Victoria Abou-Ghalioum
Role: Producer
Victoria is a current PhD student in OSU’s School of Environment and Natural Resources. Her research focuses on the social influence from group membership on pro-environmental behaviors. She studies conservation psychology and is interested in diversifying and expanding the culture of sustainability. Victoria also serves as the Chair for SENR’s graduate student organization, GradRoots, with the mission of increasing graduate student satisfaction and wellbeing, as well as serving as an advocate for graduate student needs. She grew up in Ohio’s Cuyahoga Valley National Park, spending many seasons exploring the natural world with friends and family. Victoria is an active volunteer, climate activist, and is passionate about the environment.
Nishant Makhija
Role: Producer and Program Consultant
Nishant is an activist, journalist, and organizer living in New York. He was a producer working in radio at WNYC in New York and is currently a producer and consultant with Youth Beat Radio in Columbus, Ohio. Nishant has been working on campaigns for a few years as a Campaign Field Director and volunteer. Most recently, he has been working as a Project Lead with a program called DemocracyNYC through the NYC Mayor’s office to promote civics education and increase voter participation across the NYC five boroughs. Nishant has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Wittenberg University.
Matt Weiss
Role: Show Editor
Kristi Lekies
Role: Executive Director
Dr. Kristi Lekies is an Associate Professor in the School of Environment and Natural Resources in Environmental Social Science and Rural Sociology. She started the show as part of a university outreach effort to raise awareness of youth leadership and to encourage community involvement. She studies childhood experiences in nature, outdoor environments for positive youth development, connection to community, and educational activities related to climate change. Currently, she is co-editing a book on the “Transformative Power of Parks.” She enjoys hiking, discovering nature, learning languages, and finding ways to live more simply and sustainably.