We’re pleased to introduce you to the students who will be interning with Bayou City Waterkeeper this fall:
Anthony D’Souza, Rice University (Senior), Wetlands Research Fellow
Anthony is a senior at Rice University, majoring in Environmental Science with a minor in Politics, Law & Social Thought. He has interned for Bayou City Waterkeeper since the spring 2020 semester and has previously interned for the Environmental Law Institute, Katy Prairie Conservancy, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, and the Baker Institute working on a variety of environmental policy issues including carbon pricing, nature-based disaster resilience, climate change-induced migration, environmental justice, and conflict sensitivity in environmental programming. He currently lives in west Houston, having moved there five years ago from Karachi, Pakistan and in his free time enjoys playing soccer and basketball.
Tricia Dillon, University of Houston Law Center (3L)
Tricia is a third-year law student at the University of Houston Law Center where she is focusing her studies on energy, environmental, and business law. Before pursuing her J.D., she worked in the journalism field for six years. During her spare time, Tricia enjoys kickboxing, writing, and finding new restaurants to try. Before joining Bayou City Waterkeeper, she interned for a maritime firm and a business law, oil and gas firm in the energy corridor during her 1L and 2L summers, respectively. She is looking forward to her internship with Bayou City Waterkeeper to help promote environmental conservation in the Houston area and beyond.
Megan Grace, University of Houston Law Center (3L)
Megan is a third-year law student at the University of Houston Law Center. Originally from Dalton, Massachusetts, Megan graduated from Siena College in 2016 with a major in political science and a minor in environmental studies. During her time at Siena, she was a member of the Division 1 women’s swimming and diving team. Megan has previously interned at the Galveston Bay Foundation and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. During her free time she enjoys teaching swim lessons and rooting for the Buffalo Bills.
Elise McCanless, Tulane University Law School (2L)
Elise is a second-year law student at Tulane University Law School and fulfilling Tulane’s pro bono requirement with Bayou City Waterkeeper. She is a member of the Honor Board and the Environmental and Energy Law Society. She is also a junior member of the Tulane Maritime Law Journal. She is originally from Baton Rouge, LA and graduated from Sewanee in 2018 with a BA in History and Political Science. In between college and law school she worked as an attorney support assistant at Latham and Watkins in Washington, D.C. In her free time she loves trying all of the restaurants in New Orleans and watching sports, especially LSU football.
Jennifer Peltier, South Texas College of Law (3L)
Jennifer is originally from Michigan. She is a third-year law student at South Texas College of Law Houston. Jennifer started at Northland College but graduated from Grand Valley State University with a bachelor’s degree in biology with an animal emphasis. Her interest in environmental justice and policy led her to pursue her J.D. She has previously interned at the U.S District Court and the Harris County Criminal Court. Jennifer has volunteered on multiple observational research projects focusing on the conservation of endangered animals. In her free time, Jennifer enjoys traveling, playing with her dog, and scuba diving.
Naomi Walker, Texas Southern University (Graduate School), Mapping Water Injustices Fellow
Naomi is continuing her work mapping water injustices in the greater Houston area. Naomi is a graduate student at Texas Southern University pursuing a degree in Urban Planning and Environmental Policy, with a focus on Sustainability and Natural Resources. She has previously worked as an Environmental Research Assistant mapping the nutrient, contaminant, and bacteria levels of Buffalo Bayou. She is passionate about improving environmental injustices that degrade the health of communities and contribute to global climate change, environmental degradation, and food and water insecurity. Naomi’s work has been made possible through a grant made by the Impact Fund.
Throughout the year Bayou City Waterkeeper hosts law, policy, and science interns to help with our research, investigation, and analysis of issues affecting water quality, wetlands, and resilience to flooding and climate change across the greater Houston-Galveston region. For job and internship openings, please visit our career opportunities page.