Alumni

Ava McLeod is a current senior at Eckerd College with a double major in Marine Science and French and a minor in Math. She was raised in Dallas, Texas where she enjoyed hobbies such as nature walking, singing, and acting. Since being at Eckerd, Ava has participated in many clubs and student organizations that have enabled her to improve her leadership skills, including being the first ever Culture Council Liaison, the President of ECOS, and now, an Eastman Scholar.  For the Eastman Program, Ava's discovery plan focuses on climate gentrification in St. Petersburg and how we can either prevent it from happening in the first place or prevent it from progressing. In order to fulfill this project, she plans on collaborating with politicians and various organizations in St. Petersburg and studying how other cities and areas are addressing climate gentrification. 

Andrew (He/Him) is an Eckerd College Graduate who majored in  Anthropology and Animal Studies, and minored in Spanish. He pursued his  academic interests in assessing the relationship between disabled bodies, the built environment, and accessibility within higher education. He worked as the Co-President of Eckerd’s Disability Advocacy Coalition and with ECOS as the Building and Grounds Liaison with hopes to make Eckerd’s campus more accessible for disabled students. In his free time, Andrew enjoys birdwatching, volunteering at Elmira’s Wildlife Sanctuary, and visiting coffee shops and museums around St. Pete!

Isobel Morton (she/her) is a graduate of Eckerd College who majored in Environmental Studies. She served as the Grassroots Coordinator and Chapter Communication Coordinator for FL PIRG Students’ 100% Renewable Energy campaign where she advocated for the installation of solar panels across campus. She was the Vice President of Generation Action at Eckerd. She was also a work-study employee for the Armacost Library. Her future academic interests include advocating for environmental policy and social awareness, which was be embodied in her Eastman program work, advocating for sanitary products and menstrual education for all. Isobel is now attending the University of Maine School of Law.

Check out her e-portfolio linked in the next pannel!

Katya Tjahaja is an International student from Jakarta, Indonesia. She is a Eckerd graduate with a degree in Biology and minors in Creative Writing and Chemistry. In the future, she hopes to be working in the biomedical field, either as a practicing doctor or researcher of tropical diseases. Through the Eastman Program, Katya hopes the tackle issues of medical racism by incorporation of statistical data and interlacing personal accounts from both patients and practicing doctors. On campus, she is an active journalist for The Current, Student Coordinator on the Academic Honor Council, member of EC-ERT and research assistant for Professor Dobrin’s Honeybee Neurobiology Lab. Katya is excited to continue her academic journey at Eckerd and pace through challenges whilst accepting rigorous opportunities that come her way!

Kayla (she/her) is a graduate of Eckerd College where she majored in Integrative Biology with a minor in Spanish. She is currently the Lead Inclusive Excellence Ambassador for the Office for Inclusive Excellence where she works to engage with collaborators on campus such as Campus Activities, Academic Affairs, Admissions, and Student Life to support campus stakeholders in accomplishing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) goals. In the Eastman Leaders program, Kayla’s focus involves having courageous conversations about DEIB within predominately white institutions. She collaborates with the Assistant Director of Inclusive Excellence to engage with Diversity Leadership Scholars to recreate and redefine what leadership means for people of marginalized communities. Aside from class and the busyness of college life, Kayla enjoys drinking coffee at a local coffee shop, hiking, and hanging out with friends.