Environmental Education and Outreach Coordinator
MES Program, The Evergreen State College
Born and raised in Washington State, Desiree displayed an early interest in the natural world. Originally born in Wenatchee, Desiree’s first memories are playing in apple orchards and hay bales, intrigued by birds, amphibians, and insects. Her family moved to the Puget Sound area, where they would spend most weekends and holidays from May until September every year camping and exploring the sea and wildlife. It was here that she first recognized the stark differences in the semi-arid environment of eastern Washington and the marine forested archipelago of the Puget Sound. Her family also had a strong interest in agriculture and over time would acquire their own farming land in the Puget Sound. From 2010-2024 the family farmed together, procuring goods not only for themselves but also produce and flowers for Local Yokels, an organic farm store in Seattle owned and operated by Desiree’s sister, Amber. Desiree’s passion for agriculture also led her to work for the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA), supporting environmental programs and outreach. Ironically, some of the work she would do for WSDA involved monitoring the legacy arsenic levels in groundwater and aquifers left by the pesticide treatment of the very apple orchards she grew up playing in. She also volunteered for a year to work with vulnerable communities in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, securing safer situations for children and women at risk of human trafficking.
Desiree, originally a high school dropout, became a 1st generation college student and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies from The Evergreen State College and began the MES program the following fall. During her enrollment with MES, she has developed a stronger knowledge and understanding of hydrogeology, restoration ecology, and GIS. She is currently conducting her thesis research on the capacity of biochar derived from Scotch broom to remediate toxins, like heavy metals, from storm and wastewater. Due to Desiree’s passion and dedication to humanitarian environmentalism, she is elated to contribute to the SPP’s mission to bridge the gap between science and incarcerated individuals to build healthier, more sustainable communities.