What drives four future climate leaders
This story is part of a series of graduate profiles ahead of Commencement ceremonies. They come from various parts of the country, with diverse concentrations and backgrounds. What unites these graduating seniors is a commitment to confronting climate change. All four were awakened to the crisis early in life. That led to studying everything from environmental engineering to public policy, to researching air pollution and corporate interest power, and to elevating critical issues including biodiversity and reducing medical waste. Together, these future leaders form a multidisciplinary front — and lend hope to the most urgent issue of our times. ‘It caused people around me to develop rare cancers’ Alayna Jenkins St. Charles, Missouri Jenkins, an environmental science and public policy concentrator (with a government secondary) from suburban St. Louis, was an activist from an early age, with a particular passion for human rights. First she got involved with the movement to end gun violence following...