ALEXI MARTINEZ
Alexi Martinez is a freshman at Colorado State University where she studies Environmental Engineering with a minor in sustainable energy. She is passionate about sustainability and environmental justice. In her free time she enjoys hiking, skiing, and spending time with family and friends. Alexi was a delegate at WYSE in 2021 and returned as an intern in 2022 and is very excited to return to WYSE this summer as a JFA!
MCKENZIE MOORE
Junior Faculty Advisor
McKenzie Moore (she/her) is an undergraduate senior at CSU pursuing a double major in Fish, Wildlife, Conservation Biology and Environmental Chemistry. She is currently performing undergraduate research in ecotoxicology to evaluate the remediation and recovery of a waterbody after acid mine drainage. Her current focus is environmental toxicology/ecotoxicology and she hopes to get a job in that field after graduation in the fall. McKenzie first discovered her passion for the environment after going to WYSE as a student in 2018. She is very excited to be coming back to WYSE for her third year as a Junior Faculty Advisor. When she is not working, she enjoys doing puzzles, crafting, and playing with her cat.
TAI'JUON WALLS
Recently achieving his AA degree, Tai’Juon Walls is an undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor’s in Health Science degree at the University of Florida. In his free time he enjoys photography, art, and motorcycling. Since a child he has always had a passion for protecting and preserving the environment, so that generations long after can enjoy and be stunned by the beauty Earth holds within itself. Being a 2018 WYSE youth delegate and a 2019 WYSE intern, Tai’Juon is very excited to once again work alongside the wonderful WYSE team and the delegates to ensure another fantastic year of the WYSE experience.
BOB COLVIN
Bob Colvin is a rising senior Biology major with a track in Marine Bio at University of Central Florida with large interests in anything ecological or scientific. His biggest draws right now are to entomology and astronomy. He is also an avid chess player.
LAURA FRANK
Laura Frank is currently a junior at Tennessee Tech University, in Cookeville, Tennessee. She attended WYSE in the Summer of 2019. She has always had a passion for animals, and she hopes to help in animal conservation one day. Laura has her own business, Fur Babies, where she takes care of animals while families are away. Guinea pigs have been her favorite clients so far. Also, Laura interns at her church, where she is a youth leader. Laura’s hobbies include getting coffee, spike ball, and petting any animal she sees. If you see a 5’2 girl running around, it’s not a child, it’s Laura! She hopes to help you all have an experience that you will never forget! She can not wait to meet you all and have the best Summer with you!
LUKE BERTAUX
Luke Bertaux is a 2022 graduate from The University of Tulsa in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Luke earned a BS in Computer Information Systems with a minor in Cybersecurity. During his time on campus, Luke has interned with a sustainable development coffee firm in Panama, worked in both on-campus housing and the Office of Admission, and served as a peer tutor. Luke attended WYSE in 2017 where he developed a passion for sustainable and urban development, made lifelong friends, and traveled alone away from home for the first time. In September, Luke will be moving to Spain to pursue a Fulbright grant where he will teach at the University of Málaga.
LAUREN NOVORSKA
Lauren Novorska is majoring in Ecosystem Science and Policy and Anthropology and minoring in Sustainable Business and Climate Science and Policy at the University of Miami. She is pursuing a career in environmental policy and education and is passionate about human-wildlife conflict, climate change, and educating students about ecological issues. She is an Everglades Coalition Conference scholarship recipient, serves as the President for the Pi Epsilon National Environmental Science Honor Society, works with the University of Miami Law School Environmental Justice Clinic Shifting Power Course, and is a Lead Educator and Mentor Volunteer for the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. Lauren’s experience as a delegate, intern, and JFA at WYSE has been life-changing, and she hopes to make the conference an incredible experience for other delegates!
ALLEN YUAN
Allen Yuan (he/him) is a rising senior at the University of Maryland, where he is a recent graduate of the Design, Cultures, and Creativity Living Learning Program in the Honors College. He is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and Policy with a concentration in Wildlife Ecology and Management, which he hopes to use to aid in creating a sustainable future that is not only environmentally-sound but also successfully serves every demographic. His interest in environmental science began with a childhood obsession with cetaceans, which has unwaveringly transferred to the present. Allen’s hobbies include baking, figure skating, sitting out in the sun, and hanging out with friends. He attended WYSE in 2021 and served on the Youth Advisory Board after the program. He returned as a Junior Faculty Advisor in 2023 and is excited to do it again this summer! He hopes to help make WYSE 2024 as special and valuable of an experience as it was for him.
AARON MORTON
Aaron Morton is a rising sophomore at George Mason University studying environmental justice and minoring in conservation. He is on the executive board of GMU’s Young Democratic Socialists chapter and is also a Smithsonian Mason Scholar. He spent last semester studying environmental science in Costa Rica. In his free time, he loves birding and has seen over 230 species.
SAMANTHA FOOR
Samantha is a freshman at Youngstown State University, in Youngstown, Ohio. She attended WYSE in the summer of 2021, after her original summit in 2020 was canceled due to the world wide pandemic. During her free time, she likes to read, color and do research on The Amazon Rainforest. Samantha is extremely passionate about the preservation of wildlife and the world around us. At Youngstown State, she is pursuing a major in biology, with the hopes of someday being able to help with the conservation of animals and their habitats.
