Alondra Gallegos, B.S. 2023 – Institute of the Environment and Sustainability at UCLA

After graduating from UCLA with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and minor in Geospatial Information Systems & Technologies, Alondra Gallegos was admitted to NASA’s DEVELOP Spring 2025 program. Alondra and her team used satellite data to assess the health of the mesquite bosque in the Amargosa Basin. Her project examined how nearby development has altered local hydrology and contributed to vegetation stress — blending geospatial analysis with input from NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Friends of the Amargosa Basin and the local tribal community. A first-generation college graduate, Alondra says her IoES coursework — and mentorship from IoES faculty Travis Longcore and Paul Barber — helped shape her approach to data-driven, community-engaged science.