Rita Kawak

My interest for the environment arose through my relationship with the Middle East. Through my visits to my family in Syria, I have seen the the global consequences when environmental initiative is not widespread, fast-moving, or central in everything we do and this has inspired my future career goals. I have become involved in this field through many different ways. I am an intern at the Office of Sustainability where I currently work on waste, recycling, and composting trainings and presentations. I also work at the Nelson Institute as a student worker who spreads environmental opportunities and information to other like-minded students. I also work at the nonprofit “Defy Inertia” where I chair a subcommittee called “Human” that focuses on social and environmental education to the Madison community. In my future, I hope to work with remediation of harmful environments. Recently, I have developed an interest in health and I hope to further my studies so that I can work professional as an environmental health specialist/scientist. The advice I have to future Nelson Ambassadors is to get involved. Everyone at the Nelson Institute is extremely interesting, friendly, and easy to talk to. Making connections with fellow students and faculty has made the Nelson Institute a home to me where I know I’ll see many familiar faces every day.