I grew up in Southern California, just north of Burbank. I earned a Bachelor's Degree in Legal Studies at UCSC before pursuing field work with CA State Parks and administrative work at the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County. I am now excited to be advancing my education by pursuing a Master's of Environmental Science and Management (MESM) with a specialization in Conservation Planning at UCSB's Bren School.
We got a chance to interview Avery a few weeks before she started at UCSB. Here is our short Q&A with Avery, who shares how she first became fascinated with her chosen discipline, why she chose UCSB, and what she's excited to accomplish on campus.
Q&A
My interest in conservation began during a Conservation Career course I took in my senior year of college. The course focused on California Condors, and a field trip with Ventana Wildlife biologists sparked my passion. Captivated by the impact we can have on the environment through stewardship, I pivoted from a law career and dove in and took on a role as an Environmental Services Intern with CA State Parks. This position exposed me to hands-on conservation work, including chainsaw work, invasive weed tracking, and prescribed burns—these hours of challenging yet rewarding labor taught me the fundamentals of land stewardship in a short time.
To gain experience in a different aspect of conservation, I transitioned to the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County as an Administrative Assistant. Although I was not directly involved in the Stewardship department, I gained insight into land management through the incredible projects the Land Trust spearheaded. These experiences led me to pursue graduate studies to deepen my understanding and skills.
My primary interests include habitat restoration, human-wildlife conflict resolution, environmental planning, and exploring how education can foster stronger connections between people and nature.
I chose UCSB because of the Bren School. I struggled to find other professionally oriented master's programs in Environmental Management within California —until I discovered Bren. Its strong reputation for integrating science, policy, and management was exactly what I was looking for to advance my career.
As a UC alum, I was thrilled by the opportunity to continue my education at another UC institution, one that not only brings me closer to home but also aligns with my professional aspirations. I am particularly drawn to Bren’s interdisciplinary curriculum, which emphasizes practical, real-world problem solving, and the robust support provided by their career development team. I’m excited to join a program that fosters collaboration and prepares its students to tackle complex environmental challenges.
DID YOU KNOW?
I minored in Film and Digital Media in college and am an avid movie and TV enthusiast. I'm especially drawn to true crime and have watched nearly every season of Law and Order: SVU. I also have an adorable 7-year-old ESA cat named Elphie, inspired by my favorite musical, Wicked.