Scripps Institution selects eight fresh Community Engagement Fellows

At UC San Diego and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Community Engagement Fellows program plays a crucial role in promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) through various initiatives.

The Dialogue for Peace Student Employee Professional Development Training at UC San Diego equips student workers with peacemaking and restorative justice skills. Trained to facilitate difficult conversations across differences, these fellows emphasize empathy, respect, and consensus building. Their responsibilities include leading peer facilitation projects such as peacemaking or restorative justice circles, and engaging the campus community in dialogue that promotes mutual understanding and healing. This fellowship is co-led by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Campus Life, reflecting the institution's commitment to embedding EDI values through community dialogue.

By developing skills in listening for understanding and consensus building, fellows contribute directly to UC San Diego’s broader Dialogue For Peace initiative. They also benefit from personalized coaching by senior equity and student life administrators, positioning them as effective student leaders who advance inclusive campus culture.

At Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the role of Community Engagement Fellows is less explicitly defined, but community engagement is a core element of student projects and outreach efforts. Fellows and student leaders capitalize on their leadership experience to expand the lab’s outreach and engagement with diverse communities, supporting broader institutional goals around inclusivity and public involvement in science.

The new Community Engagement Fellows at both institutions include Nilusha Wanniappa, a third-year undergraduate student in environmental systems with an interest in the interactions between coastal communities and marine ecosystems. Carmen Lopez, a fourth-year undergraduate student in environmental systems and Policy from the San Francisco Bay Area, is passionate about intersectional environmentalism. Anaí Novoa, a third-year PhD student in marine biology, investigates the interplay between parasitism and host biogeography.

The fellows will support Scripps' efforts to develop and engage the Scripps community around EDI. They will assist Scripps' Director of Diversity Initiatives Keiara Auzenne in organizing diversity workshops and training, and planning of various events and programs.

The University of California San Diego's organization at Scripps is welcoming eight new Community Engagement Fellows, including Julia Chavarry, a second-year PhD student in biological oceanography, Danielle McHaskell, a second-year PhD student in marine biology, and Erica Ferrer, a fourth-year PhD student in marine biology. Lily Jorrick, a fourth-year undergraduate student in marine biology with an interest in fisheries and sustainability, transferred to UC San Diego after attending community colleges in both Northern and Southern California. Ivan Moreno, a third-year PhD student in marine biology studying the microbiology of thermophilic environments, was raised in North Long Beach and attended predominantly minority filled schools.

The fellows are instrumental in fostering and rebuilding trust amongst the graduate student population and supporting the implementation of key EDI programming. They educate their peers on current issues and serve as catalysts for creating impactful change, expanding outreach efforts to connect scientific research with diverse community audiences.

Funding for the expansion of the Fellows program is made possible through a one-time grant from the Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at UC San Diego and ongoing support from the Director's Office and the organization’s Education Department.

In summary, the Community Engagement Fellows at both Scripps and UC San Diego contribute to equity, diversity, and inclusion by training as facilitators of dialogue that emphasizes empathy, restorative justice, and peaceful conflict resolution. They lead peer-led discussion and engagement projects that bridge difference and foster inclusivity, expand outreach efforts to connect scientific research with diverse community audiences, and receive mentorship and coaching to develop leadership skills aligned with EDI values. These roles ensure that fellows are not only advocates but active agents in building a campus climate marked by respect, equity, and diversity.

[1] Source: UC San Diego News Center, "UC San Diego launches Dialogue for Peace Student Employee Professional Development Training," 24 September 2020,

Nilusha Wanniappa, a marine biology enthusiast, will utilize her role as a Community Engagement Fellow at Scripps Institution of Oceanography to promote diversity and inclusion in marine conservation, bridging the gap between coastal communities and marine ecosystems.
Understanding the importance of intersectional environmentalism, Carmen Lopez, a Community Engagement Fellow at UC San Diego, aims toapply her marine biology and policy knowledge to finance and business ventures that prioritize sustainability and diversity-and-inclusion, advocating for a lifestyle that is both eco-friendly and equitable.
Anaí Novoa, a marine biology PhD student and Community Engagement Fellow at both UC San Diego and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, is dedicated to fostering education-and-self-development opportunities within the scientific community, creating an inclusive environment that encourages collaboration and the exchange of ideas in the pursuit of marine biology research.