Katya is excited to support the journey of students at Fort Lewis! They hold a B.S. in Environmental Science (with a certificate in conflict negotiation and resolution) from Oregon Institute of Technology as a first-generation, low-income student.
Katya grew up in the mountain town of Bend, Oregon, and moved to Durango in 2018 to work in environmental conservation. Their work has taken them to a vast diversity of wildlands in the U.S., including the halls of Washington D.C., to advocate for the protection of public lands and wildlife. They switched to advising and academic services for a change of pace and found supporting students deeply inspiring and fulfilling.
Social and environmental justice and activism hold a special fiery place in Katya's heart, and they are often involved in community mutual aid, queer/trans youth programs, immigrant and human rights initiatives, and projects that aim to end oppression and increase equity and inclusion. Katya also enjoys being outdoors and geeking out on the natural sciences, especially while climbing, paddle boarding and hiking.