Sara SantaCruz
Applied Geography (MA)
I am originally from Southern California, where I studied forestry. I moved to Colorado to study geography, and completed my BA in Geography and Environmental Studies with a minor is Sustainable Development in December 2013. I went straight into the master's program in Applied Geography, where I am now focusing on agroecology, food, and social justice. I am currently employed by the Colorado Geographic Alliance (COGA) and the UCCS Greenhouse and Gardens. I am also the student garden intern at the Yawn Valley Student Garden. Additionally, I am the Chair of Students for Environmental Awareness and Sustainability, as well as the Green Action Fund.
As for my studies, I am focusing on agroecology and regenerative food systems. This means producing food in a way that is ecologically-minded and fair, to steward the physical and social landscapes of our place. I would like to transform the Yawn Valley Student Garden at the Heller Center into an educational space, where the community can engage in food literacy; learning what food grows here, how to grow it, and why it is important to nurture a nature-society connection with our food. So far at UCCS, my experience has provided me with a support network that makes me feel confident. All of the faculty that I work with have challenged and empowered me, giving me the confidence to continually strive to be better, and to share what I've learned with others.