The Fellowship in Environmental Ethics is awarded to outstanding Santa Clara University undergraduates to support a project that examines the ethical implications of an environmental topic. The fellowship is supported by gifts from John and Joan Casey, and Mary Ganahl.
The 2024-25 Environmental Ethics Fellows will be working as a team to write a co-authored paper on the ethical dimensions of the failure of the levee in Pajaro, Calif., during a major winter storm in March 2023. The failure resulted in flooding out the small town of Pajaro, where many farmworkers reside. The failure also raised many broader ethical questions about environmental justice, climate change, and the construction of levees throughout California and the United States.
2024-25 Environmental Ethics Fellows
Jessica Garofalo is a senior environmental science major and sustainable food systems minor. She is extremely passionate about sustainability in all fields but particularly the intersection between sustainability and food. In her free time she enjoys spending time outside in any capacity especially hiking, skiing, and spending time with her dogs.
Hannah Hamawi is a Sophomore from Los Angeles, CA studying Civil, Environmental, and Sustainable Engineering with a double minor in Construction Management and Sustainability. She is passionate about the intersection of engineering, sustainability, and public infrastructure, with a particular focus on water resources. Outside of her academic work, she enjoys listening to music, being outside in nature, shopping with her friends, and fostering kittens.
Mahi Shah is a freshman from Salinas, California majoring in Civil Engineering. She is passionate about understanding how to maintain sustainability efforts long-term and is excited to research with the fellows. When not studying in SCDI you can find her watching the Great British Baking Show or exploring Santa Clara.
