Alexander Cotnoir

George Washington University, Ilíiaitchik: Indigenous Correspondents Program (ICP)

Major / Minor: Master of Arts - Teaching, Environmental Studies

Hello! I grew up in Vermont making maple syrup with my family and working with local farmers, which inspired my love of local foods, climate resilient solutions, and forests. I’m a recent graduate from The George Washington University’s Graduate School of Education and Human Development, where I earned my degree in teaching.

I majored in Environmental Studies as an undergraduate at Dartmouth College. During my junior and senior years, I conducted research in the White Mountains at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, where I examined how maple, beech, and ash mast-driven fluctuations in the abundance of seed consumers affects reproductive success in shrub-nesting migratory birds.

I’ve also completed field research projects examining the impacts of over-harvesting, overgrazing, and forest-edge removal on Indigenous communities’ traditional medicines, organic farming practices, and foods in South Africa, Namibia, and Costa Rica. These experiences showed me that rural and Indigenous communities face many similar challenges no matter where they are in the world, and inspired me to pursue more community engagement and outreach work moving forward.

Today, my passions lie in community building, STEM education, and supporting Indigenous environmental storytellers – educators, journalists, and scientists who are committed to communicating their research, knowledge, and the impacts of climate change on livelihoods and cultural practices, thus inspiring people to act. I hope to help build more inclusive spaces as a Co-Founder and Program Coordinator for Planet Forward’s Ilíiaitchik: Indigenous Correspondents Program (ICP).