Madeleine Achgill

University of Mississippi

I am a senior at the University of Mississippi majoring in International Studies and Chinese, and minoring in Environmental Studies and Spanish. I first became interested in environmental issues when I moved to New Mexico for boarding school and got involved in backpacking through the outdoors program. Since then, I have been passionate about working for the environment while promoting the values of international understanding and intersectionality. In 2012 I attended COP18 with SustainUS in Doha, Qatar and experienced global climate policy first hand. It was an eye-opening experience that convinced me that I can most effectively improve the planet by starting in my own community. At the University of Mississippi I have been involved in the majority of the environmental organizations and initiatives on campus, and have worked with some amazing people on issues like transportation, waste management, and food. I am very excited about using journalism to share stories of people working to make the world better.