USI Graduate Assistants' Personal Statements
Evgenia “Jessy” Bydanova
Degree Program: M.A. Economics
I am currently pursuing my master of arts degree in the field of economics. Born and raised in Russia, I have traveled around the world and have had a chance to see various sustainability problems the international community is facing, as well as different approaches to resolving the situation. I would define sustainability as an educated approach to social and economic development that maximizes productivity, while minimizing the negative impact on the environment. My main area of interest is the economic and environmental impact of deployment of the newest technologies in transportation, since I believe this is one area of urban development where changes can have a great impact on economic, social, and environmental stability of the region.
Mandy Williams
Degree Program: Ph.D. Geoscience
My interests in urban sustainability reflect my concern for maintaining the ecological integrity of public lands. I have been interested in the environment since I was a child growing up in rural Missouri. While pursuing my bachelor’s degree in soil science at the University of Missouri, I became intrigued by arid ecology. I have come to appreciate the intricacies of the Mojave Desert. I have seen firsthand that our public lands will not remain pristine without careful research and management of the delicate ecosystems contained within. I am particularly interested in the ecology of biological soil crusts, the soil microorganisms that protect desert soil from erosion. I am working to create a predictive model of biological soil crust distribution that will assist in their restoration and management. My research employs a novel, interdisciplinary approach that bridges gaps between biology, ecology, soil science, hydrology, statistics, chemistry, geomorphology, GIS, and remote sensing. I am fortunate to have support and input from my advisor, Dr. Brenda Buck, as well as numerous scientists from our area. I am pleased to be part of this initiative, because its grass-roots approach has potential to make significant impacts on our community though public outreach and research. Our collaborative efforts will transform minds, alter habits, and reset our trajectory towards sustainability.
Mark Salvaggio
Degree Program: Ph.D. Sociology
I am originally from Bakersfield, California, and received my bachelor of science degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing from the California State University, Bakersfield. I have traveled extensively throughout Central and Western Europe, South America, Central America, and Mexico and have participated in sustainable tourism development in various locations in Latin America. Having been inspired by the UNLV Urban Sustainability Conference in the fall of 2007, I am now studying and researching the interdisciplinary field of sustainability from a sociological perspective under the guidance of UNLV environmental sociologist Robert Futrell. Whether we talk about rapidly growing urban cities or developing villages and towns in the most remote areas of the world, sustainable living is collectively living in a manner that allows us to improve the quality of life for ourselves, our children, and future generations while accounting for diversity and supporting healthy ecological systems. As a sociologist, my interest in sustainability emphasizes human living patterns. How we organize ourselves as human communities is central to understanding our ecological, social/cultural, and economic relationships; these relationships are at the heart of sustainability issues. I am part of a research team that is working on the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area Social Survey (LVMASS), which is part of a long-term study to understand Las Vegas residents’ knowledge, perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors about sustainability issues in the area. We are partnering with the City of Las Vegas and the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition as well as Arizona State University researchers, who conducted a similar survey of Phoenix.