Kevin Francis, Director

Member of the faculty serves as the program’s director.

Phone: (360) 867-5831

Email: Kevin Francis

Andrea Martin, Assistant Director

An MES alumna (2013), Andrea provides assistance and direction for prospective and current MES students. Contact her with your questions about program curriculum, job and internship opportunities, and for help with the admissions process, registration, and much more.

Phone: (360) 867-6225

Email: Andrea Martin

Averi Azar, Program Assistant

A resource for current and prospective MES students for information regarding jobs, internships, events and overall program inquiries.

Phone: (360) 867-5940

Email: Averi Azar

Nicole George

I would like to speak about my journey. I was born and raised in the changing landscape of Southeast Alaska where Tlingit knowledge and Western science coexist, but are rarely woven together. Because of my upbringing in both Tlingit and Western culture, I saw how one complimented the other. My continued commitment towards my people, growing concern for our land, and a desire to preserve the environment for future generations of Alaskans resulted in an academic career focused in environmental education and environmental policy.

The Master of Environmental Studies program appealed to me for three reasons. First, I was attracted to the Evergreen State College model for interdisciplinary programs, where the coursework transcended across many disciplines. Also, I appreciated the flexibility of the program in regards to the type of electives you take. Furthermore, I am grateful for all the meaningful connections I’m making with not only the professors but my colleagues as well.

At the conclusion of the Master of Environmental Studies program I aspire to work for my tribal government to further their sovereignty and protect their ancestral homelands.

Leslie Carman

I recently moved to Olympia from the Midwest where I grew up on a farm in rural Illinois. I received my bachelor’s degree close to home at Knox College where I studied Botany, Ecology, Environmental Studies, and Electron Microscopy. I decided to come to Evergreen because the ecology of the Pacific Northwest appealed to me and when searching for graduate schools in the area, I fell in love with Evergreen’s campus and its location near the National Parks. I have been extremely fortunate at Evergreen to be able to use these resources for research and am currently working on my thesis at Mt. Rainier National Park. The best thing about my time at Evergreen has been working with my fellow classmates. My cohort is full of talented, humorous, and overall amazing individuals that I look forward to working with for another year and I am excited to see the product of all of their hard work.

Jessica Brown

I was born in Pullman, WA and grew up in Yelm, WA as a daughter of a veterinarian and an artist. I attended Western Washington University, Pierce College, and graduated from Saint Martin’s College in 2001 with a B.S. in biology. My working background consists of over 25 years in veterinary medicine as a vet assistant. This experience has enabled me to volunteer in Nicaragua and Mexico with World Vets, a non-profit organization that provides free veterinary services in 45 countries. Following one of my volunteer trips, I came to the realization that I needed to expand my education to follow my passion of the environment, animals, and disease. I was drawn to Evergreen’s MES program because of the flexibility in environmental focus, interdisciplinary approach, and location. I am currently working on my thesis at Mount Rainier National Park studying potential disease risks in the endangered Cascade red fox. Additionally, I work at the Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP) as a Turtle Program Coordinator where I work with inmate technicians in the care and rehabilitation from shell disease of the endangered Western pond turtle.

Outside of school, I am a single mom to an 11 year old son and two cats, metalsmith jewelry artist, triathlete, gardener, ocean lover, and outdoor enthusiast.