Feleecia Guillen, 21, is a senior at the University of New Mexico, majoring in Business and Spanish with minors in Sustainability Studies and Psychology. Raised in rural NM, where water accessibility issues profoundly shaped her perspective, she developed a deep connection to both her environment and community. As a proud Chicana and Nuevomexicana, her Indigenous roots deeply connect her to Mother Nature, grounding and guiding her work.

Feleecia is actively involved in various organizing efforts across New Mexico, tackling environmental injustices from uranium mining to the proposed Strategic Water Supply. As the Director of Outreach & Communication for UNM Leaders for Environmental Action and Foresight (UNM LEAF), the Director of Environmental Affairs for Associated Students at the University of New Mexico (ASUNM), and a Steering Committee Member and Fellow for Youth United for Climate Crisis Action (YUCCA), Feleecia is a driving force behind advocating for real and just climate solutions. She also collaborates with organizations like Food & Water Watch and No False Solutions, working to amplify the voices of marginalized communities and push for environmental justice and collective liberation.

Kam is a senior studying sociology and sustainability. They are passionate about equitable food systems and accessible transportation systems. You can usually find Kam hiking with their dog and partner or sitting at a city council meeting. Kam hopes to use their role with LEAF to help make changes on campus around biking infrastructure so more people feel empowered to cycle on and around campus.

Jackie is in her final year pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Geography. She is a passionate advocate for public transportation, bicycling, and walkable communities. She is also an avid proponent of putting health equity at the forefront of climate resiliency projects. She hopes to use her position at UNM LEAF to build ongoing relationships with elected and appointed leaders and support ongoing efforts to make campus and the wider community more sustainable than yesterday.

Hope is a third year student majoring in geography and environmental studies with a minor in sustainability. She is passionate about learning about climate change and the effects it will have on future generations. She has been involved with UNM LEAF since her freshman year and became a leadership member her sophomore year. She wants to help students learn more about environmental justice and get involved with it through UNM LEAF.

Jack is a freshman at the University of New Mexico, majoring in Environmental Planning & Design with a minor in Film Production. He is passionate about educating others on environmental issues through various forms of media. This past summer he won first place in the World of 8 Billion International Video Contest for his solution to invasive species in the Rio Grande Bosque. Through his online activism, he has raised a few thousand dollars to a climate charity and has helped fight against fossil fuel projects like Calcasieu Pass 2. He is currently a video creator for OurYouth4TheClimate, a global climate education organization. He hopes to continue his environmental activism throughout his time at the university, and eventually help design a more sustainable future for Albuquerque and other American cities.

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Contact At -

Email: jbarkhurst@unm.edu

Instagram: jj.barkhurst

Kyreen is a third year student attending University of New Mexico studying Geography with minors in Earth and Planetary Sciences and Sustainability Studies. She is interested in climate justice and environmental justice amongst many other social issues. She took a course titled Introduction to Environmental and Social Justice which piqued her interest in Environmental Justice and Environmental Protection. She is an intern at UNM Lobo Gardens, as is rooted in soil health and soil erosion.

Hannah is a first year student at the University of New Mexico. She is majoring in Political Science with a minor in Sustainability Studies. Hannah was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, so she understands the importance of a healthy environment and a culturally diverse community. You can reach out to her at either of these emails, loftushannah434@gmail.com or hloftus31@unm.edu 

Caitlyn is a first year undergraduate at UNM majoring in Environmental Communication and minoring in Sustainability Studies. She is passionate about connecting with her community to introduce practical sustainability methods and environmental justice through both education and actively meeting community needs. As a community liaison she hopes to ensure that UNM LEAF stays connected with the greater UNM and Albuquerque circle to bring environmental justice to the forefront of discussions, and eventually bring forth positive sustainable change.

Emily is a first-year graduate student in the Master of Public Policy program at the University of New Mexico. Informed by her undergraduate studies in sociology, Emily is passionate about environmental and social justice. She is actively involved in climate justice organizing as a member of Youth United for Climate Crisis Action (YUCCA). In her role at LEAF, she hopes to engage graduate students and build coalitions across student groups to address environmental injustice and improve sustainability.