As an ecologist, a Black person, and a queer person, I cannot let my engagement with the environment end with my research. To address the climate crisis, alongside scientific research and advancing technology, we need a shift in how our society values labor, resources, and people.

We cannot address the climate crisis in a just and equitable way without a radical reimagining of how we treat and relate to one another both within and across national boundaries. There are so many ways to engage with these issues, and I do not pretend to know the “right” way to do so. However, I am committed to working alongside communities and my fellow workers to re-imagine what a just society can look like. While at Duke was a proud member of the Duke Graduate Students Union working alongside the Durham Workers Assembly to push for fair pay and healthy, safe work environments for all Durham workers.