Andrew Alessi
Scholar Program

Amelia is a 3rd year undergraduate at the University of Miami where she is double majoring in Marine Biology & Ecology and Ecosystem Science & Policy! Amelia is a passionate advocate for environmental conservation, especially when it comes to our oceans. She loves to scuba dive, and as president of the UM Scuba Club, she's able to share that passion with others! On campus, Amelia is also involved in ocean acidification research, the ECO agency of student government, and the marine science honors society. Outside of school, you can find her enjoying the outdoors or playing guitar.

Born in Mexico and raised in South Florida, Rogelio recently graduated from Florida International University with a dual degree, in Earth Science and Natural & Applied Science, along with a minor in Meteorology. This academic foundation, paired with a deep connection to South Florida’s natural ecosystems, has shaped his passion for environmental conservation and education. Through a research internship at the Deering Estate, he explored the movement patterns and biodiversity of native wildlife. Currently, he works with Miami EcoAdventures, where he leads programs that teach about South Florida ecology, and the effects of pollution on coastal ecosystems. Now pursuing a graduate degree in Environmental Policy and Management, Rogelio is committed to advocating for the long-term protection of South Florida’s unique environments.

Abigail is originally from Phoenix, Arizona, but has always been extremely passionate about the ocean. She is a junior at the University of Miami, double majoring in Marine Affairs and English with a minor in Ecosystem Science & Policy. On campus, Abigail serves on the E-board for Ocean Awareness Week and Florida's Ocean Advocacy Team (FLOAT) as well as a peer counselor for incoming students at Rosenstiel. She is especially interested in ocean conservation and advancing policies and laws that will protect our marine environments. Outside of classes, she enjoys reading, writing, baking, and SCUBA diving. Abigail is so excited to be a part of DFO this year to deepen her knowledge and raise awareness about plastic pollution!

Mackenzie is an undergraduate student at the University of Miami, where she is pursuing a double major in Marine Biology and Marine Science. Hailing from Chicago, Illinois, Mackenzie developed her passion for marine life during an internship at the Shedd Aquarium, where she participated in beach cleanups and outreach programs focused on marine debris. The Chef Andrew Scholarship aligns perfectly with her commitment to ocean conservation. Mackenzie is immensely grateful for the mentorship and experiences provided by DFO, which have deepened her dedication to marine life and expanded her network of friends.

Morgan is an undergraduate student at the University of Miami, pursuing degrees in Public Health and Spanish. She loves to spend her free time immersed in nature and at the beach, so the Chef Andrews Scholar program was the perfect way to give back to our marine ecosystems that are in need of extra love and care. One of her main interests is how plastics are connected to marine and human health. Morgan will be graduating in Spring of 2024 with plans to pursue a doctorate program in Acupuncture in San Diego, CA. She wants to centralize her future healthcare practice around sustainability and minimizing single-use plastics within the field. Morgan is eternally grateful for the mentorship she has received from DFO, as well as the opportunity to expand her personal knowledge on plastic pollution while simultaneously engaging with members of the community.

Veronica Calzadilla Sosa was born and raised in Cuba and moved to the United States in 2021. She was a dedicated scholar with Debris Free Oceans (DFO), where she served as both an educator and translator. Her passion for engineering led her to establish the Florida Engineering Society Student Chapter at the MDC Wolfson Campus, where she served as president. In this role, she successfully fostered collaboration between engineering peers and DFO by planning collaborative activities with various student organizations. Veronica’s bilingual abilities (English and Spanish) allowed her to effectively communicate the mission of DFO to a broader audience, and through her work, she felt a deep connection to the DFO team, often describing them as a second family.

She graduated from Miami Dade College Honors College with an Associate's Degree in Chemical Engineering and later transferred to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to complete her bachelor's in Chemical Engineering. Her commitment to sustainability and resource conservation was evident in her academic pursuits, as she aimed to become a professional chemical engineer specializing in energy and material science.

Bethany was a Master of Professional Science student who studied Tropical Marine Ecosystems at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science from 2022-23. She is originally from Cleveland, Ohio but found herself drawn to South Florida after visiting the area on a class trip in undergraduate school at the University of Mount Union. Bethany has helped expand plastic-free outreach events to Little Havana and studied the differences between inland and coastal debris during her time as a Chef Andrew Scholar.

Post graduation, Bethany is dedicated to the restoration of Biscayne Bay’s precious ecosystem and educating Miami residents and tourists about its treasures.

Alyssa was born and raised in Oregon, Ohio. She graduated with a Master of Professional Science from the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Sciences with a concentration in Marine Conservation. In addition to hosting cleanups and delivering presentations, Alyssa evaluated the effectiveness of these programs. As a part of her master’s degree, Alyssa also surveyed local marine debris leadership individuals with the hopes to evaluate the impact and reach of community cleanups in Miami-Dade County, representation in environmental conservation, as well as areas of improvement.

Now graduated, Alyssa has moved to Cleveland, OH where she works with high schools in the Greater Cleveland area to expose students to the opportunities that await them after high school and to increase postsecondary attainment. She is still heavily involved in the zero plastic movement and hopes to combine her passion and the passions of students to create a generation of plastic free ambassadors.

Kevin graduated from the University of Miami in the spring of 2024 with a degree in Environmental Science and Policy. He was a junior at The U during his time as Chef Andrew Scholar where he’s since continued his work helping the environment. The summer following his completion of the Chef Andrew program, he interned with Miami Dade county in their Office of Resilience, helping bring forth sustainable initiatives for South Floridians. During his senior year, Kevin, along with some other students, founded the University of Miami Pi Epsilon chapter, a national honor society and academic fraternity dedicated to environmental sciences. After completing his tenure as Vice President of Pi Epsilon, Kevin interned at Metric Engineering, a Florida-based civil engineering company, where he now works full time as an environmental specialist.

Amanda Di Perna was a Chef Andrew Scholar during the junior year of her undergrad. She graduated as an Outstanding Graduate from Florida International University (FIU) in December 2023 with a B.S. in Marine Biology. Throughout her undergraduate career, Amanda was deeply committed to researching and combating plastic pollution. As President of the Green Campus Initiative, she spearheaded FIU's inaugural 'Plastics If You Ask' initiative, which introduced by-request-only options for single-use plastics on campus. She also held the position of President at the Surfrider Foundation FIU Club, where she actively engaged in environmental policy advocacy and organized numerous cleanups for the FIU community.

Currently, Amanda serves as the Program Manager for Debris Free Oceans, where she continues to work towards a zero-waste future. In her role, she not only oversees various programs but also mentors and guides the next generation of Chef Andrew Scholars, empowering them to follow in her footsteps.

Sofia was born and raised in Miami, FL to Cuban parents and is a first generation college student. She is a Senior and Hammond Scholar at the University of Miami, graduating with a double major in English, and Ecosystem Science and Policy. At UM, Sofia has served as the Chair of Student Government’s environmental agency ECO and as the Founding Sustainability Director at the free pop-up thrift swap, UThrift. After graduation, she plans on attending Law School and pursuing a career supporting environmental law and policy that protects both people and the planet.

Haley was born and raised in Danville, California. She was a Chef Andrew Scholar during her sophomore year at the University of Miami.She graduated from UM in December 2023, with a Bachelor of Arts in Marine Affairs and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. During her time at UM, Haley was a member of the ECO Agency, sat on the E-board of Ocean Awareness Week, and mentored first-year students in the honors program.

She is currently pursuing a Master of International Affairs at Columbia University with a concentration in Energy and Environment. In addition to this, Haley is a Digital Editor at the Journal of International Affairs where she reviews and edits submitted articles. After graduating, Haley plans to work in renewable energy expansion or another sector that will allow her to mitigate some of the negative impacts of climate change.

Isabella Herrera (she/her) was a Chef’s Andrew Scholar during her senior year at Florida International University. She graduated from F.I.U. in 2022 with a Bachelor’s in Sustainability and the Environment with a minor in Marine Biology and an undergraduate certificate in Biodiversity Conservation. During her time at F.I.U., Isabella served as the Secretary of Environmental Resilience and Green Initiatives for the Student Government Association. She organized a lecture series on the Biscayne Bay Campus focusing on a variety of environmental and conservation topics and hosted F.I.U.’s “Day on the Bay” — a campus-wide clean up event — in tandem with her role with Debris Free Oceans. An avid admirer of Florida’s ecology, Isabella led kayak and paddleboard tours in Oleta State Park and organized clean ups through the mangrove trails and Sandspur island in North Biscayne Bay.
Isabella is currently an Assistant in Policy, Communication, & Collaboration for the American Meteorological Society, where she continues to incorporate conservation, environmental justice, and community-led solutions into her work at the intersection of science and policy.

Esther was born and raised in Miami, Florida. She graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelors of Science in Ecosystem Science and Policy with a minor in Climate Policy. Throughout her undergraduate career, Esther was involved with community outreach and sustainability serving as service chair for both her sorority and business fraternity. Even after her internship, she enjoyed organizing beach cleanups with various campus organizations.

Esther is now a Pollution Control Inspector with Miami-Dade County’s Division of Environmental Resource Management. She volunteers frequently with the outreach and education team helping with events such as Baynanza and Adopt-A-Tree. In the future she hopes to continue working towards a more sustainable future and preserving the natural environment.

Lizzie grew up in Miami, Florida and attended Florida International University majoring in Psychology and minoring in film photography. She studied at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff for a year, where she took courses on environmental psychology, studying the relationship between the environment and the individual. She is passionate about nature, psychology, and philosophy, and hopes to be an influence in uniting those in order to better the state of the planet. In her free time she can be found tending to her plants and garden, biking, shooting photos, and spending time in nature.