EESI Environmental Scholars
In spring 2015, we initiated a revamped EESI Environmental Scholars program in the interest of forming connections between departments (and between research groups), increasing student diversity, and improving our recruiting efforts. The current EESI selection committee is comprised of Laifang Li, assistant professor of meteorology and atmospheric science, Peter Wilf, professor of geosciences, Melika Sharifironizi, assistant research professor, and Alan Taylor, professor of geography and ecology. Dr. Taylor is the current chair of the Committee. The Committee is charged with the following:
- Choosing a set of four Scholars competitively among the incoming and accepted graduate student applicants in the EESI-affiliated departments, and from EESI Associates initially (all PhD students)
- Sending out a call for nominations to EESI associates, and they will nominate a student (one who has been made an offer).
- The chair will make a ranked list based on the faculty members' summary of their qualifications, and the other committee members will advise.
These Scholars will be part of a cohort of students who will be invited to engage with EESI throughout their Penn State careers. The scholars will be offered a $2K top-up in the first year.
The Committee Chair will send out an announcement early each winter to all EESI Associates asking for nominations.
2020-2021 EESI Environmental Scholar Recipients
Casey Hamilton
Graduate Student
Department of Geography
Sarah Jonathan
Graduate Student
Department of Geosciences
Dani Niziolek
Graduate Student
Department of Geography
Fan Wu
Graduate Student
Department of Meteorology
2019-2020 EESI Environmental Scholar Recipients
Susan Kotikot
Graduate Student
Department of Geography
Ian Lee
Graduate Student
Department of Geosciences
Esther Munoz
Graduate Student
Department of Geosciences
2018-2019 EESI Environmental Scholar Recipients
Sierra Melton
Graduate Student
Department of Geosciences
2017-2018 EESI Environmental Scholar Recipients
Stacey Olson
Graduate Student
Department of Geography
Perri Silverhart
Graduate Student
Department of Geosciences
Gabriella Rossetto Harris
Graduate Student
Department of Geosciences
2016-2017 EESI Environmental Scholar Recipients
Kelly Nunez Ocasio
Graduate Student
Department of Meteorology
Natalie Pawlikowski
Graduate Student
Department of Geography
2015-2016 EESI Environmental Scholar Recipients
Jamie Peeler
Graduate Student
Department of Geography
Julie Sanchez
Graduate Student
Department of Geography
Lauren Seidensticker
Graduate Student
Department of Meteorology
2010-2011 EESI Environmental Scholar Recipients
- Julieanne Hagarty - Undergraduate Student - Department of Geosciences
- Jenna Christian - Graduate Student - Department of Geography
- Megan Carter - Graduate Student - Department of Geosciences
- Piyali Chandra - Graduate Student - Department of Geosciences
- Michael Kozar - Undergraduate Student - Department of Meteorology
- Laura McGowan - Graduate Student - Department of Meteorology
- Catherine Airey - Graduate Student - Department of Geography
2009-2010 EESI Environmental Scholar Recipients
- Monica Carvalho - Graduate Student - Department of Geosciences
- Brad Kuntz - Graduate Student - Department of Geosciences
- Anders Jensen - Graduate Student - Department of Meteorology
- Trish Miller - Graduate Student - Department of Ecology and Geography
- Shi Yunig - Graduate Student - Department of Meteorology
2008-2009 EESI Environmental Scholar Recipients
- Liza Diaz - Graduate Student - Department of Meteorology
- Venkata Pradeep Indrakanti - Graduate Student - Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering
- Xuhua Shi - Graduate Student - Department of Geosciences
- Roman Tonkonojenkov - Graduate Student - Department of Geosciences
- Andrew Pierce - Graduate Student - Department of Geography
- Yuning Shi - Graduate Student - Department of Meteorology
2007-2008 EESI Environmental Scholar Recipients
- Patrick Applegate - Graduate Student - Department of Geosciences
- Muge Komurcu - Graduate Student - Department of Meteorology
- Amy Pauline Welch - Graduate Student - Department of Geography
- Adam Christopher Moyer - Graduate Student - Department of Meteorology
- Kelly D. Cherrey - Graduate Student - Department of Meteorology
- Armand Daniel Silva - Graduate Student - Department of Geography