MEET THE TEAM
BIANCA FLYNN Bianca studies environmental history at the University of Oregon. When she was a child, her affinity for nature developed from building fairy houses in the forest, climbing banyan trees and going on family adventures. Her interest in gardening stems from her passion for health and nutrition, and a longtime hobby of digging in the dirt. She is ecstatic to continue working with the School Garden Project, and help cultivate students’ sense of personal responsibility to local food and the environment. |
KASSANDRA HISHIDA
Kassandra Hishida is a master’s student in the University of Oregon’s Environmental Studies master’s program. Throughout her two years in Eugene she has enjoyed learning about food and environmental justice, as well as culturally responsive education. She loved volunteering with the School Garden Project (SGP) and is grateful to have had the opportunity to support their work as the project manager for the ELP School Garden team. Kassandra enjoyed spending time in the garden this spring and watching her team members inspire students to have fun while learning about STEM. |
CHELSEA INGRAM
Chelsea was born in Vermont, but has lived most of her life in Eugene, Oregon. Her childhood and adolescence were spent wandering the bike paths along the Willamette River, picking blackberries and looking for fairies. Today, Chelsea studies and considers the environment from many social and political perspectives. She has a particular fondness for weeding and looking for worms in the garden. Now and then she still keeps an eye out for fairies. |
ABBEY LEONARDI Abbey is an Environmental Studies major at the University of Oregon. Her passion for nature developed through exploring the outdoors as an athlete, specifically through running and skiing. Her interest in gardening stems from her passion for cooking and integrative holistic nutrition. Abbey plans on studying Alternative Medicine upon graduation. She grew up in Massachusetts and Maine. |
EMILY JENKINS
Emily has always had a love for nature. Her passion for the environment stems from her childhood growing up on the Oregon Coast. The natural beauty of the coast brought about an inherent appreciation for the environment. She is now a senior at the University of Oregon graduating with a degree in Environmental Studies and a minor in Food Studies. After she graduates she hopes to spread her love of food and the environment by working in the field of sustainable agriculture. |
JUSTIN KNOWLES
Justin is a Chicago born, New England raised, and Oregon educated outdoor enthusiast. A Geography major and Food Studies minor has helped him discover that his mission will be to bridge the gap between people and their food. He hopes to do this by inspiring young students to take an interest in localizing their food sources. His passion for the outdoors is rooted in a family tradition and a passionate connection to the ocean through the great sport of surfing. Since living in Oregon Justin has developed a new passion for growing and sharing food as well as hiking, waterfalls, and whitewater kayaking. |
TRISHA MAXFIELD
Trisha is an Environmental Studies major at the University of Oregon. She grew up in the foothills of the Cascade Mountain Range in Oakridge, OR; of which she insists is the Outdoor Recreation Capital of the PNW. Her earliest and fondest memories are of times spent outdoors with her grandparents catching night crawlers, pruning the garden, and patiently waiting for the bats take flight at dusk. By virtue, her love for nature and getting her hands dirty ensues! Time spent with her elders has allowed her to recognize the importance of fostering multi-generational communities. |
KAELIN OPPEDAL
Kaelin was born and raised in Beaverton, Oregon, and now attends the University of Oregon where she is working toward a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies and two minors in Food Studies and Spanish. Her motivation to participate in the Environmental Leadership Program stems from her passion of protecting the environment and its people through the common language of food. Through agriculture, Kaelin hopes to make a difference in elementary students’ early experiences with nature by helping to foster intimate relationships with the garden environment. |