Sustainability Leaders

Empress Love is a Political Science major with a pre-law concentration at Cal State East Bay. She cares deeply about environmental and social justice and believe that clean air, safe water, and access to green spaces are basic rights, not privileges. She is passionate about driving change through policy and the law to protect communities most affected by pollution, climate impacts, and environmental inequality. She feels that green spaces in urban areas are essential for both physical and mental well-being, and that reflective materials should be required in building infrastructure to increase albedo and reduce urban heat in cities. She is currently working with Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice, helping collect and analyze data for a heat index survey and supporting Oakland’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. Through the Sustainable Leadership Program, She is focused on finding real solutions that protect people, restore balance, and make every community healthier and more sustainable.

William is a third-year student at CSUEB, currently studying Health Sciences with the intention of becoming a Functional Health Practitioner. His incarceration in 2020 altered his life course, granting him a perspective and passion for the prevention and rehabilitation of those who have had contact with the penal system in the US. As a Project Rebound Scholar, he seeks to facilitate conversations and community-based interventions to assist those impacted. Furthermore, he strives to help others in the context of food, fitness, and overall well-being. His main mission in life is to love others, and he seeks to add value to people in everything he does.

Jason Moseley is a Junior majoring in Psychology in hopes to become a Clinical Psychologist. He sees an array of insufficient access to healthy food options and clean water especially amongst groups of color.  A way we can alleviate this is by advocating for those who cannot afford healthier food options and providing ways where they become more accessible. Jason has been serving for the Alameda County Food Bank regularly for the past 2 ½ years, and has just started doing photography work for the Bay Area Water Keepers Program around the Bay Area. He hopes to continue to work with a plethora of organizations to help make a more equitable and altruistic society for everyone.

Elva NelsonHayes is a fourth-year transfer student majoring in Environmental Studies, minoring in Political Science. She has been involved in different community environmental outreach programs involving coastal and creek clean-up projects in Oakland, Richmond, and Antioch. Her interest is in educating the public on the importance of caring for our local watersheds, air quality, and the environment at large. In the SLP program she is currently working on a project to educate K-12 students in Antioch about the importance of aquatic habitats, like the Dow Corteva Wetland Preserve. She hopes to encourage a sense of stewardship between students in the community and their local watersheds. She believes that environmental education for underrepresented communities is a form of social justice, and that by educating communities about their immediate environment, they become empowered to make informed decisions in the policy making process.

Sai Sravan is a Business Analytics major at CSU East Bay, set to graduate in January 2027. As a Sustainability Leadership Scholar, Sai Sravan is leading a campus initiative to develop a thriving garden and expand green spaces, focusing on educating students and staff about the benefits of plants, fruits, and vegetables. Their work emphasizes organic farming practices and pesticide-free methods that promote environmental health and community well-being.

Driven by a strong interest in food sustainability and innovation, Sai Sravan actively raises awareness about food waste and its impact on the environment. Beyond academics, they enjoy traveling, meeting new people, and learning about diverse cultures. In the future, Sai Sravan aspires to return to India to pursue organic farming and advance sustainable agricultural practices that empower local communities and support a healthier planet.

Karen Gomez is currently pursuing her Master's in Public Administration at California State University, East Bay, with a concentration in Policy Analysis, after earning her B.A. in Political Science with a Pre-Law focus in 2025. As a first generation student raised in East Oakland, it meant learning early on what perseverance really looks like. Karen witnessed the realities many choose to overlook, gun violence spreading through neighborhoods, underfunded schools struggling to hold on, and families forced to carry the weight of poverty being passed down through generations. 

Through the Sustainability Leadership Program, Karen is partnering up with Homies Empowerment’s Freedom School in Oakland, a grassroots organization that redefines what community care looks like through education, well being, and growth. The Freedom School offers a space where young people can be able to learn, grow, and feel supported beyond traditional classrooms. Karen’s project focuses on how environmental justice, food access, and community belonging are connected to the overall well being of Oakland residents & communities. Through her collaboration with the Freedom School, she works together with youth and community leaders to develop programs that expand access to healthy food, improve mental health, and build leadership guided by empathy, accountability, and sustainability.

Tryphena Arthur is pursuing her Master of Public Administration at California State University, East Bay, while completing a second B.A. in Urban Studies and Planning at San Francisco State University. As a woman of color who has worked closely with unhoused and housing-insecure communities, she carries a grounded understanding of how policy is felt in everyday life — in neighborhoods, in families, and in the quiet decisions that shape belonging.

Through the Sustainability Leadership Program, Tryphena is collaborating with community organizations across the Bay Area to explore sea-level rise resilience and environmental justice as part of a larger struggle for housing stability and public health. Her project is guided by the belief that climate adaptation must honor the people and histories already rooted in place. She is committed to planning that restores trust, strengthens community voice, and ensures sustainability is built with — not just for — the communities most impacted

Jordan Rancifer is a Political Science major with a minor in Ethnic Studies at Cal State East Bay. Born and raised in Oakland, California, Jordan’s roots in the Bay Area have shaped their passion for social and environmental justice. Having personally experienced the effects of environmental inequities, Jordan is driven to understand and address the systems that create them. Growing up in a family deeply committed to labor rights and education inspired Jordan’s belief that everyone deserves access to knowledge, especially about the environmental injustices that often go unnoticed in their own communities.

Jenna Pierre is a Senior Political Science Pre-Law Major with a Minor in Black Studies. I’m from Oakland, California which piqued her interest in environmental justice and experienced firsthand experience on food injustice.  She has a strong connection to her community on and off campus. On campus, Jenna works within DISARC, being the President of Black Student Union, and is a part of the Sustainability Leadership Program cohort.  Jenna heavily volunteers with Alameda County Food Bank. She is committed to fighting food justice with work in community service, helping provide food to Oakland and Alameda County Residents. In her collaboration with CSUEB Black Student Union she is cultivating a program of community service hours with various food justice organizations including Alameda County Food Bank that will be pasted down and implemented into the bylaws of the Union to instill the mission of helping our surrounding community with an emphasis on issues that impact communities of color.

Santiago Fuentes is a 4th year student majoring in Public Health. As a SLP scholar, Santiago has been collaborating with a CSU East Bay, National Science Foundation funded program called “Climate Empowerment Learning Initiative” (CELI). As part of CELI, he has been able to improve on his leadership skills by working alongside both High Schoolers and Middle Schoolers who are passionate about climate education and bringing his own public health knowledge and experiences to spark further passion. Santiago plans on pursuing a Masters in Public Health, with a concentration in Environmental Health. 

Jasmine Carranza is a second-year transfer student majoring in Environmental Studies. Through the SLP program, she was inspired to engage and strengthen her advocating skills within her campus' community and has since partnered with the Real Food Challenge (RFC)—a nationwide movement that’s active on college campuses across the U.S. to advocate for a sustainable food system. After graduation, she plans to pursue a full-time position with the City of Oakland's Public Works Environmental Service Division, where she’s currently interning. She’s eager to continue growing her career in environmental service and make a difference in her community.

Jesse Gutierrez is a fourth-year student at CSU East Bay, set to graduate in spring 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health. He is a Sustainability Leadership Scholar interning at the local Clean Energy Alliance, where he creates educational materials focused on home electrification, decarbonization, and the resilience hub campaign in partnership with Emerald Cities and Ava Community Energy. An advocate for environmental justice, Jesse has engaged with youth from New Voices Rising, Hayward committee members, and local residents to discuss a just transition to clean energy. After graduation, Jesse plans to work as a policy analyst for the California Department of Public Health, aiming to implement policies that eliminate barriers to a sustainable clean energy future.

Kat Vaino double majors in Ethnic Studies & Sociology, they are graduating summa cum laude spring 2025. The Sustainability Leadership Program has provided space and supportive navigation of Kat’s environmental passion, and they have been accepted into Contra Costa Resource Conservation District’s Spring Internship cohort. After graduating from CSUEB, Kat plans to attend graduate school in fall 2025 and work towards his goal of becoming an Environmental Sociologist.

Irbyn Fernandez Is a 4th year student majoring in Ethnic Studies with a concentration in Native American Studies and minoring in Sociology. SLP related activities include volunteering with the nonprofit organization Friends of Sausal Creek at the Bridge View Trailhead in Oakland currently working on restoring the area back to its natural habitat. Irbyn plans to pursue a career in Sustainable Development and Habitat Restoration, and also plans to bring sustainable practices to his home town in the Central Valley.

Wail Mohammed is a third year Computer Science major at CSUEB with strong interest in sustainability and green programming. Through SLP, he is able to undertake his dream project working on air quality management system using microcontrollers and exploring its applications in workplace safety and environmental monitoring. Through mentorship and guidance from Vandhana Somaskanthan, a Cisco Software Engineer, Wail is gaining valuable insights into engineering and technology, with future plans to develop holistic innovative solutions to further drive sustainability.

Yicheng Zeng is a first-year graduate student majoring in Interaction Design and Interactive Art. The SLP has provided space for her to explore interests in sustainability and environmental justice. Yicheng discovered her passion for environmental health through participating in the Ideathon on Sustainable Development Goals at Cal State East Bay. She is currently working on design ideas to address issues related to indoor environmental quality. Motivated to integrate sustainability into product design, she plans to incorporate these values into her future work.

Adrianna Iorio is a fourth-year History major with a concentration in Sustainability & Modernization and a minor in Sustainability. A returning SLP student, Adrianna previously worked at the REAP Climate Center in Alameda and now serves as a fellow for the food justice nonprofit Real Food Challenge. After graduating from East Bay, they plan to pursue a graduate degree in Public History, where they hope to integrate their passion for food justice and sustainability into future museum work.

Sam Koshy is a graduate student in Construction Management at CSU East Bay, with a strong focus on sustainable construction. Through the SLP program, he volunteers with Habitat for Humanity on the Sequoia Grove project, (Silicon Valley’s most greenest development)    contributing to hands-on construction activities and gaining experience in energy-efficient materials and all-electric systems. Committed to advancing eco-friendly building practices, he aims to integrate sustainable solutions within the construction industry.

Kyle Mccray is a fourth year student majoring in Chemistry. Working towards a graduate degree in Materials Science with a concentration in sustainability. Through SLP they have been working with Fresh Approach, whose mission has been to create long-term change in local food systems. Kyle has been assisting in expanding knowledge about food and nutrition with Fresh Approach. Helping run the community compost program. Where at local farmers markets free composting bins are given out and recollected once full. Afterwards added into community gardens.

Rachelle Areyan is a 4th year transfer student majoring in Anthropology. She has been involved in different community environmental projects in her hometown of Fresno. Her interest is in educating the public on how they can create environmental change in their daily lives. In the SLP program she is currently working on a project to educate students on the indigenous plants growing on campus. She believes that by integrating environmental change individually in our daily lives we can make a big change together.