University of Denver, Department of Geography and the Environment

🎓 Graduating Senior Spotlight: Meet Zoe Lynch! 🌱🌍

Major: Environmental Science, with minors in GIS, Biology, and Environmental Chemistry

Hometown: Austin, Texas

“I love being surrounded by like-minded people who care about the world. I decided to go into Environmental Science because I loved STEM fields and liked how interdisciplinary it was. My favorite courses were GeoAI, advanced stats, and the environmental chemistry sequence.

I am most proud of my undergraduate thesis work in Dr. Huffman's Environmental Chemistry lab. My lab experience has allowed me to work independently on an atmospheric air-monitoring project in which I evaluate electrochemical sensing for gas-phase species such as ozone and nitrogen dioxide. This project has allowed me to grow as an independent researcher and to learn new software and statistical models that I previously did not know.

Also, being a student athlete allowed me to succeed with my team at the pool, as well as learn with my peers in the classroom - Shoutout to Liam Simmons and Luke Milburn who were there for both.

I will be moving to Mexico for the next two years to work in environmental work. I am excited to learn about the culture and language and explore environmental science in a position of learning from a community.”

Congratulations to Zoe! 🎉
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🎓 Graduating Senior Spotlight: Meet Luke Milburn! 🌱🌍

Major: Geographic Information Science, with double major in Ecology and Biodiversity and a minor in Computer Science.

Hometown: Albany, Oregon

“I love my major because I get to connect my love of the natural world to analysis and problem solving! Initially, I was only planning to do a minor but then discovered how much I enjoy learning about and working with the wonderful people in GIS at DU. I am super grateful for all of the amazing opportunities I have had in this program!”

Luke also recently presented research at the Student Signature Work Showcase related to a project in his Ecology and Biodiversity major.

Congratulations to Luke! And good luck in graduate school! 🎉
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🎓 Graduating Senior Spotlight: Meet Liz Woxland! 🌱🌍

Major: Environmental Science, with minors in GIS, Environmental Chemistry, and Biology

Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota

“I came to DU knowing I wanted to study Environmental Sciences because it is such a
multifaceted field that combines scientific and analytical work with social applications. During my time at DU, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Sweden and participate in the Geographies of South Africa course. The South Africa course was especially meaningful to me not only because it was my first time traveling outside of the U.S., which greatly expanded my worldview, but also because it introduced me to the many social, scientific, and political dimensions tied to resources like water.

That experience sparked my interest in working in the water field, and the following summer I interned at Saint Paul Regional Water Services in their water lab. I was also able to finish my classes a quarter early, which allowed me to work with Groundwork Denver this spring. My experience at Groundwork has been extremely beneficial in helping me apply what I learned in my coursework to a local community setting.

I am beyond grateful for the Department of Geography and Environment because it has introduced me to some of the most wonderful people and experiences throughout my time at DU.”

Congratulations to Liz! 🎉
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The undergraduate student research experience at DU is truly phenomenal! 🌟

Huge congratulations to our Department of Geography and the Environment majors who recently presented their research projects at the 2026 Student Signature Work Showcase!

Swipe through to check out 10 of the incredible featured projects. We wish we could share all the details of their brilliant research... but the images are intentionally blurred for now! 😉

🤝 A massive thank you to our departmental faculty advisors, as well as our fantastic colleagues in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and the Department of Biological Sciences for welcoming these students into their research labs.

Congratulations to Michela Schenk (Environmental Science and History double major)!

Congratulations to Michela Schenk (@mickey.schenk), who is the University of Denver's first-ever Udall Scholar! The Udall Scholarship recognizes and supports future public service leaders in environmental advocacy, Native American healthcare, and Tribal public policy. Michela is a junior majoring in Environmental Science and History, and minoring in International Studies and Leadership and Social Impact. She plans to use her Udall Scholarship and studies at DU to advocate for water equity. She says, "My experience is that the work for each fellowship or scholarship application compounds. I think that applying to Hollings and Truman and being unsuccessful was crucial to my success for Udall, as both of these fellowship applications helped me narrow in on what my true throughline story was of my academic career and future passions. Two unsuccessful applications were the foundation for the work of Udall, so I truly believe even if you do not win a fellowship, submitting for one during your time at college is a fantastic clarity rendering experience everyone should have. And remember: the fellowships application process is collaborative, not individual. I could not have submitted a winning application on my own. The feedback from those who edited or reviewed it not only clarified my application but also helped clarify my own definition of my purpose in life and career goals." We're so proud of Michela and can't wait to see what see does as a Udall Scholar and in the future! @ducahss | @dusciencemath | @geography_du | @duplpers | @thejosefkorbelschool | @uofdenver

🎓 Grad Student Spotlight: Meet Julia Entwistle! 🌱🌍
Degree Program: PhD in Geography

“I’m a PhD candidate in Geography studying how large-scale land concessions shape livelihoods and food systems in Liberia. My research combines surveys, interviews, and policy analysis to better understand how plantation agriculture affects land access and dietary diversity in rural communities.

One of the most meaningful parts of this work has been fieldwork—spending time in plantation-adjacent communities and learning directly from people about how these changes are experienced day to day. Those conversations have really shaped how I think about land, development, and what equitable solutions might look like in practice.”

We are proud of Julia’s dedication to research work and her recent dissertation defense. Some of her work has already been published in as journal articles in Land Use Policy and Journal of Rural Studies. Join us in congratulating Dr. Entwistle! 🎉
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🎓 Graduating Senior Spotlight: Meet Tatiana Peccedi! 🌱🌍
Major: Environmental Science (BS), minors in GIS and Environmental Chemistry
Hometown: Telluride, Colorado

“I chose to major in Environmental Science because it felt like the perfect way to combine my love for science and passion for the outdoors into an impactful career. Every year I have spent at DU has only confirmed I made the right decision. Between the amazing faculty I have learned from, incredible peers I have worked alongside, and the immersive academic experiences, I couldn't have imagined such an engaging four years.

My first year, I was part of the Sustainability LLC, where I took three courses focused on sustainability and geography in Colorado, explored different towns across the state, and visited DU's high elevation lab at Mt. Blue Sky which included some cross-country skiing! Beyond the academics, it's what connected me to my best friends who have been by my side ever since. Studying abroad in Lund, Sweden was another major highlight. I got to travel to nine different countries across Europe while taking classes like Swedish Film and Psychology of climate change. Back at DU, one of my most memorable experiences has been my undergraduate research I have done with the Huffman Group (https://www.huffmangroupdu.com/) where I have gotten to study air quality data using low-cost particulate matter sensors located at the Kennedy Mountain Campus. This has been such an amazing way to apply my learning in the classroom to a hands-on project.

After graduation, I'm planning to spend some time traveling before I continue in highereducation in hopes of becoming a teacher.”

Congratulations to Tatiana! 🎉
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🎓 Graduating Senior Spotlight: Meet Georgia Sento! 🌱🌍

Major: Environmental Science (BA), minor in International Studies
Hometown: Baldwin, Maryland

“I chose to study Environmental Science because I wanted to be in a field where I could combine my love for the outdoors with my passion to make a positive impact. At DU, I got to live that out. I studied abroad in Thailand where we backpacked and sea kayaked through our coursework, I researched tree ring data for my independent study, and I did Field Quarter – one of my favorite parts of college – where our class camped and traveled through the Southwest, California, and Nicaragua and learned from the ecosystems and cultures around us. These experiences taught me what it really meant to study the environment and understand it for all its aspects.

I graduated this past November, at the Great Sand Dunes, thanks to Field Quarter😉 and have since been teaching environmental science and biology at a high school. It's been really fulfilling getting to share a love for nature with students and help them care about the world around them. After this semester, I'm taking a year to travel and see more of the world for everything it is, with the plan to come back to pursue higher education so I can continue making a difference as both an educator and a researcher.”

Congratulations to Georgia! 🎉
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🎓 Grad Student Spotlight: Meet Unisha! 🌱🌍
Degree Program: MS in Geographic Information Science
Hometown: Nepal

“I have been working as a GIS student intern at Mile High Flood District (MHFD). During my internship, I’ve been working on GIS projects related to floodplains and water resources. A lot of my time goes into cleaning and organizing data, mapping structures and parcels into different flood zones, and trying to understand how flooding affects different areas through spatial analysis. I’ve also shared some of this work through simple web maps like Experience Builder.

For my capstone I am working on the Legacy Hydrology project, where I helped organize and modernize older hydrology datasets and workflows at Mile High Flood District. It is a mix of digging through legacy data, cleaning the data, and building clearer processes for future use. I also collaborated with both GIS and engineering teams at MHFD, which made it a really practical, hands-on experience beyond the technical GIS work.”

Join us in congratulating Unisha’s expected graduation in June 2026!
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🎓 Grad Student Spotlight: Meet Queen Olafadehan! 🌱🌍
Degree Program: MA in Geography
Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria

Queen Olafadehan’s master’s thesis explores ecotourism and its impacts on local communities at the Lekki Conservation Center in Lagos, Nigeria. Using a qualitative approach, Queen conducted in depth interviews and community observations to better understand how conservation initiatives shape livelihoods, access to resources, and who truly benefits from tourism.

As she says, “One of the most meaningful parts of this research was the fieldwork experience. Spending time in the community and speaking directly with residents brought the research to life—revealing how environmental policies play out in real life, not just on paper. Hearing diverse perspectives highlighted both the challenges communities face and the opportunities conservation can create.”

We’re proud to celebrate Queen’s thoughtful, community centered research and wish her continued success as she moves forward. 🎉

Join us in congratulating Queen Olafadehan’s expected graduation in June 2026!
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