Natural Resources Conservation Academy (NRCA)

Hey there!    My name is Adriana and I’m one of 5 DMMs (Difference Maker Mentors) for the 2023-2024 NRCA program. I’m a Junior at the University of Connecticut majoring in Cognitive Science but with many interests in other fields like Developmental Psychology, Linguistics, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and Natural Resources and the Environment, to […]

Hello, my name is Alexandra Blas, and I’m thrilled to introduce myself as one of the Difference Maker Mentors for the 2023 – 2024 academic year. I am a senior at the University of Connecticut, majoring in Allied Health Sciences with a minor in psychology. My academic interests center around genetics and genomics, particularly how environmental […]

Hello! My name is Andy Zhang and I am a sophomore at the University of Connecticut where I serve as a NRCA Difference Maker Mentor for the 2023-2024 cohort .    As a dedicated student, I am pursuing degrees in environmental science as well as economics with the aim of developing a well-rounded perspective on […]

Hello Everyone! My name is Paige Booth and I am a junior at the University of Connecticut studying environmental science with a concentration in sustainable systems and a minor in ecology and evolutionary biology. I am lucky enough to serve as one of the Difference Maker Mentors for the 2023-2024 school year. On campus, I […]

Hello! My name is Christopher Cane, and I am a graduate student mentor and research assistant with the NRCA Conservation Ambassador Program and NRCA Difference Mentor Maker Program. I’m currently a master’s student studying Human Dimensions of Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of Connecticut. As an undergraduate student, I double majored in […]

Hello, my name is Leah Gichuru, and one of the Difference Maker Mentors for the year 2022-2023. I am currently studying molecular and cell biology, and minoring in Spanish at the University of Connecticut. As a first-generation American student, I am the first in my family to be attending a four-year college and focus much of […]

Hello everyone!    My name is Sydney Seldon, and I’m a sophomore at UConn. I am pursuing a degree in Environmental Science and plan to double major in Environmental Policy as an individualized major. Avenues prioritizing collective action and community engagement have guided the opportunities I seek, and my role as a Difference Maker Mentor […]

Hey y’all! I’m Erin McKeehan and I will be serving as one of the NRCA Difference Maker Mentors for the 2022-2023 program. I am currently a senior at UConn studying Economics and Environmental Studies. While I plan on pursuing multiple pathways, I am particularly interested in circular economies and economic justice. I am radically optimistic in the […]

Hello, my name is Leilani Rose Duarte, and I am a 2022-23 NRCA Difference Maker Mentor (DMM).   I’m a senior at UConn majoring in Natural Resources (NRE) with a concentration in Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and minor in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB). I intend on entering graduate school after I graduate to further […]

This post was written by Abby Bar, Summer 2022 Environmental Education Intern.   My internship at the Natural Resources Conservation Academy through UConn Extension has been incredibly beneficial in teaching me tools both in environmental education and in working in general. Through this experience, I gained new skill sets and techniques that I believe will […]