CleanAIRE NC is excited to welcome our 2023 summer interns! Daniela Rossana, Maddie Plank, Olivia Pang, Shruti Agrawal, Kunjal Bastola, Kane Elkin, and Arianna Berrios will be working with us on several of our priority projects, campaigns, and initiatives all summer long.
Get to know our summer associates for 2023:
Daniela Rossana Gutiérrez Ayllon is a prominent leader in social innovation, environmental impact, and sustainable development. As the CEO and founder of Yo Planto un Arbolito, a Bolivian NGO and social innovation hub, she drives initiatives to protect the environment and promote sustainable practices. As a doctoral candidate in Business Sciences, she acquires knowledge to address current challenges. As an Executive Fellow of the YLAI program, she collaborated with CleanAIRE NC, developing strategies to engage the Latino community.
This summer Daniela will develop a strategic communication and engagement plan to foster outreach to the Latin-X community. She will also create a channel strategy that encompasses campaigns, social media, and outreach, and will outline the development of an app that drives engagement and participation.
Maddie is a rising senior at Davidson College following two years of learning at Princeton University. She is pursuing a major in environmental science and a minor in neuroscience, and is a member of the Varsity Women’s Basketball team. Originally from Westchester County, New York, Maddie has been passionate about both the environment and helping others all her life, volunteering on organic farms and cycling across the United States to raise money for mental health. When she is not hooping or working, Maddie loves cycling, hiking, and discovering the best local ice cream shops.
This summer, Maddie will be working with PurpleAir data creating a manual so those throughout North Carolina will be able to easily see and digest their data. Further, Maddie will be advancing the work done by prior interns in expediting the report-back process from PurpleAir sensors. Finally, she will work with our Communications and Marketing team to create an outreach process and plan for AirKeepers.
Miaojun (Olivia) Pang is a passionate individual who brings together her diverse backgrounds and expertise to address the pressing challenges at the intersection of marketing, environmental management, computer science, and sustainability. She aims to tackle complex environmental issues through innovative marketing strategies, technology integration, and policy advocacy. Olivia holds a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Marketing from the University of Alabama and is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Environmental Management at Duke University.
This summer Olivia will work with the Funds & Development team to put together an outreach plan for businesses and corporations interested in implementing ESG strategies that align with CleanAIRE NC’s work. During her free time, Olivia finds joy and relaxation in immersing herself in nature and outdoor activities. Engaging in these outdoor pursuits not only brings her a sense of adventure but also fosters a deeper appreciation for the environment and the need to protect and preserve it.
Shruti Agrawal is the founder of New Normal X an environmental organization dedicated to helping students consciously think about their carbon footprint. She is a certified NC Climate Ambassador, and is the president of the Ardrey Kell High School Environmental Club, where she is currently a rising senior. She hopes to pursue a healthcare administration major in college with an environmental policy focus by implementing safer and more sustainable practices in healthcare.
This summer, Shruti will work closely with the Marketing team to develop educational materials to support our work in North Carolina schools. She has been working with middle and high school students in the area since 2019 to reward volunteer hours after completing various challenges. She hopes to use what she has learned and implement larger action plans by working with CleanAIRE NC.
Kunjal Bastola is a rising sophomore currently attending Northwestern University. She is studying journalism and political science, with a minor in environmental policy and culture. Born and raised in Chicago, Kunjal currently lives in Charlotte. She is passionate about tackling environmental issues, and hopes to pursue a career reporting on political and environmental journalism, specifically how environmental justice issues expose race, gender, and socioeconomic disparities around the world.
As a summer associate at CleanAIRE NC, Kunjal is looking forward to collaborating with the team to work on an array of projects, ranging from writing profiles and creating videos to doing field work when possible. Hoping to leverage her journalism, photography and videography skill set, she is eager to interact with and learn from the CleanAIRE NC team and its partners to highlight the work being done.
Kane hails from London, where he will be working this summer. He is a senior at Catawba College, double majoring in Integrated Marketing & Communications as well as Digital Media Production. He has been playing tennis competitively for around 12 years, and is currently a captain for the Catawba College Tennis Team. He has had a love for photography and all things media since booking his first paid photography gig at age 15, and will bring his passion for content creation and social media creativity to CleanAIRE NC this summer.
Growing up in one of the busiest cities in the world gave Kane an appreciation for nature, the outdoors, and the environment. He looks forward to combining his content creation and social media skills with his love for the environment with CleanAIRE NC this summer, and is excited about the opportunity to get creative in the environmental world to try and foster youth engagement with environmentalism.
Ari is a rising junior at Davidson College, double majoring in Biology and Environmental Studies on the Social Sciences track. She was raised in Burlington, NC, on the Haw River watershed where she experienced significant infrastructural and environmental lapses. Haw River has a long history of pollution, with water-powered textile factories and current efforts to extend a pipeline and fracking practices through Alamance County. Ari’s goal is to serve her community in a way that utilizes methods from both the sciences and social sciences.
Ari is excited to join CleanAIRE NC this summer as she pursues environmental justice through the Smith-Davidson Leadership Initiative, a program that allows students to learn how to confront major social issues within cities. She will be researching local counties to highlight resources for community members to easily access, and is looking forward to learning how to serve her community and incite change.
