This summer several interns will lend important support to our law, science, and policy work. Join us in welcoming them:
Ari Fletcher-Bai, Legal Intern
Ari, a rising 2L at the University of Texas School of Law has always been passionate about protecting the environment, especially the prairies, wetlands, and waters of Texas. They grew up in Houston, Texas, and spent most of their childhood exploring the outdoors. They learned about the importance of protection of local ecosystems and wildlife when their older sibling decided to pursue a career in wetlands conservation. This sparked an interest in environmental law that they are excited to pursue this summer with Bayou City Waterkeeper.
Beebs Hartzell, Legal Intern
Beebs was born and raised in Houston, Texas–where her family still resides–and has only left Texas for her undergraduate degree. Since starting law school at the University of Texas at Austin, where she is a rising 3L, she has developed a love for environmental work, especially environmental justice. She has learned more about wastewater than she ever planned to and had an incredible experience working on a Safe Drinking Water Act case for the Environmental Clinic at Texas Law. She very much enjoys the human element of environmental justice and getting to know the inspiring individuals and communities working to make their environments and futures safer. She is especially excited to work with Bayou City Waterkeeper, back in Houston for the first time since starting law school, on environmental issues that will affect her family and friends for years to come.
Katie Koslan, Watershed Research Fellow
Katie was born in Houston, Texas, and lived there for 18 years. She currently is a Master’s Student at the University of Texas at Austin studying community and regional planning in the School of Architecture with a focus and passion for environmental and climate adaptive planning. She currently is writing her thesis on how Houston and New York incorporated climate adaptation and mitigation into their disaster recovery plans. As someone who is from Texas and is interested in water resources planning, it is important to me to research and understand how we can protect our watershed equitably.
Chloe Owens, Legal Intern
Chloe was born in Jackson, MS, and she earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Information Systems from Mississippi State University. Chloe’s passion for water justice piqued because she experienced the Jackson, MS water crisis in which the city experienced contaminated water and sometimes no water pressure. Her interest in water justice for the indigent population compelled her to attend law school at Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law, where she is now a rising 2L, and she plans to use her JD to help fight for environmental rights throughout Texas. Chloe is excited to begin working at Bayou City Waterkeeper to help provide equitable access to clean water through improved infrastructure for all Texans.
Jenny Park, Rice LRME Fellow
Jenny Park (she/her) is a senior undergraduate student at Rice University, studying Political Science and Managerial Studies. She grew up in New York City and moved to Atlanta for high school. Through her time at Rice, she has gotten to know Houston and spent a semester working with local nonprofits and the government on water equity issues, which sparked her interest in environmental public health. As a Rice University LRME Fellow, she is looking forward to working with Bayou City Waterkeeper to promote water quality, conservation, and equitable access to clean water through the intersections of science and policy.
Linda Quintero, Legal Intern
Linda received her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies from Texas A&M University in 2019. Before starting law school at St. Mary’s University School of Law, where she is now a rising 2L, Linda interned in Washington D.C. representing agricultural interests, worked as a communications director at the Texas House of Representatives, conducted hydrogeology research, and led a geoscience outreach program at The University of Texas at Austin. Linda’s research focused on water quality in Texas rivers and the suitability of aquifers for emerging water security projects due to climate change impacts. Linda has a specific interest in solving water issues because of the sensitivity of our water resources and the inherent need for access to clean water. Linda coordinated a field academy for rising 9th-grade students to study the geology of the Houston region, which piqued her interest in representing the community to advocate for environmental justice. Linda is passionate about environmental conservation and sustainability; she seeks to improve environmental and sociological conditions for marginalized communities through political and legal advocacy.
Carol Wan, Legal Intern
Growing up near the Yangtze River, Carol developed an appreciation for rivers, water and a passion for environmental conservation. Originally from Wuhan, China, Carol’s love for outdoor activities, such as paddling and climbing, has further fueled her desire to make a positive impact in the field of environmental law. She completed her bachelor’s degree in history while living in the United Arab Emirates, where she spent two years living on a desert island, and the rest of the time traveling in Paris, Singapore, and Belem (while her hometown was under covid lockdown). She learned equally much from school and from traveling. In Abu Dhabi she worked on an ambitious project that aims to pave the coastline from the United Arab Emirates to Saudi Arabia with mangroves forests. In Brazil, she worked with friends to brainstorm ecological tourism value in rubber farm that no longer produce commercial values. Carol recently moved to Texas in the fall of 2022. She is excited to be a part of the vibrant community and contribute to the state’s environmental initiatives. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Bayou City Waterkeeper and contribute to their mission of bettering the environment and the community through law.