Kaitlin Lizaso

Environmental Science + City & Regional Planning @ the University of California, Berkeley | Yale Conservation Scholar

Berkeley, California, United States

About

Hello! I’m a rising sophomore at the University of California, Berkeley, majoring in Environmental Science and minoring in City and Regional Planning. I’m deeply passionate about sustainability, conservation, and urban planning. My experience spans ecological restoration—having worked as a Biological Science Aide in the Santa Monica Mountains National Park—and environmental education, through my role as a Waste Education Intern with UC Berkeley’s Housing and Dining Sustainability team. I’m excited to continue exploring opportunities to advocate for sustainable development and promote environmental justice in the pursuit of healthier, more equitable communities.

Experience

  • Yale Conservation Scholar - Early Leadership Intiative at Justice, Equity, Diversity and Sustainability Initiative (JEDSI) at Yale School of the Environment
    Jun 2025 - Present · 1 yr 1 mo

    - Participated in weekly professional development workshops covering photography, writing, and Python programming to broaden interdisciplinary skills - Collaborated with peers through discussions on environmental challenges, fostering insight sharing, and cross-group teamwork - Attended the New Horizons Conference, engaging with panelists from diverse environmental fields and participating in specialized programming

  • Student at University of California, Berkeley
    Aug 2024 - Present · 1 yr 11 mos

  • Baltimore Office of Sustainability at City of Baltimore, Department of Planning
    Jun 2025 - Oct 2025 · 5 mos

    - Contributed to the city’s first Watershed Master Plan by collecting and analyzing data from 5+ case studies of cities like Baltimore with established watershed plans. - Organized and maintained over 10 pages of data and research in Microsoft OneNote to support the Watershed Analyst’s workflow - Participated in 3+ community engagement events, including the annual Open House and Rock the Block, interacting directly with 200+ residents to gather feedback. - Created Sustainable Business Guidelines used by commercial businesses to enhance energy efficiency and support transitions to renewable energy - Designed a flow chart that improved accessibility and understanding of sustainability practices, used by program staff and community partners

  • Outreach and Community Engagement at Housing and Dining Sustainability
    Aug 2024 - May 2025 · 10 mos

    - Facilitated two tabling events to educate the campus community on proper waste sorting protocols, supporting sustainability initiatives, and improving waste management practices - Educated students and staff on water conservation practices and advocated for sustainable resource management across campus - Collaborated with EcoGo to increase recycling participation, promoting cup recycling through incentive programs that engaged 100 participants - Designed and displayed a poster board on Waste Reduction efforts, effectively raising awareness about correct trash sorting among campus visitors

  • Retention Director and Outreach at Pilipinx Academic Student Services (PASS)
    Aug 2024 - May 2025 · 10 mos

    Retention Director Intern - Attend bi-weekly meetings to shadow the Retention Director, gaining insights into leadership and organizational strategies - Develop a user-friendly website featuring a streamlined check-out system to improve accessibility and efficiency for 60 community members Outreach Intern - Developed and facilitated higher education panels addressing campus resources for transfer and high school students, providing tailored guidance to prospective students - Led campus tours for groups of 50+ high school students, highlighting essential resources and showcasing the opportunities available at UC Berkeley