Sonya Ponzi

Background

About Sonya Ponzi

I am passionate about bridging the gap between scientific research and community engagement to meet current freshwater challenges. During my time at Creighton University, where I earned a BA in Environmental Sciences, I conducted undergraduate research and volunteered at various Omaha nonprofits working to alleviate poverty. I continued my education and passion for research at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, earning an MS in Freshwater Sciences. I served as a Freshwater Ambassador for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Freshwater Sciences, attending various community events and teaching people of all ages about the Great Lakes. I recently completed a year of service through AmeriCorps serving Milwaukee Riverkeeper as a water quality assistant where I mobilized more than 100 volunteers to monitor water quality in the Milwaukee River Basin throughout the year. I have learned from my experience as a researcher and volunteer that meaningful change occurs when research and activism work in tandem.