My current work sheds light on the growing crisis of agricultural plastic waste in central California. The arc and future of my career hinge on this representation: using photographic imagery and repurposing waste materials to bring attention to land-use issues, human/environmental impact, and the growing predicament of artistically revealing the undesirable view in contrast to its idealized, Instagramable concept. I see my work as a metaphor for the absence of our collective attention to these global and local issues, while signaling a call to turn our gaze to critically scarred landscapes and the daily practices inflicting the wounds.

Most recently, my eye was trained on central California’s Santa Maria Regional Landfill. I’m intrigued by this landscape’s visual and conceptual dissonances: the iconic forms of commercially grown picture-perfect produce, the carefully organized chaos of waste-intake sites, the engineered hills of capped landfill cells that wildflowers refuse to vacate. Resting in the shadows of these pillars of industrial agriculture are hulking monoliths of stacked and compacted tonnage of agricultural plastic. These forms, masquerading as hay bales or wind-cut boulders, are composed of the same insulation and irrigation material that blankets the tidy rows of strawberry fields nearby.

I learned that this particular site exists as a carefully calibrated ecosystem, constantly negotiating the balance between waste and renewal, containment and transformation. The processes of covering, wrapping, and burying, alongside the systematic hollowing out of the earth, take place on a macro scale. But they have an uncanny micro resonance. The personal acts of unwrapping and tossing, sanitizing and consuming, sculpting the earth with our daily choices—these beg to be further explored.

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—Brett Kallusky  |  Photographic Artist, Artist Fellowship Applicant

Born in Colombia, graphic artist and accessories designer Melina Safady has always been inspired by the natural wonders of her surroundings. The lush and diverse landscapes of her native country are home to a thriving hummingbird population, with nearly 150 species. As a child, Melina became captivated by these delicate, colorful birds that seemingly float mid-air then suddenly disappear from sight. Forever drawn to the nectar of native flora, hummingbirds display an upbeat spirit and a feminine grace. That’s why Melina chose to pair the hummingbird logo with her name, as a symbol of her respect for the beauty nature brings into our lives.

The name Melina comes from the Greek word for honey, which connects this designer to the sweet-seeking bird featured in the logo. Melina’s inspiration is echoed by her signature design element, the hexagon, which represents a honeycomb. Tying these elements together is the designer’s mission to bring awareness to the world’s dangerously declining honeybee population.

Environmental conservation is deeply important to the designer and to her brand. All of the exotic animal skins used in the Melina line are sustainably and ethically sourced by registered, certified suppliers. The same standards of excellence apply to the handmade details featured in many of the designs. Every inch of embroidery is crafted by hand in fair-trade facilities around the world.

A former TV news reporter, Andrea Valeria took a risk and transitioned her side hustle into her dream job of full-time travel vlogging and living as a digital nomad. Just six months after dropping her first vlog in 2012, she was nominated for a Shorty Award now called Vlogger of the Year. 

Her motto (which she has tattooed on her body) is "Do what you love." With her passion for digital media and seeing others reach their creative and professional goals, Andrea offers the motivation and knowledge you need to do just that. 

She's a pro at helping others push past the fear of being on camera, and she's excited to share with you the vlogging tricks that took her years of trial and error to perfect. With a sense of humor and a dose of encouragement, she can help you find your voice and get your message out into the world through your own vlog.

With my background in marketing and business, a career in UX/UI management, and a passion for the arts, I approach every project with business savvy and an eye for design.

My portfolio is built on projects and clients big and small. Sometimes I’m the sole UX architect/UI designer working alongside 10 engineers. Other times, I collaborate with an army of project managers, business analysts, designers, product owners, developers, external agencies, and QA while managing a talented team of UX architects, UI designers, copywriters, and researchers.

The diversity of my professional experiences has enhanced my ability to adapt without hesitation, delegate without micromanaging, and deliver on deadline without sacrificing usability and creativity.

Though fascinated by science, I have always felt that it should have a stronger, clearer voice in society than it seems to.

After completing undergraduate and master’s degrees in biology and fisheries science, I wanted to work in science communication but didn’t want to become a science writer. I soon found fulfillment in a role that perfectly fit my experience and interests: I manage a social media website for scientists who study the Arctic. For the last five years, I have catalyzed interdisciplinary research by enhancing communication across boundaries both disciplinary and organizational, building a community of over 1,800 Arctic researchers and stakeholders.

I recognize that our community is dominated by researchers in later stages of their careers. Realizing the importance of including early-career scientists in our work, I developed an online science communication training program to not only give them the tools to communicate within our community, but to provide them with the opportunities to do so.

Today, I teach scientists around the world about the foundations of science communication—including storytelling, audience consideration, and how to distil complex ideas. The early-career scientists in my course learn how to build a presentation of their work with our interdisciplinary audience of Arctic scientists in mind. I provide feedback on their talks, and they have the opportunity to deliver their presentation at a collaboration team meeting and during a public webinar. At the conclusion of my course, scientists continue to develop their skills by participating in a Science Communication Forum I developed and manage.

Now, I’m bringing these same principles of communication and applicable skills to scientists like you. You recognize the value of clear communication among our various disciplines and between the global scientific community, the public, and government and industry leaders. I look forward to helping you customize and polish your scientific presentation so that it can engage diverse audiences and impact our collective thinking about your work.

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—Jessica Rohde  |  Science Communication Manager, Communications Educator

I’ve always had an interest in marketing, particularly the psychology behind great marketing campaigns. While studying psychology in college, I built my first home. Collaborating with residential construction pros on my own property introduced me to the local industry and ignited my interest in interior design and homebuilding.

Soon after, I entered the residential construction industry first as a sales associate, then transitioned into my role as New Home Planner. For nearly a decade, I guided new property owners through the process of purchasing and building their dream homes on time and within budget. Working with the area’s top homebuilders and designers, industry vendors, construction teams, and legal counsel, I got to know the creative and hardworking people who’ve literally built our community from the ground up.

When the real estate, renovation, and new construction industry took a big hit a few years ago, I wanted to continue my work in this field, but in a new capacity. I saw that residential and commercial builders and designers need help marketing and promoting their services. So, I expanded my skills with a Certificate in Marketing and Communications.

Now I serve local industry businesses and nonprofits, specializing in social media management, marketing, and brand development. I’ve spearheaded two large-scale rebranding campaigns while building my clients’ social media following and attendance at industry events. I look forward to discussing social media strategies to expand your organization’s online reach and engagement.

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Ashley Larsen  |  Founder, Evergreen Social Media