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Isabel B.

I grew up in Manhattan, the daughter of a hard-working single mother from Zimbabwe. I attended Hunter College High School, where I most loved creative writing, philosophy, and history, worked on social justice and community engagement initiatives, and played three varsity sports. Despite growing up in NYC and moving to Los Angeles to attend UCLA, my life has always found meaning in the beauty of the natural world. I spent my childhood summers sailing with my dad near his home in Maine; that rocky coastline is where I first fell in love with the ocean, as well as where I was able to first start working as an educator in local sailing programs. At UCLA, I continued to spend time outdoors on the women’s lacrosse team, but my desire to explore California’s stunning natural resources took me off the field and onto the mountains and beaches, allowing me to get to know new ecosystems through skiing and surfing. Studying Geography and Environmental Systems & Society for my Bachelor’s degree opened my eyes to the complex processes of society, economy, and ecology that influence our relationships with nature and one another; this degree gave me the skills and perspective to approach complex socio-environmental issues with a critical eye and lots of empathy. At UCLA, this awareness inspired my activism in the food justice space (I co-founded UCLA’s first food co-operative with Mulholland Prep colleague Kathleen DeVine!), and since graduating, I’ve been focusing on combining my care for people and the environment by working in organic gardens and in the documentary film industry.

My academic career, often a defining part of my life as an intensely curious person, was always characterized by high-pressure environments full of high-achieving peers. While my time in academia always inspired, challenged, and motivated me, I am also deeply aware of the effects of our education system on students’ self esteem and mental health. I am eager to help students achieve all their goals while keeping the process fun, entertaining, and, ideally, stress-free. I believe in tailoring my teaching approach to each individual’s needs, strengths, and learning style, with a focus on patience, diligence, positivity, and creativity. I hope that my experiences as a student, athlete, and campus activist can provide useful insights, new skills, and more personal and academic success to the next generation of motivated students!