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Alisha C. Holland "Environmentalism is a mindset. It means bringing one's understanding and appreciation of the environment to whatever debate, major, profession or life goal one chooses.” “Being a Thoreau Scholar has allowed me the flexibility to pursue my often changing academic interests, while maintaining a firm foundation and commitment to the environment. Even if you are unsure of exactly how your environmental interests will intersect with future academic pursuits, I encourage you to apply. There are an infinite number of ways to contribute to our understanding, preservation, and approach to the environment. Being a Thoreau Scholar has allowed me to think more deeply about where my personal contribution might lie.”
Visiting one of the artisan fairs in Santiago, Chile, Alisha Holland meets an adorable llama. She conducted research there during the summer of 2005. On her father’s side of the family, Alisha Holland has roots in Latin America. She remembers traveling to Panama as a child to visit her relatives. “I have distinct memories of these journeys, as well as seeing the tropical rainforests in the interior of the country. My travels strengthened my understanding of the importance of biodiversity, and my Panamanian heritage helped spark my interest in the region as a whole.” Years later, it’s natural for Alisha to pursue formal studies that tie together the natural beauty and political complexity of Latin America. During her freshman year at Princeton University, “a great professor” stirred up her interest in the region’s politics. “This experience made it clear to me that I wanted my major to emphasize Latin American studies.” Today, Alisha is a junior in the Woodrow Wilson School of Public Affairs at Princeton. Specifically, she majors in International Relations and pursues a certificate in Latin American Studies. Her primary interest is how national and international law affects environmental policy. As a 2004-05 Paul Sigmund Scholar, she wrote a paper on Chile’s experiment with campaign finance reform, the fruits of her research project in Santiago during the summer of 2004. Several major corruption scandals provided fascinating examples for her study, since they concerned violations of environmental regulations. Looking back, Alisha says: “I was thrilled to be able to combine my interest in public policy, Latin America and the environment in a slightly unusual summer research opportunity. Though I am currently unsure what I will study for my thesis, I hope to combine these interests again.” She says that her “dream job would be to work as an international lawyer with a special focus on environmental issues. I would love to travel the world and hope that whatever career path I pursue will allow me to conduct field work and broaden my understanding of other cultures.” Outside class, Alisha is involved in the Princeton Water Watch (PWW) program. PWW organizes river cleanups along several of New Jersey’s main waterways. “We organize seminars in local high schools, invite community members to participate in clean-up efforts, and lobby state legislators to strengthen environmental standards and awareness.” Her other major extracurricular activities include serving as president of the Princeton Figure Skating Club, dancer in the flamenco troupe, events organizer for the Latin American Studies Student Organization, and member of the Princeton Justice Project. |
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