Having grown up five miles in, on a dirt road near a tiny town in Northern California, Parker has always had a love for the outdoors. Since she could walk she could be found exploring the miles and miles of public lands near her home, soon becoming an enthusiastic environmentalist. Wanting to explore her passion for sustainability, Parker transferred from a local community college to Boise State University to pursue a four-year degree. Deciding she wanted a more global perspective that would allow her to address environmental issues from a variety of disciplines and perspectives, Parker chose to major in global studies with an emphasis in sustainable futures. As she gained more knowledge, she realized the complexity of environmental issues demanded dispute resolution and second language abilities and added two certificates to her degree, one in Spanish and one in conflict management.
To further explore her passion for sustainability and conservation, Parker decided to complete an internship with Campus Sustainability in the fall of her senior year, which gave her a strong foundation in public outreach and fueled her passion for a career in environmental conservation. Upon graduation in May, she aspires to use the skills she has gained to make a positive impact in the world through working with environmentally focused governmental and non-governmental organizations in Boise and around the world. Parker is ecstatic to have been chosen as a 2022 Andrus Scholar and is determined to use her internship with the Environmental Management Office of the Idaho Army National Guard to bring about positive change and be a guardian of Idaho’s beautiful public lands. She believes this opportunity will put her on a path to have a profound impact in environmental conservation and allow her to take another step towards making a difference in the world.