People

Miles earned a B.A. in Geography from Macalester College and an M.S. in Natural Resources from the University of Arizona, with a focus on landscape ecology. They also worked for three years as a biological field technician at Saguaro National Park, and for two years as a GIS Analyst for Pima County. Their current work with SCORCH focuses on data management for projects related to climate change and public health, including accessibility to cooling centers and how the built environment and extreme heat may affect long term health outcomes. 

Dr. Andee Rose Lister is a Postdoctoral Researcher, her research focuses on environmental chemistry, trace metal and non-metal contamination, and geospatial modeling to better understand the impacts of legacy uranium mining on water, soil, and traditional food systems. She specializes in advanced statistical modeling, environmental justice/vulnerability indices, and community engaged research to inform environmental policy and resilience planning. Dr. Lister is passionate about bridging science with community concerns, mentoring students, and supporting environmental justice initiatives. She currently serves as a Commissioner for Dine Uranium Remediation Advisory Commission (DURAC), where she works with tribal, state, and federal partners to address contamination and protect public health.

Anu Sethuraman is a 4th year PhD student at the University of Arizona studying Environmental Science with a minor in Hydrology. She has always been fascinated by interactions between humans and the environment around them. While growing up in Tucson’s unique desert, she began to gain interest in the environmental sciences through her forays into identifying desert plants and wildlife. She pursued this interest while attending the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) for her undergraduate degree, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Systems and a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies and Planning with high honors.

Now, as a part of Dr. Joe Hoover’s Geospatial Environmental Health Laboratory, she leads projects with Indigenous and rural communities and combines geochemistry with community-based research methods to better understand and combat environmental justice issues. Currently, she is working under a USGS-funded Southwest Climate Action Science Center (SWCASC) project to investigate groundwater issues in an Indigenous community affected by legacy uranium mining.

Chrisa Whitmore is a second-year Ph.D. student in Environmental Science, with a minor in Plant Pathology. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from the University of Arizona, a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Environmental Health Sciences from the University at Albany, State University of New York (SUNY), and a Master of Science (MS) in Biosystems Engineering from the University of Arizona.

During her MS studies, Chrisa was an NSF NRT Indige-FEWSS Trainee, an experience that strengthened her commitment to community engagement and provided valuable training in holistic, transdisciplinary research on food, energy, and water systems in Indigenous communities. Her research integrates geospatial analysis, health risk assessment, and bioremediation to study heavy metal contaminants in groundwater. She seeks to understand where these contaminants are located, which vulnerable groups are most impacted, and how microbes such as bacteria and fungi may be used as potential remediation tools. As a member of Dr. Joseph Hoover’s lab, she focuses on the spatial distribution of uranium and nitrate contamination and its effects on groundwater. With a multidisciplinary background spanning public health, engineering, and environmental science, Chrisa is dedicated to transforming scientific research into real-world solutions that address environmental health disparities.

I am a physician from Ghana and a Doctoral student in Environmental Health Sciences. I hold a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Arizona. My research focuses on improving indoor air quality through the Indigenous Healthy Homes and Healthy Communities Project, with an emphasis on asthma, environmental exposures, and allergens. I  also collaborate on projects exploring infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance, with the goal of generating evidence that supports healthier environments and stronger communities.

Brooke graduated from Northern Arizona University with her bachelors of science in environmental science and has experience working with the USGS, ITEP’s Tribes and Climate Change Program, NAU’s Sedimentary Record of Environmental Change Lab, The Nature Conservancy, the Hopi Tribe’s Water Resources Program, and Grand Canyon National Park. She is interested in working with water resources in Indigenous communities. She has two dogs who keep her sane and busy! 

Yá’át’ééh! My name is Dawnae Yazzie, and I am a second-year student at the University of Arizona. I am currently pursuing a Pre-Med and Molecular and Cellular Biology major with a minor in American Indian Studies and . I am passionate about medical sciences and dedicated to using my knowledge to improve the health and well-being of my community.

I am currently working in environmental sciences, conducting research on water contamination. This experience has strengthened my understanding of how environmental factors directly impact public health, particularly in Native communities, and has inspired me to approach medicine with a holistic perspective that considers both science and culture. Through research and community engagement, I have developed skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, and scientific communication that I hope to carry into my future medical career.

My goal in life is to become a pediatrician, and once I have completed my schooling, I plan to return to the Navajo Nation to serve my community and give back to younger generations. Guided by navajo teaching t’áá hó ájit’éego — “it’s up to you” — I am committed to using my education and experiences to make a meaningful difference in the health and future of my people.

Noah Henio is a full Navajo student from Window Rock, Arizona, majoring in Physiology and Medical Sciences at the University of Arizona. Passionate about helping people and improving health outcomes, he hopes to apply his knowledge to support his community through health education, research, and care. Noah has a strong interest in research and aspires to pursue a career as an exercise physiologist, with the possibility of continuing to physical therapy school in the future.