Our volunteers are the heart and soul of REAP! Join us and learn more about each one where you will come to appreciate them as much as we do. You will find out about their skills, talents, intelligence and willingness to help humanity through the work they do for REAP and elsewhere.
|
Miranda Lambert
Miranda Lambert is excited to join the REAP team and utilize her knowledge of evaluation and data visualization to further the organization’s mission and help improve sustainability for communities in need. Miranda completed both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Economics from Texas A&M University and The University of San Francisco respectively. Her academic research has focused primarily on behavioral and experimental economics in developing nations. Professionally, Miranda works as a Research Associate for McMaster-Carr, an industrial supply company in the greater Chicago area. Miranda started her volunteering for REAP through Taproot+, a program within the Taproot Foundation that encourages volunteers from the for-profit sector as part of the "pro-bono economy." |
|
Patrick Le
Patrick is a recent graduate from the University of Texas at Austin with a BS in Chemical Engineering. During his time in college, he actively lead and participated in many organizations such as Camp Kesem, LeaderShape, and Student Engineers Educating Kids (SEEK). However, his favorite experience was installing a water fountain station that provided free drinking water to a rural community in Thailand. In this experience, he learned the importance of collaboration with the local community to provide a sustainable solution. He truly believes in the mission of REAP, and is glad to be part of such a dynamic and fast growing organization. Currently, he is working as a project engineer at BP for its motor oil and lubricants division. He lives in Baton Rouge and enjoys sports like basketball and Frisbee as well as cooking up some great pasta. Like Miranda Lambert, Patrick Le is a Taproot+ pro bono volunteer. The two volunteers work together to bring data graphics and other sources of important information to REAP for its communications to the public. |
Chelsea Pennington
Chelsea Pennington is a second semester junior in the Aerospace Engineering program at Arizona State University with a specialty in Aeronautics. She is on schedule to graduate with her bachelor’s degree in the spring of 2019. Chelsea is originally from Grants Pass, Oregon where she graduated from Hidden Valley High School where she mainly studied the arts. When she moved to Arizona she began her college career at Mesa Community College where she acquired her Associate Degree in the fine arts.
Chelsea has always had a natural passion for her studies in the humanities i.e., arts, linguistics, anthropology but wanted and needed a more rigorous technical challenge. In her time as an ASU engineering student she has enjoyed learning and growing with the mathematical and scientific concepts that allow her to be creative and innovative in a highly technical field. Chelsea is interested in specializing in static stability of aircraft design as well as compressible transonic flow.
As she grows in her field she is excited to learn more about sustainability in design and intends to incorporate the concepts early in her career and throughout her growth as an engineer.
Chelsea Pennington is a second semester junior in the Aerospace Engineering program at Arizona State University with a specialty in Aeronautics. She is on schedule to graduate with her bachelor’s degree in the spring of 2019. Chelsea is originally from Grants Pass, Oregon where she graduated from Hidden Valley High School where she mainly studied the arts. When she moved to Arizona she began her college career at Mesa Community College where she acquired her Associate Degree in the fine arts.
Chelsea has always had a natural passion for her studies in the humanities i.e., arts, linguistics, anthropology but wanted and needed a more rigorous technical challenge. In her time as an ASU engineering student she has enjoyed learning and growing with the mathematical and scientific concepts that allow her to be creative and innovative in a highly technical field. Chelsea is interested in specializing in static stability of aircraft design as well as compressible transonic flow.
As she grows in her field she is excited to learn more about sustainability in design and intends to incorporate the concepts early in her career and throughout her growth as an engineer.
Rohan Shah
Rohan Shah is a second semester Junior at Arizona State University pursing a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies focusing on Engineering Management and Sustainability. At ASU he is a student at Barrett, The Honors College and is a Teaching Assistant (TA).
Rohan is originally from Aurora, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Starting his college experience as an Aerospace Engineering major, he built the first ever full aerodynamic kit for a vehicle at ASU in its history. He also designed and manufactured a race car in-house that adheres to FSAE rules to enter the vehicle in the national competition.
Rohan's experience working as team leader with EPICS helped him realize that his true passion was pursing sustainable projects that help people who need it most. Like his team colleagues, Rohan is currently serving as subject matter expert for design-build training for locals who will then train others in hydroponics greenhouse food production using solar power and rain capture purification while inputting vermiculture nutrition combined with plant bolstering effective microorganisms.
Rohan hopes to obtain a Certificate of Project Management post graduation, and later pursue a master’s degree in Sustainable Management. Among his professional goals is to one day serve as a project manager directing sustainable projects for non-governmental organizations.
Rohan Shah is a second semester Junior at Arizona State University pursing a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies focusing on Engineering Management and Sustainability. At ASU he is a student at Barrett, The Honors College and is a Teaching Assistant (TA).
Rohan is originally from Aurora, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Starting his college experience as an Aerospace Engineering major, he built the first ever full aerodynamic kit for a vehicle at ASU in its history. He also designed and manufactured a race car in-house that adheres to FSAE rules to enter the vehicle in the national competition.
Rohan's experience working as team leader with EPICS helped him realize that his true passion was pursing sustainable projects that help people who need it most. Like his team colleagues, Rohan is currently serving as subject matter expert for design-build training for locals who will then train others in hydroponics greenhouse food production using solar power and rain capture purification while inputting vermiculture nutrition combined with plant bolstering effective microorganisms.
Rohan hopes to obtain a Certificate of Project Management post graduation, and later pursue a master’s degree in Sustainable Management. Among his professional goals is to one day serve as a project manager directing sustainable projects for non-governmental organizations.
Andrew Nelson
Andrew Nelson is a Biomedical Engineering and Pre-Medicine student at Arizona State University. He has been with EPICS for almost three years, helping develop hydroponic vertical growing towers and grow bags used to sustainably grow fresh produce for the nonprofit REAP. He believes having a healthy diet is important in preventing chronic disease and maintaining energy throughout the day. EPICS and REAP have allowed him to engage in creative and technical design during the prototyping process. He is excited for the future of this project and its impact on communities world-wide.
He is involved in transtibial prosthetic design and translational neurotrauma research. His research revolves around active temperature management in prosthetics. Estimates predict transtibial amputee population could nearly double by 2050 due to the rise in vascular disease (diabetes) and having a comfortable socket heavily contributes to quality of life. He applied for and successfully received funding for his project through the Fulton Undergraduate Research Initiative Program at ASU, and is currently working on a prototype. His translational neurotrauma research focusses on imaging microglia in the brain that can be used to predict and model the effects of trauma, neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s), and the immune response of the central nervous system.
He interned for a drone research and development team at Sandia National Laboratories, redesigning circuit and antenna mounts inside the fuselage to prevent excessive weight and balance shifts during flight. Andrew is also a certified private pilot operating out of Kirkland Air Force base in Albuquerque, New Mexico. When he has time, he enjoys hiking, building airplane models, and reading science fiction.
Andrew Nelson is a Biomedical Engineering and Pre-Medicine student at Arizona State University. He has been with EPICS for almost three years, helping develop hydroponic vertical growing towers and grow bags used to sustainably grow fresh produce for the nonprofit REAP. He believes having a healthy diet is important in preventing chronic disease and maintaining energy throughout the day. EPICS and REAP have allowed him to engage in creative and technical design during the prototyping process. He is excited for the future of this project and its impact on communities world-wide.
He is involved in transtibial prosthetic design and translational neurotrauma research. His research revolves around active temperature management in prosthetics. Estimates predict transtibial amputee population could nearly double by 2050 due to the rise in vascular disease (diabetes) and having a comfortable socket heavily contributes to quality of life. He applied for and successfully received funding for his project through the Fulton Undergraduate Research Initiative Program at ASU, and is currently working on a prototype. His translational neurotrauma research focusses on imaging microglia in the brain that can be used to predict and model the effects of trauma, neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s), and the immune response of the central nervous system.
He interned for a drone research and development team at Sandia National Laboratories, redesigning circuit and antenna mounts inside the fuselage to prevent excessive weight and balance shifts during flight. Andrew is also a certified private pilot operating out of Kirkland Air Force base in Albuquerque, New Mexico. When he has time, he enjoys hiking, building airplane models, and reading science fiction.