Our liaisons
Our Liaisons Program supports co-term, graduate students, and postdocs interested in creating a more welcoming and respectful school community.
The Access, Belonging & Community liaisons work closely with other school liaisons and local program/department student services officers to advance efforts in outreach, recruitment, community building, and impactful educational professional development experiences.
If you have any questions about the program and would like to share your interest about participating, please contact Assistant Director for Belonging, José Rubio-Zepeda at jdrubzep@stanford.edu.
Matthew Ard
PhD Candidate in Energy Science and Engineering
Pronouns: he/him/his
Main Research Topic(s): Underground Hydrogen Storage
Hobbies/non-academic activities: Gymnastics, running, animated films, music
Why did you decide to become a Liaison? As a first-year student, finding your community in a new place can be challenging. I was fortunate to find belonging within my cohort, and now I want to help other students discover their own sense of community at Stanford. In addition, I recognize that we all face different challenges and barriers to success. I'm committed to helping build systems and support structures that ensure every student has the access and resources they need to thrive.
Natalia Berrios-Rivera
PhD student in Geophysics
Pronouns: she/her
Main Research Topic(s): Earthquakes
Hobbies/non-academic activities: Running, yoga, reading
Why did you decide to become a Liaison? I decided to become a liaison because I have experienced how important it is to have a supportive community of peers and mentors during grad school, and I believe advancements in science and engineering benefit greatly from including a broad range of perspectives from diverse groups of people, so I wanted to find ways to promote a welcoming and supportive environment in my department.
Aakanksha Chaudhary
PhD student in Civil and Environmental Engineering
Pronouns: she/her
Main Research Topic(s): Environmental and social justice in Data Center Development
Hobbies/non-academic activities: Hiking, crafting short stories and poetry, meditation, and waltzing
Why did you decide to become a Liaison? I want to support spaces where students feel valued as people, and where their identities, histories, and ways of knowing are acknowledged. My journey has involved navigating institutions in which interdisciplinary paths, cultural background, and lived experience were not always fully recognized or supported. As a liaison, I hope to translate my own experiences into meaningful outreach and support that strengthen trust and belonging within the community.
Lauryn Franzese
Master’s Candidate in Sustainability
Pronouns: she/her
Main Research Topic(s): Sustainable agriculture, food justice, food systems, clean energy, ESG investing
Hobbies/non-academic activities: Playing volleyball, binge-watching shows, traveling, playing with my cats, and hanging out with friends and family
Why did you decide to become a Liaison?I became a liaison because I wanted to help build an inclusive/accessible community, create meaningful connections, and foster a strong sense of belonging within the Doerr School and SUST program.
Prerana Gawde
PhD Student in Oceans
Pronouns: she/her
Main Research Topic(s): Underwater cultural heritage and their ecological and material transformations
Hobbies/non-academic activities: sPuzzling, swimming in the ocean, underwater photography, writing, watching tiny house videos and history documentaries
Why did you decide to become a Liaison? I signed up to be a liaison because I want our department, and the wider community to feel like home. I know how hard it can be to adapt. I care about creating spaces where everyone, across disciplines, identities, and citizenship status can come together. I’m excited to create events that match real needs and comfort levels of my classmates.
Frida Garcia Ledezma
PhD Student in Earth Systems Science
Pronouns: she/her
Main Research Topic(s): Heavy-metal soil contamination and persistence in residential soils
Hobbies/non-academic activities: Reading! Playing Dungeons and Dragons, as well as other board games!
Why did you decide to become a Liaison? I chose to become a liaison because I care deeply about building a stronger sense of community within my department. I want students to feel comfortable sharing their concerns, ideas, and needs, and I believe open communication between students and faculty is essential to creating a supportive environment. Especially during times like these, it’s important to me that everyone feels they truly belong in the spaces they are part of, which is why I am committed to fostering and encouraging that sense of connection and belonging.
Sydney Hampton
PhD Student in Oceans
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Main Research Topic(s): Marine Ecology / Movement Ecology
Hobbies/non-academic activities: Going to concerts, reading, spending time with family & friends
Why did you decide to become a Liaison? Going through graduate school is hard enough as is, I never want someone to feel like they don't belong or don't have a sense of community because of who they are and things they cannot change about themselves. The opportunity to serve as an ABC liaison means creating welcoming spaces for everyone to share & build community with one another.
Laura Kubiatko
PhD Student in Civil and Environmental Engineering
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Main Research Topic(s): Environmental DNA, Human and Planetary Health
Hobbies/non-academic activities: Lion dance, tide pooling, book clubs, hosting dinner parties!
Why did you decide to become a Liaison? Community building is essential to retaining and supporting students across all levels at Stanford! I've found such belonging and fulfillment through my involvement with cultural and affinity spaces prior during my undergraduate and even now as a graduate student. I hope to contribute to our mission of fostering connection and strengthening pipelines to higher education!
Emily Nigro
PhD Candidate in Earth Planetary Sciences
Pronouns: she/her
Main Research Topic(s): Western US hydroclimate during past warm intervals in Earth history
Hobbies/non-academic activities: Soccer, music (trumpet & carillon), hiking, reading
Why did you decide to become a Liaison? I want to help make SDSS a welcoming community for students of all backgrounds and identities, and foster connection and learning across departments!
Lemona Niu
PhD Student in Earth Systems Science
Pronouns: she/her
Main Research Topic(s): Earth Systems Modeling
Hobbies/non-academic activities: Hiking running or just being outside, getting lost in books, hanging out with friends
Why did you decide to become a Liaison? I have always enjoyed organizing events because it allows me to express creativity in ways different from doing research. I think the Liaison program offers an excellent opportunity to bring people together and build communities.
Mia Pique
PhD Student in Earth Planetary Sciences
Pronouns: she/her
Main research topic(s): Sustainable Earth materials and low-carbon solutions
Hobbies/non-academic activities: Creating art, designing maps, blending science and art into visual stories, and grounding myself in nature through hiking and time outdoors.
Why did you decide to become a Liaison? I became a liaison because I believe people do their best work when they feel seen, supported, and valued. Coming from a background where I didn’t always have access, clarity, or a sense of belonging, I want to help create an environment where every student feels like they have a voice and a place in the room. When everyone feels included, our community becomes more creative, compassionate, and resilient.
Josh Romo
PhD Candidate in Earth System Science
Pronouns: he/him/his
Main Research Topic(s): Methane emissions and air pollution impacts from the Oil & Gas industry
Hobbies/non-academic activities: Cooking, baking, eating, triathlon, camping, and banjo playing
Why did you decide to become a Liaison? I am committed to fostering a community where every SDSS student has the authentic sense of belonging necessary to thrive in academia. I want to create an environment where my peers feel seen, valued, and celebrated—not just for their academic success, but for the unique identities and perspectives they bring to our department.
Mario Ruiz Moreno
PhD Candidate in Geophysics
Pronouns:he/him/his
Main Research Topic(s): I study how explosive volcanic eruptions generate measurable signals at the surface, especially seismic and acoustic waves, and how those signals can be used to infer the processes driving an eruption. My work combines physics-based models of magma and gas flow with geophysical observations (seismology and infrasound) to compare simulated and recorded signals across different eruptions. Ultimately, this approach helps better understand eruption dynamics.
Hobbies/non-academic activities: Cooking, baking, eating, triathlon, camping, and banjo playing.
Why did you decide to become a Liaison? I became a liaison because I care about building an academic environment where everyone feels they belong and can thrive. Growing up in Ecuador and navigating academia as a Latino student, I’ve seen how powerful representation, community, and mentorship can be, and how isolating it can feel without them.