2020 Environmental Studies Seniors
Spencer Skaggs
Hometown: Russellville, AR
Concentration: Biology as well as a double major in Biology
About: Spencer is passionate about the intersection of ecology and sustainability, and hopes to explore these concepts further through the context of environmental education. While studying at Hendrix, she has had the opportunity to volunteer in after-school elementary education programs, perform field research regarding the effects of anthropogenic noise on Carolina Wrens, and intern at Raptor Rehab of Central Arkansas (a non-profit wildlife rehabilitation center). Beyond my academic studies, Spencer has continued to develop her love for the outdoors through her participation in the Hendrix Climbers Coalition.
Darian Dyer
Hometown: Alma, AR
Concentration: Socio-cultural with a minor in Politics
About: Darian interned at North Pulaski Farms, where she learned the importance of sustainable practices in our food system using the organic model. Through her experience of studying abroad in Vilnius, Lithuania, she found a passion for promoting global cooperation in environmental politics. She hopes to combine my love for environmental stewardship and education to advise and write policy for non-profits and legislators in the future. While not working on campus campaigns as the Environmental Concerns Committee Vice-Chair, she volunteers at Heifer International’s Urban Farm as a Service Scholar.
Scott Chrysler
Home town: Lafayette, LA
Concentration: Socio-Cultural
About: Scott completed his internship at the Zoo of Acadiana were he assisted in the care and maintenance for multiple endangered species. Scott hopes to continue his work with endangered species, additionally he hopes to bring education about endangered species to a much wider audience both domestically and abroad.
Kelly Gray
Hometown: Langkawi, Malaysia
Concentration: Biology with a minor in Biology
About: Kelly hopes to go to graduate school for Marine Biology and Environmental Engineering after taking a gap year. She is very interested in coral reefs and the habitats that surround them and wants to study them and find ways to protect them from the threat of climate change. She is also interested in working on renewable energy sources such as tidal power. She completed an internship with the Urban Farm Project at the Faulkner County Library in Conway. She also served as vice president and president of International Club as she grew up overseas in Asia until she was 18. She would also like to pursue a side career in music as I quite enjoy singing, writing songs, and playing guitar, piano, and ukulele.
Caralee Shepard
Hometown: Greensboro, NC
Concentration: Biology as well as a double major in Biology
About: Caralee hopes to attend grad school to further study the ways different animals have adapted to environmental and human stresses. Following an internship removing invasive plants from a mountain wetland, Caralee has completed two research projects on campus, studying the habitats of the Texas Frosted Elfin and the response of Carolina Wrens to fracking noise. She looks forward to doing further research during and after graduate school.
Emma Prochaska
Hometown: Rockland, ME
Concentration: Biology
About: Emma interned at an organic farm and garden here in Arkansas. She is interested in sustainable development in regards to how humans can work with the Earth and not trash the planet we call home. Her plans for the future include living as close to net zero as she can, and helping others do the same.
Olivia Eddings
Hometown: Harrison, AR
Concentration: Chemistry
About: In addition to her liberal arts degree, Olivia plans to attend Washington University in St. Louis for the next two years to pursue a bachelor's and master's degree in Environmental Engineering as a part of the Engineering 3-2 Dual Degree Program. Inspired by her participation in undergraduate research at Hendrix College, which focuses on combining theoretical and experimental results to predict cloud condensation nuclei activity of aerosols to improve the accuracy of parameters used in climate modeling, Olivia plans to participate in an undergraduate research internship program in the Summer of 2020.
Rhodes Daigle
Hometown: Shreveport, LA
Concentration: Socio-cultural with a minor in History
About: Rhodes will be continuing his devotion to environmental studies after graduation through teaching as a fellow of the 2020 Arkansas Teacher Corps cohort. In an effort to educate others about natural systems and the importance of environmental studies, he will be teaching either Biology or Environmental Science at a high school level. Eventually, he would like to pursue a more Environmental History focused study, but in the meantime hopes to give back to Arkansas for being his home these past four years through teaching what he cares about most. With experience through the Washington Center and the Sierra Club DC Chapter, he also hopes to one day partake in some variation of environmentally focused non-profit work.
Brandon Oglesby-Swett