This fall, Elena is joining the Iceland Ocean Cluster for a six-month internship to research and assess how businesses within the blue economy integrate environmental sustainability objectives and/or goals into their business models. She is interested in understanding how environmental sustainability within business practices can be further incentivized and optimized to promote environmental preservation and conservation within the blue economic sector.
This project is part of the ongoing collaboration between the Iceland Ocean Cluster, the University of Iceland and the Oregon Ocean Cluster.
As she was born and raised in Seattle, Washington, Elena was surrounded by nature and city alike: She commuted on the overly packed Link light rail train to navigate downtown while living just a walk away from the beaches along the Puget Sound. She is observed how tech businesses have grown to dominate the city while being just minutes and hours away from gorgeous hikes, forests and national parks, and the beautiful Mt. Rainier. This combination of corporate and environmental exposure has led Elena to her core interest of exploring how the unique intersection between business models and environmental sustainability could be developed towards benefiting not just people but the planet as well.
Throughout her life, Elena has gained a variety of experience including but not limited to obtaining a B.S. in Psychology with a minor Sociology, working as a guest services advocate in retail, as a behavioral technician, and as a barista (in that order)! Elena values not limiting herself to any field and loves to learn new things and gain new opportunities wherever she finds them. This led her to pivot and apply to the University of Iceland, where she is now a second-year student working towards her M.S. in Environment and Natural Resources in Environmental Management, Science and Policy.
Outside of work, Elena enjoys attending live music concerts, hiking, camping, reading, and hanging out with her friends and family. She values her community above all else and is always looking to expand and invest in her community however she can!
