Jenifer Lemus-Sagastume

Major: Environmental Studies
Hometown: Long Island, NY

Jenifer Lemus-Sagastume knows that environmental issues underpin many of the world's problems.

"Hunger, poverty, and sickness have roots in problems with the environment and the way humans manage it," she explained.

Jenifer first became aware of this as a first-grader when she went on field trip to visit the forests in her native Guatemala.

"It was my first exposure to the problem of deforestation," she said. "I was very upset at how badly people were treating the environment."

From that moment on she consumes as much information as she can and began to see the underlying environmental issues behind localized problems related to hunger and disease.

Because of what she's learned, she advocates for environmental and social justice causes. She helped found ESF's first Latin American Student Organization on campus, LASO; has held two internships in the environmental field; was recently named a Teach for America (TFA) Ignite Fellow; and works in the College's Office of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity as their Undergraduate Student Assistant.

She isn't sure exactly what she wants to do after graduation, but knows it will continue to involve academia.

"I know it sounds corny to say, but I really do love learning and going to school," Jenifer said. "I love listening to someone with passion talk about environmental issues. I hope to one day be that person myself."

Keep learning and advocating, Jenifer!

Learn more about the Environmental Studies Degree program at ESF or about the Latin American Student Organization (LASO).