Chester F. Phillips (Chet)
Chester F. Phillips (Chet) is the architect of the Compost Cats project and currently serves as its project supervisor and as Sustainability Program Coordinator at the University of Arizona, where he completed a B.S. in Environmental Science., B.A. in Creative Writing, and M.F.A. in nonfiction and is currently working on a PhD in Arid Lands Resource Sciences. His graduate research combines expertise in environmental policy, energy policy, conservation biology, and the social science of collaboration and coalition building to examine how to move forward with renewable energy development without sacrificing our nation's remaining large wildland areas and the corridors between them. His academic and intellectual interests also extend to creating more sustainable and just food systems, all forms of composting, and carbon sequestration (especially through composting).
Chet has also completed a book length narrative on his flight from extreme family alienation in small town East Texas through five years of homesteading in the southern Arizona desert, from which his published essays "Charging Lions" and "Heroes and Consequences" are taken. Past occupations have included rancher, fire lookout, night shift delivery driver, Montessori assistant teacher, rainwater harvester, research assistant, environmental conflict-resolution intern and university instructor of courses in English, environmental sustainability, rainwater harvesting, and food systems.
Last, but far from least, Chet and his beloved partner, Jennifer Floyd, are the proud parents of infant twins, now 14 months old, whose names, Sonora Grace and River James, declare and celebrate Chet's enduring love for the people, creatures, and places of the Sonoran Desert and southern Arizona.
cfp@email.arizona.edu
Ryan Yamauchi
Ryan is currently a senior at the University of Arizona studying Microbiology. His interests are sustainability, aquaponics, and vermicomposting. In his free time, Ryan likes to hangout with friends, workout, and listen to hip-hop music.
ryamauchi@email.arizona.edu
Grace McGuire
Why hello, I'm Grace: I'm currently studying Sustainable Built Environments and minoring in Spanish. I grew up in the town of Patagonia, AZ, and love learning about how natural systems (yay compost!) work to build communities large and small. I love being outside, reading sci fi novels, eating tacos, and catching all the Tucson sunsets I can.
gkm@email.arizona.edu
Kelly Jendrisak
Kelly Jendrisak is currently a senior studying Environmental Science with a focus in Land, Air, and Water. She is a desert native and is excited to have the opportunity to use sustainable practices to benefit the Southern Arizona community. Kelly enjoys hiking, racquetball, and puppies.
kellyjendrisak@email.arizona.edu
Sam Cummings
My name is Sam. I have no major; a master of none. I have seen the sun rise and I have seen the sun set in the same day. I am the only man to weigh in on the Richter scale. When I jump into a pool, there is no splash. I never miss. My legend precedes me the way lightning precedes thunder.
samuelcummings@email.arizona.edu
Samantha Normandia
Samantha Normandia is a Junior at the UA studying Ecology and Evolutionary Biology with a minor in Natural Resources. She cares deeply about sustainability efforts especially in the accessibility of all-inclusive engagement on a local scale in conjunction with reconstructing the way we approach environmental issues. She is also very concerned with the future of our Earth and therefore super excited to be involved with Compost Cats. For fun she enjoys reading, gardening and truly anything to do with animals.
snormandia@email.arizona.edu
Megan Gaul
I’m Megan! I’m a senior studying Environmental Science with an emphasis in Biology and I enjoy all things sports, nature, and exploring. Just your local giraffe and macaroni and cheese enthusiast who’s believes in the importance of education to make this world a better place.
meganmgaul@email.arizona.edu
Tristan Stevens
Tristan Stevens is a senior majoring in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering with a focus in controlled environments and minoring in Plant Life Sciences. Somehow, someway, Tristan obtained the job of sifting and was nicknamed ‘Sift’. Tristan is on his way to becoming the next Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs. Tristan is a native to the desert valley and enjoys cool mornings after a night of rain. Tristan strives to use his knowledge and expertise to create a world where there are no worries regarding energy and food. Stay Sustainable My Friends!
tristanstevens@email.arizona.edu
Victoria Ramirez
Victoria is currently a senior at the University of Arizona studying the environment and sustainable built environments. She brings many things to the Compost Cats team, but most importantly she succeeds in her role as Social Chair. When she is not working to make compost, she enjoys practicing hot yoga, eating nutritious yet delicious food, and practicing more hot yoga.
victoriaramirez@email.arizona.edu
Madison Padgett
Madison grew up exploring the mountains in Durango, Colorado. She took a year to travel before studying architecture at the University of Arizona. Being surrounded by nature her whole life, her passions lay in sustainability and aiming to make her community a better place to live in. In her spare time, catch her making bad art, crashing her bike, and eating ceviche.
padgettmadison@gmail.com
Madeline Friberg-Landon
Madeline is the new Marketing and Media Coordinator. She is a sophomore majoring in Linguistics and minoring in Korean. Madeline enjoys going outside and making videos.
mfriberglandon@email.arizona.edu
Mary Spitzer
Mary Spitzer is a Freshman studying environmental science. She is passionate about the environment and wants to help educate the public, especially children, on how they can have an impact on the world through sustainability efforts. Mary enjoys reading, nature, and the arts and you can often find her participating in these when she isn't taking a nap.
spitzer@email.arizona.edu
Daniel Collazo
Daniel is one of those people who hates writing about himself in the third person. He’s
currently a sophomore studying Molecular and Cellular Biology; he likes learning about all of the nitty gritty things that make compost, and really life for that matter, possible. For Daniel, the grammatical thrill of using a semicolon in writing that will be seen by the public is unmatched. Daniel is currently, “taking an ornithology course because I needed to take another class.” He firmly believes, “birds are just really cool,” and, “I can’t remember whether or not to use commas in quotes.” Daniel loves his family, his dog, his garden, his rock collection that he hasn’t touched in years, birds, a good book on the beach, crisp pumpkin spiced autumn rains and being Outside. Currently an Americorps volunteer compost technician, Daniel joined the Compost Cats for the fast paced, nonstop composting action and stayed for the tractors. As an aside, while Daniel is currently attempting to, he can’t yet grow rad facial hair, so please be sensitive with comments.
drcollazo@email.arizona.edu
Joyce Wang
Joyce is a junior studying computer science, math, environmental science, and Chinese, with the hopes of combining sustainable agriculture and technology. She enjoys hitchhiking, bouldering, and ice cream, and is always down for a game of Twister.
jcwang@email.arizona.edu