2026 Team
Willa Cornillie
3rd year Undergraduate Student
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies
University of Michigan
My name is Willa and I’m from East Lansing, Michigan, and I’m a student at the University of Michigan. I’m pursuing a double major in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, and plan to graduate in May 2027.
I applied to the GEOPAths GO Jamaica program because I am fascinated by coastal ecosystems and hope to study them in the future. I thought this program would be a great opportunity to engage in a wide variety of fieldwork in aquatic and coastal systems and learn more about them! I also appreciated that the projects emphasized community engagement and the direct impacts of the topics we’ll be studying.
I am excited to build my technical field research/research planning skills and learn more about how the different components of these ecosystems interact. Jamaica offers very different systems from what I’ve studied in Michigan, so I’m looking forward to branching out!
Connor Dickson
4th year Undergraduate Student
Environmental Sciences
University of Texas at Austin
My name is Connor and I am from Mesquite, Texas. I am a senior Environmental Science student at the University of Texas at Austin and I will be graduating in May 2026. I applied to GeoPATHs GO Jamaica in order to conduct unique fieldwork, solve problems directly affecting the local community, and to narrow down my interests before I attend graduate school. I am so excited to be a part of this experience, and I hope to build meaningful connections with the local community and become great friends with my new peers.
Christian Frost
4th year Undergraduate Student
Biology with a minor in Economics
University of New Mexico
My name is Christian Frost, and I am originally from Billings, Montana but I am currently a student at the University of New Mexico. I am in my fourth year pursuing a degree in Biology with a minor in Economics, and I plan to graduate in December 2026.
I applied to GeoPATHS GO Jamaica because I am passionate about ecology, sustainability, and gaining hands-on field experience. This program stood out to me as a way to expand my perspective through both scientific work and community engagement. I am excited about the opportunity to engage in a program that connects scientific knowledge with real-world impact.
Through this experience, I hope to strengthen my field and research skills, build meaningful connections, and deepen my understanding of environmental challenges. I am especially looking forward to learning new approaches to scientific communication and applying what I learn to my future goals!
I am excited to meet and learn alongside all of you!
Benanzea Ndematebem
2nd year Undergraduate Student
Mechanical Engineering
The Ohio State University
My name is Benanzea, and I’m from Blacklick, Ohio. I am majoring in mechanical engineering at The Ohio State University and will graduate in May of 2029.
I applied to GEOPAths GO Jamaica because I have always loved the ocean and studying its organisms, which has led me to want to protect these spaces. I plan to go into ocean/coastal engineering, so participating in this program gives me experience and a new perspective working with the ocean that I wouldn’t have the opportunity to explore in my major’s curriculum. The program also further supports what I’ve been learning as a part of a coral reef restoration lab, allowing me to actually see and work with coral reefs in person and in their biome.
By being a part of this program, I’m hoping to gain fieldwork experience while expanding my understanding of water chemistry and the effects a coastal environment has on its surrounding regions. I also want to learn how to communicate and work directly with a specific community.
Hailey Pistochini
3rd year Undergraduate Student
Liberal Arts (concentration in Life Sciences and Environmental Studies)
Soka University
My name is Hailey and my hometown is Davis, California; I currently attend Soka University, a small liberal arts college in Southern California. I am a 3rd year student majoring in Liberal Arts with a concentration in Life Sciences and Environmental Studies. I plan to graduate in 2027. I applied to GeoPATHsGO Jamaica for the opportunity to gain experience in field work, contribute to marine conservation efforts, and further my research interests prior to applying for grad school. My college doesn’t have a geosciences program, so I’m super excited for the opportunity to learn about Geosciences in a hands-on environment!
Maxim Rassoul
3rd Year Undergraduate Student
Biology & Bioinformatics
University of Utah
I’m Maxim; I’m from Salt Lake City, and am a junior at the University of Utah! I’m planning on graduating in 2027 with degrees in biology and bioinformatics.
I applied to GeoPAths GO because I am very passionate about marine and coral conservation. I love working in the field, particularly in water (which is not always easily found in Utah), and got drawn into this program because of its hands-on aspect! Additionally, the prospect of working in proximity to people from such different backgrounds was incredibly exciting to me.
I look forward to learning a lot about ecosystems I don’t usually have access to, and hope to build a foundation for future opportunities in similar jobs all over the world!
