Meet some of our inaugural cohort of the Salton Sea Leadership Program, and learn why they're excited to start building a community of coastal leaders!

The mission of the Salton Sea Leadership Program is to foster a safe, inclusive environment where participants can explore their passions, be part of a supportive community dedicated to making a difference, and acquire the skills needed to address the impacts of climate change on the ecology of the Salton Sea region and California desert habitats.  

Anna comes to the Coachella Valley after spending a year leading conservation field crews in Northern California. She has a B.S. in Psychology, and is passionate about intersecting mental health advocacy with the outdoors. She hopes to take the knowledge from this program and share it with the young professionals in conservation she mentors in her current job. 

Melissa is one of our College of the Desert students, and is majoring in philosophy, anthropology, and business. She is a proud Huichol, born and raised in Palm Springs, and hopes to learn more about the local Indigenous communities. 

Vanessa was born and raised in the Coachella Valley and is passionate about environmental justice. She has a B.A. in Environmental Science and Policy from UCLA, and a M.S. in Urban Planning with a Concentration in Climate and Sustainability Planning from USC. After learning about the Salton Sea in college, she is excited to learn more about it through the lens of her community and the local Indigenous perspectives. 

Laura was born and raised in Coachella, and has a deep connection to the valley and its unique environment. She has a B.A. in Psychology from CSUSB and a M.S. in Psychology with an Emphasis in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Grand Canyon University. She is excited to grow as a leader and environmental advocate.