Jose Esparza (he/him) was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco. For the majority of his life, he grew up on the Central Coast of California. He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a BA in Geography/Environmental Studies in 2019 and was also a Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program (DDCSP@UW) alumni. Since graduating, he’s been involved in conservation wok with a strong intersection in science, community outreach, and environmental justice. As a way to connect with his environment, he enjoys to spend time outdoors, hiking, playing soccer and exploring creative outlets through drawing/journaling.