a solution. I, along with my group, decided to focus on composting at UNF to address climate change. I wanted to progress this idea, so I applied for the ECLP. The ECLP will help me to develop leadership skills and assist me in the future as a researcher. An interesting fact about me is that I'm bilingual. My mom is from Moscow, so I know how to speak Russian.

Aida Washburn

Major: Public Health

Expected Graduation: Spring 2021

Hometown: Des Moines, IA

Community Partner: UF/IFAS Nassau County

My senior year of college is about finishing strong and making lasting connections. I am excited to work with the Environmental Leadership Program because I have always loved spending time outdoors, camping, backpacking, and enjoying mountaintop views. I have been developing my skills and experience as a future health professional and lifelong learner, and I am beginning to understand the vast amount of ways I can make an impact regarding conservation. I am excited to get involved with my community to protect and advocate for our environment.

Madison Woodson

Major: Elementary Education

Hometown: Parkersburg, West Virginia

Expected Graduation: Fall 2021

Community Partner: Beaches Go Green

For my Fall and Spring semester, I have received the ECLP scholarship and joined this amazing program. I am so grateful for this opportunity and am looking forward to completing this program. I am extremely passionate about saving the Earth and keeping it clean and sustainable. It is my goal to use the least amount of waste as possible and to try and make an impact for our world's plastic use. I am hoping this program can help me make my impact on the world and give me the tools and skills to be a better leader. A couple fun facts about me are that I love to travel, I am a vegetarian, and I love Disney. I appreciate good food and traveling to new places so I can see the beautiful land that Earth has to offer. I also love Disney because it is very easy to watch and so comforting.