Degree program: M.A.M.A
Year accepted: 2026
Advisor: TBD
Research Interests: Environmental Equity, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Adaptation and Mitigation

Background: B.A. Environmental Policy, Minors Political Science and Multimedia Journalism, Loyola University Chicago

Profile:

Avery Elowson is a Master of Arts in Marine Affairs (MAMA) student at the University of Rhode Island.

Avery earned her Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Policy with minors in Political Science and Multimedia

Journalism from Loyola University Chicago. Although originally from Arizona, she now calls Vermont and

Chicago home. Despite growing up in landlocked states, Avery has said from a very young age she wanted to

be both a marine biologist and the president. The Marine Affairs department is a happy medium between her

love of the ocean and the policies that keep it a healthy and thriving place for all.

While at Loyola Chicago, Avery was introduced to the Indigenous ecologist Robin Wall Kimmerer, who sparked

her interest in Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and Indigenous Ecological Knowledge (IEK). She

enjoys learning about the ways in which indigenous peoples interact with the environment and the differences

from the western views of science.

Avery knew she wanted to travel the world since the first time she picked up a map. After finishing undergrad,

she joined the Peace Corps, where she served as a primary school teacher in Guyana, South America. During

her time in Guyana, Avery taught grades 3-6 about environmental stewardship and environmental literacy. It

was there that she truly dove into environmental inequity in the Caribbean and the unique challenges smaller

communities face due to climate change.

Avery is working towards combining her knowledge of equity and traditional knowledge to create a research

project focused on environmental inequities and climate solutions based on traditional knowledge in small

island nations. She hopes to work internationally again, but this time as an advocate for small nations in their

fight against climate change.

In her free time, Avery loves spending time outside, whether it is at the beach with friends, skiing with family in

Vermont, or camping in the National Parks.