An Interview with Mariya Trofymova, BA, Environmental Studies, 2024

Mariya Trofymova graduated from Hunter College in 2024 with a B.A. in Environmental Studies. During her undergraduate studies, she developed a strong interest in Arctic permafrost, greenhouse gas emissions, and geospatial analysis through coursework and research exploring the intersection of Earth systems science and GIS. For her capstone project, she used GIS mapping and model comparisons to identify regions within the Arctic Circle most at risk for carbon release resulting from permafrost melt.

Following graduation, Mariya completed the Urban Forest Fellowship with Trees New York, helping steward New York City street trees and provide environmental education throughout the five boroughs. She is currently participating in the Wetlands Fellowship with the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy, where she is learning and applying ecological restoration techniques to support New York City's wetland ecosystems.

In Fall 2026, Mariya will begin a Master of Science in Geospatial Data Science at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability. Her graduate studies will focus on GIS, remote sensing, spatial analysis, and environmental modeling to address complex environmental and sustainability challenges.

Published: June 1, 2026