Meet the LSAMP-ISS Resilience Interns

Adrian is a Geology major with double minors in Math and Earth Data Science. After graduation, they hope to transfer to Oregon State University and pursue a PhD and hydrology or oceanography. With this internship, they hope to gain community and relationships, and learn more about potential career paths through networking. They love Mexican food, cultural diversity, cooking, reading, hiking, relaxing, and video games. Adrian’s internship is with the U.S. Geological Survey.

Athena is a Civil Engineering major.  She transferred to PSU from Portland Community College and is interested in possibly working with big cats as a park ranger. She is looking to gain more experience including networking and meeting others interested in making positive change in the climate change and adaptation areas. She enjoys therapeutic journaling, animals, guitar, and yoga. Athena’s internship is with Elso Inc.

Belanna is an Environmental Science and Management major with a Sustainability minor. She is not set on a certain career yet, but focused on continuing to learn and grow. She hopes to gain professional development and learn more about career pathways through this internship. She enjoys rugby, reading, and family time. Belanna’s internship is with the Institute for Natural Resources Portland State University.

Cecilia is a Biology major pursuing a GIS minor.  After earning her bachelor’s degree, she plans to attend graduate school and continue in academia.  From this internship, she hopes to build a community, open up her career connections, and consider graduate school options. She loves being near water, restoration, urban walking, looking at moss, and digging in the dirt with her nephew and looking for creepy crawlers. Cecilia’s internship is with the Portland Bureau of Environmental Services.

Darius (D) is an Indigenous Nations Studies major who is also pursuing PSU’s Indigenous Traditional Ecological & Cultural Knowledge (ITECK) Certificate. He is a non-traditional student and plans to pursue graduate school for public policy with an emphasis on advocacy, public health, and sustainable food solutions. He is hoping that this internship will help him embrace the PSU and Indigenous community and also embrace his own Afro-Indigenous culture and background. He loves to cook, be near the water, and listen to vinyl. D’s internship is with the Portland All Nations Canoe Family.

Divinity is an Environmental Science and Management major who is pursuing the ITECK Certificate. She would like to have several internships in a variety of different sectors of environmental work before graduating in 2025 to determine the best path for herself vocationally. She has a focus on remediation and Indigenous/traditional land care techniques and would like to work with communities and/or an agency. She looks forward to building relationships on and off campus as well as learning more about how land stewardship functions on a larger scale. She enjoys crafting of all sorts and knitting, sewing, carving, making prints, jewelry and DIY household items.  Divinity’s internship is with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. 

Elsa is a Mechanical Engineering major with a Math minor. She came to PSU directly from high school and aims to work in a jet propulsion lab for NASA following graduation. She hopes to gain mentorship, networking skills, data management and analysis skills from this internship. She loves going to the gym and lifting, and baking and cooking. Her favorite dishes are a lentil soup with bread made from scratch, salmon, and Mexican food including enchiladas and tacos. Elsa’s internship is with the U.S. Geological Survey.

Estephano (Geo) is a Civil Engineering major. He transferred from Portland Community College with an Associates degree in Business and plans to pursue a career in water infrastructure. He's hoping to gain a campus network, employable skills, and professional connections from this internship. He loves building stuff and gardening. Geo is a second-year LSAMP intern with the U.S. Geological Survey.

Lexi is an Architecture major who transferred to PSU from Portland Community College. She plans to graduate with a B.S. in Architecture and get a job. She wants to gain more skills, build codes, and increase her social network through this internship. For hobbies she likes to paint, garden, and is a third generation artist. Lexi is a third-year LSAMP intern with City of Portland, Bureau of Development Services.

Maria is a Biology and Chemistry double major. She transferred to PSU from Mount Hood Community College. She plans to move to Southern California for work following graduation. She hopes to increase her social network and make lifelong relationships during this internship. Her hobbies include tattooing, being a third generation artist, and planting/gardening. Maria’s internship is with USFW.

Naomi is an Environmental Science major. They are hoping to gain more professional experience and learn about fisheries in this internship. They will be creating bilingual work to communicate with the public to educate and spread knowledge. They like being outdoors with people and also alone in nature, and enjoy gardening. Naomi is a second-year LSAMP intern with USFW as a digital media intern. 

Olivia is a Civil Engineering major and is hoping to expand her professional network and experience, and looks forward to a unique internship that can build on her high school internship experience. She enjoys crocheting, baking, reading–and loves nonfiction, biographies, history and Renaissance books. Olivia’s internship is with the Institute for Natural Resources at Portland State University.

Pascal is a Data Science major who transferred to PSU from Sacramento State University. He plans to attend graduate school and is excited to continue as an intern for a second year. He will continue working on his project from last year, which is leading to a manuscript submission to the journal Geothermics.

Ryan is a Biology major with a Writing minor. He came to PSU directly from high school. His career plans include being a conservational ecologist. He is excited to gain experience in the field through this internship and likes to knit as a hobby. Ryan’s internship is with the Rae Selling Berry Seed Bank.

Tess is an Environmental Studies major who is currently focused on graduation, but is considering pursuing ecological conservation work in Maui, in her home state of Hawaii. Through this internship she wants to gain professional experience and learn more about the work of our agency partners and how she can apply that knowledge in her future career. She enjoys reading and, after harder days, watching reality TV. Tess’s internship is with the Portland All Nations Canoe Family.

Yami is a Mechanical Engineering major and who is also in her third year as a civil engineer. She is hoping to return to the aerospace company she worked for prior to returning to college. She wants to build community and expand her professional skills and network through this internship. She likes to start new hobbies but her longest-term hobby is cooking, which she began learning for her mom. She also likes biking with her dog and planning and designing customized Lego builds with lights. Yami’s internship is with USGS.