Our Mission:
The ENSP Student Advisory Board (ENSPire) exists to bring together ENSP majors and to voice ENSP students’ concerns and suggestions about the ENSP program to staff, faculty, and administrators. With twelve different concentrations spanning 3 advising colleges, ENSPire works hard to create a sense of community within the major across our diverse interests.
- Examples of Past Events: Choose your Concentration, Faculty and Staff Q&A, Dog Walking, Campus Creek Clean-up, Campus Garden Volunteering, Walk Along Lake Artemesia,
- Examples of Past Event Partners: UMD Arboretum, Prince George’s County Animal Shelter, UMD Community Learning Garden, BSOS Student Advisory Board, AGNR Dean’s Student Advisory Council
Our Role:
The Board is made up of two or three representatives from each class, members are selected in the spring of their freshman year and generally serve until they graduate. ENSPire plans various events which center around environmental education, professional development, academic support, and making new friends in the major. Events are open to current and prospective ENSP students.
- Academic Peer Advising: Advisory Board members will meet with students one-on-one to discuss career plans, internship advice, academic schedules, four-year plans, using Testudo, joining student clubs and organizations, or to answer any other academic or social questions students might have. Reach out to them via their individual emails, find their emails below in “Meet Our Students”.
- Feedback Form: Find a google form here where you can leave suggestions about future events and give us general feedback.
- Open Bi-weekly Meetings: Our Board meetings are bi-weekly and open to students, student groups, and other organizations who would like to give us feedback or partner with us for events or initiatives. Please contact us at enspireatumd@gmail.com to find a time to attend an ENSPire meeting.
- Facebook and Instagram Group: Find our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/umdenspire and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/enspire_umd/?hl=en, where we post information for ENSP majors about upcoming ENSPire events, university events, used textbooks, clubs, and much more!
Meet Our Students
Emilia Ross is a senior Environmental Science and Policy student with a specialization in Environmental Economics, as well as a minor in GIS and Business Analytics. Post graduation, she hopes to find work in environmental consulting. Currently, Emilia serves as President for ENSPire and returns for her fourth year on the board. She is also the Chair for AGNR’s Dean’s Student Advisory Council (DSAC). Over the summer Emilia had the opportunity to work for the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services with the Source Water Protection Team. She currently works with the Global FEWture Alliance team at UMD on multiple safe/clean water studies participating in lab work and data analysis.
Email: eross12@terpmail.umd.edu
Vivian Maneval is a junior Environmental Science and Policy student with a specialization in Marine & Coastal Management and a minor in Remote Sensing of Environmental Change. Beyond her role as ENSPire’s Vice President, she serves as the Director of Professional Development for Epsilon Eta, is an AGNR Ambassador, and is a member of the Sustainable Ocean Alliance. While at UMD, she has studied abroad in Vietnam and New Zealand. She is currently interning with the UMD Office of Sustainability and with the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, an intergovernmental group headquartered in DC. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with friends.
Email: vmaneval@terpmail.umd.edu
Jena Vernon is a junior ENSP student specializing in Politics and Policy, and she is pursuing a double major in Economics. She is a brother in Alpha Phi Omega, a service fraternity, where she serves as the Recording Secretary. She is also excited to serve as ENSPire’s Communications Lead! Last winter, she studied abroad in Vietnam, focusing on agriculture and sustainable development, while travelling around and talking with local farmers about their perspectives. She also participated in the Federal Fellows program in her sophomore year, interning with the USDA Office of Inspector General. In the future, Jena wants to pursue a career in public interest law. Outside of ENSPire and other school activities, she enjoys reading, coloring, and running!
Email: jvernon4@terpmail.umd.edu
Alicia Barnett is a junior majoring in Environmental Science and Policy with a specialization in Politics and Policy, and she is also pursuing a minor in Spanish. When she isn’t assisting with the ENSPire Advising Committee, Alicia can be found planning events as the Director of the SGA’s Sustainability Committee, collaborating as an Assistant Coordinator for the Scholar’s Peer Mentor Program, or working at the Terp to Terp Campus Reuse Store. As a former Federal Fellow, she plans to use her experience at FEMA’s Office of Response and Recovery, Policy Section to explore opportunities in environmental advocacy, with a particular interest in communications and outreach. Outside of ENSPire and other school activities, she enjoys reading, doing her nails, and watching movies.
Email: barnett5@umd.edu
Megan McCrann is a sophomore Environmental Science and Policy student with a specialization in Politics & Policy and a double major in Public Policy. Besides being a member of ENSPire’s advising committee, she works at Eppley Recreation Center and is the Social Media & Outreach Chair of UMD’s Sustainable Ocean Alliance. She is also in the Civic Engagement for Social Good Scholars Program and is a Teaching Assistant for Introduction to Environmental Science (ENSP101 Freshman Connection). This semester she is in the Federal Fellows Energy and Environmental Policy Seminar and will be completing a spring internship for the program. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering, spending time outside, staying active, and listening to music!
Email: mmccrann@terpmail.umd.edu
Assata Makonnen is a sophomore majoring in Environmental Science and Policy with a concentration of Politics and Policy and a minor in Sustainability Studies. Outside of ENSPire, Assata serves as a Community Advocate for the University Student Judiciary, is a member of Maryland Mock Trial, the Jimenez-Porter Writers’ House, and an intern for the Organic Farmers Association, where she works to ensure that the voices of organic farmers are heard by policymakers. This Winter, she is also set to study abroad in Vietnam to learn how climate change has impacted the agricultural community of the country’s Mekong-Delta. For recreation, Assata enjoys reading, writing, theatre, and crafting. Currently, she aims to pursue a career in environmental law.
Email: amakonn2@terpmail.umd.edu
Ru Subramaniam is a junior Environmental Science and Policy major with a specialization in Marine & Coastal Management, as well as a minor in Sustainability Studies. Outside of ENSPire, Ru serves as the Director of Communications for Epsilon Eta, UMD’s co-ed professional environmental fraternity, is a group fitness instructor with RecWell, the undergraduate intern for the Life Science Scholars program, an ambassador for SustainableUMD, and a member of the Sustainable Ocean Alliance. In her free time, Ru likes to go on runs, travel, DJ, and try new things!
Email: asubram4@terpmail.umd.edu
Lydia Ferro is a sophomore Environmental Science and Policy major specializing in Global Environmental Change along with minors in Geographical Information Systems and Spanish. In addition to ENSPire, Lydia is a member of the University Demands Subcommittee for the 17 for Peace and Justice club, part of the FIRE program, a volunteer for the Water Emergency Team, and an avid member of Ballroom at Maryland club. She enjoys dancing, playing soccer, video games, and reading. In the future, Lydia hopes to work in environmental advocacy through policy and research.
Email: lferro@terpmail.umd.edu
Sienna Gediman is a sophomore Environmental Science and Policy major specializing in Wildlife Ecology & Management, along with a minor in Geographical Information Systems and a certificate in Peace Corps Preparation. In addition to ENSPire, Sienna is a member of the Sustainable Ocean Alliance and the UMD Chapter of The Wildlife Society. This Winter semester, Sienna will be going abroad to Vietnam, where she will be a part of a team focusing on agricultural and sustainable development. Sienna was also a member of the 2025 Americorps NCCC Summer of Service Class 31B, where she was set to serve for three months in ecosystem preservation in Aurora, Colorado. In the future, Sienna hopes to do 2 years of service abroad as a volunteer in the Peace Corps Environmental sector, before returning to school for a PhD. In her free time Sienna enjoys soccer, reading, concerts, and traveling.
Email: sgediman@terpmail.umd.edu
Francesca DiGiovanni is a freshman Environmental Science and Policy major currently planning to specialize in Politics and Policy. Besides being an ENSPire Board Member, she is a brother in Phi Alpha Delta, a pre-law fraternity, and member of the University Demands Subcommittee in the club 17 For Peace and Justice. She is also in the Justice and Legal Thought College Park Scholars program. In the future, she hopes to work as an environmental consultant or lawyer. In her free time, Francesca loves to read, listen to music (especially going to concerts), relax outside, and bake.
Email: fdigi26@terpmail.umd.edu
Theophaneia Tossou is a freshman environmental science and policy major specializing in wildlife ecology and management. In addition to her major, she plans to minor in entomology and is a Gemstone Honors student. Outside of ENSPire, she is a part of Minorities in Agriculture and Natural Resources (MANNRs), the Wildlife Society chapter here at UMD, and the Sewing Club. Theophaneia also works with the Maryland Mentor Corps, where she tutors first graders on Saturdays and seventh graders on Tuesdays. She plans to use her education and experience to become a wildlife biologist or an entomologist after college. Outside of her academics and extracurricular responsibilities, Theophaneia likes playing tennis, watching movies, and listening to music, especially Solange.
Email: ttossou@terpmail.umd.edu