UNM LEAF
UNM Leaders for Environmental Action and Foresight
Student Leadership
Spring 2023

Andrea Benites (she/her)
Director of Coordination
Andrea is a current graduate student pursuing a dual master’s degree in business administration and public policy. She comes from just outside of Philadelphia and is a former student-athlete and ASUNM Senator. She concentrates on environmental legislation in her professional career and hopes to bring awareness to the urgency of our changing climate. Serving as our Director of Coordination, she will bring her policy strategy to our environmental priorities.

Jess Newman (she/her)
Director of Operations
Jess is a senior at UNM studying Communication and getting a minor in Sustainability Studies. She currently works for the sustainability studies program on their website and social media, providing a student voice. She has been part of UNM LEAF for over a year now and has helped write successful ASUNM sustainability resolutions. She was born and raised in Albuquerque and has seen the impacts that climate change and drought have had on her home.

Kineo memmer (she/her)
Director of Communication and Outreach
Kineo is a senior at the University of New Mexico, studying Environmental Science with a minor in Sustainability Studies. She knows that climate change poses a risk to everyone on this planet and we must do everything we can to slow down its effects. She believes that institutions such as the University of New Mexico should make it clear that climate change is a risk, by publicly declaring that we are in a climate emergency, divesting from fossil fuels, and creating better environmental education opportunities for UNM students.

Raven ALcott (they/she)
Community Liason
Raven is an Environmental Science major and undergraduate climate research student. They hail from the Pueblo of San Ildefonso, which is the core of their work with climate activism and environmental research. The ways in which climate change will impact their tribal homelands community is what motivates them to seek fundamental change, societal justice, balance, and liberation.

Feleecia Guillen (she/her)
Director of Finance & Director of Social Media
Feleecia is a sophomore at UNM studying General Management and minoring in Sustainability Studies. In 2020, she founded Youth Climate Action Coalition New Mexico with a group of friends who wanted to make a difference and purse environmental change. While still managing YCAC NM, she decided to join UNM LEAF to spread her activism further. She says,"If one things is clear, it’s that the natural world is fading. Climate change is not only evident in New Mexico but all around the world, more than ever, but if we act now, it’s possible to be a part of the solution."

Anna Linn (she/her)
Co-Director of Social Media
Anna is an undergraduate senior pursuing a dual degree in Environmental Science and Sociology. She was born and raised in New Mexico, seeing first hand the struggles that low-income communities face with the changing climate. In the future, she hopes to work in environmental law with a focus on environmental justice and to be a part of creating a more equitable green economy. She believes that with the right policies and enforcement, New Mexico can become a leading example in the fight against climate change.

Julian cecil (they/them)
Director of Media and Graphics
Julian is a freshman at UNM pursing a degree in Geography and a minor in American Sign Language. Born and raised in Oregon, they helped found an organization to develop Equitable Climate Actions Plans in high schools across the state. In their new home of New Mexico, they are excited to be able to exercise their interest in rigorous and intersectional environmental action with UNM LEAF.