“The impact that Alexis had on my PhD is immeasurable. From the first meeting she read my mind. It was a flourishing mentoring relationship that had all the pieces that helped me grow as an PhD student, a professional, and as an individual. She helped me to think about my PhD as a whole and taught me about navigating graduate school. During arduous times she told me to ask myself why I was doing what I was doing as a way to fuel myself going forward. During my graduate school career, I was often the only Black woman in the classroom or lab it made me happy that I finally saw someone else who looked like me.”

-Teso C.

Graduate Student (PhD) Mentee

“Working with Alexis through the SESUR program was such a defining moment of my undergraduate career. As a freshman, I was so new to the world of Earth Sciences, but Alexis’s mentorship gave me the confidence to truly get my hands dirty and build confidence in the soil lab and the field. She walked me through every step, from coding to scheduling interviews to lab work, with such incredible patience. It was because of that summer  with Alexis as my mentor that I officially declared Earth Systems with a focus on the Land Systems track and soil sciences. Now, as a Masters student, I still carry the environmental justice lens she instilled in me in all the work I do. “

-Cali O.

Undergraduate Research Mentee

“Alexis was an amazing mentor as I navigated the beginning of my PhD, offering her time and feedback on how to successfully choose a research topic and apply for funding. She also was my mentor in the RAISE fellowship program and inspired me to not only pursue community-based research, but to do so in a meaningful way that advances science while working with community members. She is approachable and kind, and I learned from her how to be a better community-based scholar in my field!”

-Sierra C.

Graduate Student (PhD) Mentee

“I was inspired by the way that Alexis weaves together academic research with real community impact. Learning about her work has helped motivate my own social impact work.”

-William X.

Graduate Student (PhD) Mentee

“I was super lucky to have Alexis as a mentor when I started in graduate school! She made me feel like there were no stupid questions I could ask her, and I felt comfortable going to her for help. She was always there to reassure me that she also figured it out as she went, and that I was on the right track.”

-Anna G.

Graduate Student (PhD) Mentee