Tia’s interest in environmental and conservation work began with spending time outdoors growing up in Bend, Oregon. At eighteen, she joined twenty other young people in the landmark constitutional climate lawsuit Juliana v. U.S., which sought a science-based climate recovery plan. As an undergraduate at the University of Oregon, she studied Environmental Sciences. She organized with groups, including the Oregon Student Public Interest Research Group and the Climate Justice League, while also studying tropical reefs and rainforests in Australia. She graduated in 2019 with a B.S. in Environmental Sciences and a minor in Nonprofit Administration.

After graduating, Tia served as the Communication and Outreach Coordinator for Wallowa Land Trust through the Resource Assistance for Rural Environments AmeriCorps program, helping conserve lands such as the 1,800-acre East Moraine Community Forest and gaining experience working with tribal partners. She later worked as an Engagement Organizer for the Oregon League of Conservation Voters, mobilizing volunteers to support climate and conservation policies.

After moving to Flagstaff, Tia joined the City of Flagstaff’s Sustainability Office, where she managed a community sustainability grant program and supported local sustainability initiatives. She is now pursuing an M.S. in Environmental Sciences and Policy at Northern Arizona University to deepen her understanding of equitable solutions to conservation challenges in the American West. She is honored to be a Wyss Scholar.