WWU Ecological & Social Change Research Team

Kaitlin Barrailler (she/her/hers)

Hello! I am a first-year graduate student in Western Washington University’s Environmental Studies Department. While obtaining my undergraduate degree in Sociology, I was given the opportunity to assist with Dr. Whitley’s research on Marine Animals Without Faces (MAWFs) and the images representing them online. My lifelong connection and commitment to our oceans and waterways stems from growing up by the Salish Sea, and my academic interests revolve around marine invertebrates and conservation media. Going forward, I hope to help build a more inclusive and sustainable future.

Outside of academia, I spend most of my time onstage or on set, doing theater and film work. I love writing, watching movies, getting out on the water, and cooking new foods.

Ingrid Haight (she/her)

I am a sociology major and environmental studies minor at Western Washington University. I am interested in the power of social relations between society and the environment as these relationships and ideologies can be pivotal in creating or halting conservation actions. Having studied animal-human relations and worked on a research project discussing the interconnections between empathy messaging and animal conservation, I look forward to furthering my knowledge by working on this project. Outside of being a student, I enjoy kayaking, hiking, and reading.

Beau Jay (they/he)

I am a first-year graduate student in the College of the environment pursuing my MA, Environmental Studies and a GIS certificate. I also received my BS in Sociology, here at Western Washington University. I’m thrilled to work on community restoration projects around campus as the co-director of the L.E.A.D. program here at Western. My research and interests are in people and their role & impact on the environment. I am also passionate about restoration efforts and community engagement and involvement. My undergrad thesis focused on eco-anxiety, discussing environmental injustices and the impact of natural disasters on mental, physical, and economic stability. I’m excited to learn more about GIS and its applications within my passions and research. My previous work with this research team was on how animals were mentioned and discussed (or lack thereof) in the media surrounding the 2022 Marshall Wildfire in Boulder, CO.

Em Sherwood (they/them/she/hers)

I am a Sociology major here at Western mainly focused on studying Environmental Sociology and Trans & Queer Sociology. I’ve been on the research team for almost a year and I specialize in Outreach and Communication, while also working on the development of the research.

I joined Cam’s team because we study a wide range of topics, all of which intersect with what I enjoy learning about. Utilizing knowledge from many disciplines is one of the best ways to create solutions for societies problems, and working on this team allows me to work on problems like this.

Outside of this team, I love crafting, sewing, crocheting, hiking and working on LGBTQ+ advocacy and support. I work on multiple campaigns for inclusion and access while also participating in the local drag scene.

Nate Tatem (he/they/she)

I am a sociology major at Western Washington University. I am drawn to quantitative research methods, especially using existing data like national surveys. For example, my independent study project is using the National Survey of Drug Use Health to find demographic profiles of psychedelics users in the US. Outside of school, my passion is writing music and playing keys in a local band, “Cold Sludge”.

I joined Cam’s team, because I hope that our research can help conservation advocates better engage their communities. By optimizing engagement, the wildlife and our environment have a better chance of survival.

Brooklyn Wehr (they/them/theirs)

My name is Brooklyn Wehr and I use they/them pronouns. I am majoring in sociology with minors in Environmental Justice, Critical Disability Studies, and Spanish. I am interested in the intersections of environmental justice with disability and the intertwined roots of systemic oppression. I am an advocate for collective liberation and learning about the compounding effects of all systems of oppression has led me to studying animals, disability, people, and the environment. 

I joined Cam’s research team because of the many opportunities to study animals, people, and the environment. The project that focused on how animals with disabilities affect our perception of humans with disabilities is what drew me in, and I am excited to continue working on a variety of different projects. Outside of being a student I enjoy baking, crocheting, reading, doing art, or organizing in my community.