Hi y’all! My name is Mary Ferguson, and I am so honored to be one of the 2026 Eco Digital Storytelling Mentors within the Natural Resources Conservation Academy. I’m a senior studying Earth science with a minor in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. I’ve always had a passion for science, but when coming to […]
Eco-Digital Storytellers
Eco-Digital Storytellers Mentor Reflection: Jamaile Hall
Hello! My name is Jamaile, and this marks my third and final time serving as an Eco-Digital Storytellers mentor, and what an incredible journey it has been! While it’s truly a bittersweet moment to say goodbye to this remarkable program, the students, and the faculty, I leave with immense gratitude. As someone involved from the […]
Introducing EDS Mentor: Lily Walowitz
Hi! My name is Lily Walowitz and I joined the Natural Resources Conservation Academy as an Eco-Digital Storytellers Mentor for the 2026 program. I am currently a sophomore at UConn pursuing a Secondary Earth Science Education Degree. Since I was in kindergarten, I have known that I wanted to be a teacher, but the question was always: what […]
Eco-Digital Storytellers Mentor Reflection: Amber Hwang
Wading into my Environmental Storytelling class in the fall of 2024, I never imagined how this program would rearrange the stars as I wayfind the environmental space. When the waters ahead are uncertain, working with high school students at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts (GHAA) through Natural Resource Conservation Academy’s (NRCA) Eco-Digital Storytellers […]
Eco-Digital Storytellers: NRCA Partnership Fuels Major Pedagogical Shifts in K–12 Classrooms
Across Connecticut, the Natural Resources Conservation Academy’s (NRCA) Eco-Digital Storyteller (EDS; https://nrca.uconn.edu/eds/) program is reshaping how teachers approach learning—helping schools integrate environmental science, geospatial technology, digital media arts and youth-centered storytelling into everyday instruction. Despite the cancellation of federal funding, this work is continuing thanks to essential support from UConn’s EMERGE program, which has enabled […]
Introducing EDS Mentor: Amber Hwang
Hello! My name is Amber Hwang, and I joined the Natural Resources Conservation Academy as an Eco-Digital Storytellers Mentor. As a sophomore pursuing a dual degree in Environmental Studies and English with a minor in Geographic Information Science, I am guided by the narratives of place and justice that thread through our environment. My […]
Introducing EDS Mentor: Nicole Zollino
Hello everyone! My name is Nicole Zollino, and I’m one of the newest Eco-Digital Storyteller Mentors for the 2024-2025 NRCA program. I’m currently a senior at UConn, pursuing a BFA in Digital Media & Design with a concentration in 3D Animation. Helping others bring their creative projects to life is something I like to do, […]
Introducing EDS Mentor: Ben Reynolds
Hello! My name is Ben Reynolds (They/Them), and I’m an Eco-Digital Storyteller Mentor for the 2024-2025 NRCA program. I’m a junior year Digital Media & Design (Film Concentration) major and Sociology minor here at UConn. My main works include screenwriting, a few short films, and several originally written stage plays! Helping others achieve their artistic […]
Introducing EDS Mentor: Parker Ayoub
Hi! My name is Parker, and I’m a junior at UCONN. I am passionate about community building, student support, and creating engaging activities. I love working with students in a variety of contexts such as mentoring, event coordination, and one-on-one conversations. Aside from being an EDS mentor, I work as a Resident Assistant on […]
Introducing EDS Mentor: Bran Sullivan
Hello! My name is Bran Sullivan, and I’m an Eco-Digital Storyteller Mentor for the 2024-2025 NRCA program. I’m currently a senior at UConn with a major in Digital Media & Design. During my Environmental Storytelling class, working with high school students and helping them express their project ideas as actionable steps, and demonstrating how we […]