This Spring 2024 semester, the UBP Leadership Team selected 10 outstanding students from a pool of applicants. We are pleased to present our new Scholars for the 2024 Spring Semester:
Luna Isabella Guerrero Arellano
My name is Luna Isabella Guerrero Arellano, and I am originally from San Diego, California. I am finishing my bachelor’s in English and minor in anthropology. On my mother’s side, I am a first generation, and my family is from several parts of Mexico, such as Baja California, Durango, and Mexico City. My love of writing began with my parents’ library of books and my mother, who would read along with me while she learned English. My studies investigate indigenous traditions and oral literature, especially topics on feminism and queer identity. This conglomeration of indigenous and Spanish cultures is the duality within our heritage that defines Mexican Americans today.
Javier Mateos-Campos
Javier Mateos-Campos is a third-year doctoral student in the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies program at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He is a Mexican immigrant, first-generation student, activist organizer, and multidisciplinary emerging scholar whose work focuses on art-based research, pedagogies of liberation, decolonial studies, and the broader spectrum of life.
Danielle López
Danielle López (two spirit) is a born & raised Nepantlera from the settler occupied medicine gardens of Aztlan, Coahuiltecan, Ndé Kónitsąąíí – Lipan Apache, Esto’k Gna (Carrizo/Comecrudo) territories, better known as the Transfronteriza of the U.S-Mexico Borderlands. Currently, they are a PhD candidate at the Department of English at UTSA. Their Border Arte scholarship focuses on empowering communities via their ancestral wellness praxis, centering Curanderismo. They promote the collaborative plática of all healing cultures to foster pathways for spiritual reparations. Their autohistoria-teoria is archived at the Latin Smithsonian Museum, Titan Gallery, Museum of South Texas, Quinta Mazatlán, Warner Brothers, sampled Indigenous cantor at Sony Music-Mexico, the University of Houston Center for Public History, the Society for the Study of Gloria Anzaldua, and the Indigenous People’s Caucus of Texas. They teach Borders, Race, Literature 2773 and complete candidacy this Spring 2024.
Kayla Razo
Hello, I am Kayla Razo! I am an undergraduate at UTSA, class of Spring 2024. I major in English with a concentration in black, indigenous, and Latinx literature. I am originally from Salinas, California, and was raised in Fort Collins, Colorado, which heavily guided my interest in environmental justice. UTSA has also helped guide these passions, especially as a first-generation Mexican-American student. I aim to work with community-focused teams merging environmental humanities, indigenous studies, and Mexican-American studies to create positive change, which is why I am very excited to be working with the Urban Bird Project.
Idalia Gisele Tarin
Hello, I’m Idalia. I am pursuing my Bachelors in Environmental Science at UTSA and I am concentrating in Natural Resources and Management. I have enjoyed science and the outdoors for as long as I can remember. I like to utilize my knowledge as a San Antonio native within my studies to draft conservation efforts that best appeal to the San Antonio population.
Olarotimi Ogungbemi
Growing up in Nigeria, I witnessed both the beauty and degradation of Nigeria’s ecosystems. This upbringing fuels my belief in the urgency of ecological stewardship and the need for environmental literacy education. Currently, my research explores climate risk communication, regenerative ecology, and environmental justice rhetorics. This multifaceted research aims to address environmental and climate challenges, balancing ecological preservation with social justice. In my free time, I enjoy observing our non-human neighbors, making physical and mental notes about them. My mission is to inspire others to make small changes in their daily lives for a significant environmental impact.
Emily Brieno
Howdy! My name is Emily Brieno and I was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. I received my BS in Agricultural Leadership and Development from Texas A&M University, and I am currently pursuing my MS in Environmental Science at UTSA. I am passionate about the great outdoors, community outreach, and exploring the relationships we have with our environment. I hope to inspire others to engage with nature and conservation efforts in their own communities.
Eric Uriegas
Eric Uriegas is a doctoral student in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Texas at San Antonio. His research interests include undocumented student experiences in higher education, critical policy studies, and college affordability for minoritized students.
Lorraine Shanahan
Hello from Paula Lorraine Cortez Flores Shanahan. I am a native Texan. I have traveled to and lived in other states and a few countries such as Mexico, Canada, Ireland, and Scotland. I am the youngest of nine children and our family were Migrant workers. My parents were a mix of Spanish and Mexican blood while my mom was predominately Native American. I am a first-generation college student. I am honored to be a part of the Urban Bird Project as I pursue a B.S. in Environmental Science with an emphasis in Wildlife Management. I was fortunate to participate in a trans-disciplinary course titled Community-Based Research Methods course which explored diverse methods in learning from and working with others on environmental issues through community involvement, cultural engagement, and as citizen scientists with a social and environmental justice perspective. I hope to share this knowledge and other experiences with others and to use this eye- and mind-opening knowledge to improve the environment and to inspire others. “The beautiful thing about learning is that nobody can take it away from you.” -B.B. King
Sara Peche
Hello! My name is Sara Peche – I received my bachelor’s degree in Biology from UT at Austin, and am currently pursuing my master’s degree at UTSA in Environmental Science. My interest in birds is what spurred me to pursue a career in this field, with the hope that I might be able to play a bigger role in conservation efforts. Through my studies and research, I aim to contribute to the preservation of biodiversity and the sustainability of our planet.