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Zakiya Leggett

People

Current Students

Graduate Students

  • Tyrik Cooper LinkedIn
    • Tyrik Cooper, a Savannah, GA native, is a Ph.D. student in Forestry and Environmental Resources at NC State University, where his research focuses on intercropping industrial hemp within loblolly pine plantations. He earned his B.S. in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Shorter University, where he also pitched for the baseball team. Before graduate school, Tyrik aspired to be a veterinarian and worked as a veterinary technician for two years before shifting his focus to environmental research. He later completed his M.S. in Forestry and Environmental Resources at NC State in 2021. Outside of research, Tyrik enjoys sports, riding motorcycles, skateboarding, fishing, hiking, gardening, and puzzles.
  • Kendall Brown
  • Michelle Hooke

Undergraduate Students

  • Hana Robinson LinkedIn
    • Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Hana moved down to North Carolina in middle school. During this time, her love for the outdoors blossomed. Through summer camps, kayak trips with her family, and mountain biking, Hana was able to explore North Carolina. After high school, Hana briefly went to school for nursing before deciding to take a break from higher education and join Americorps NCCC. For 10 months during 2020-2021, Hana traveled the country and served non-profit and government organizations through environmental stewardship, urban and rural development, and disaster relief. After completing almost 1800 service hours, Hana decided to continue her education. First, with an Associate’s degree in Horticulture from CPCC in Charlotte, NC. She then earned a full-ride scholarship through the Goodnight Transfers Scholars program to attend NCSU. Now she is studying Natural Resources with a minor in Forestry in hopes of one day working in the government for state parks, or supporting non-profit organizations on environmental projects.
  • Nicholas Monaco LinkedIn
    • Nicholas Monaco was born and raised in Apex, North Carolina. His passion for health began when he started strength training, which sparked his interest in biology and medicine. He is pursuing a degree in Human Biology with a minor in Statistics at North Carolina State University. On campus, he works at the recreation center as both a Program Assistant for the Member Services department and as a Personal Trainer. He holds NASM Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) and EMT-Basic certifications. Nicholas volunteers at WakeMed and with the Crisis Text Line. His long-term goal is to attend medical school and become a practicing physician. He is currently assisting graduate student Tyrik Cooper with a greenhouse study on industrial hemp. Outside of academics and work, he enjoys working out, watching football, and reading.
  • Sydney Clemons
  • Kenedi Jubert – NC A&T
  • Rohin Roy
  • Logan O’Neal LinkedIn
    • Logan O’Neal is a second year student at UNC Chapel Hill studying Biology and Environmental Health Sciences on the pre-dental track. Originally from Washington, D.C., moving to Wake Forest during middle school, he is passionate about exploring the intersections between sustainability and dentistry, with the goal of bringing innovative, environmentally conscious practices into healthcare. Currently working as a Resident Advisor, Logan values creating positive impacts and building strong relationships within his community, believing that connections and support  among individuals are the key foundations for growing a strong team. Along with this Logan values creativity and forward-thinking as tools to drive meaningful change, both in science and in everyday life. Outside of academics, he enjoys crafting, ant keeping, biking, and caring for plants, hobbies that reflect his curiosity and appreciation for the natural world.

Former Students

Graduate students:

Undergraduate Students: 

  • Andrea Casallas, Summer 2021
  • Dominic James, Evaluating poultry litter fertilization in industrial hemp in a greenhouse study, Summer 2023 – Present
  • Lauren Srisaguan, Evaluating the impact of coarse woody debris on tree growth and soil nutrients, Summer 2023
  • Andrea Casallas, Land Owner Surveys on Hemp Growing; Evaluating tree survival in a hemp intercropping study; Developing marketing materials for NC Forest Association, NCSU, Summer 2021 – Present
  • Kimberly Parris (Provost’s Professional Experience Program), NCSU, Evaluating student support and STEM confidence for students of color, Spring 2022 – 2024
  • Darius Ledbetter, Evaluating tree survival in a hemp intercropping study, Summer 2022 – 2023
  • Jonathan Floyd, A Greenhouse Study Evaluating the Feasibility of Growing Industrial Hemp with Loblolly Pine, UNC – Greensboro, Summer 2021
  • Minna Eltinay (Work Study Student), NCSU, Evaluating STEM identity in students of color, Spring 2021 – 2022
  • Shelby Williford (Provost’s Professional Experience Program), Evaluating poultry litter fertilization in industrial hemp in a greenhouse study, Spring 2021 – 2022  
  • Ilene Doyle (External Learning Experience (ELE) for Environmental Science degree and Honors Thesis Project Advisor), NCSU, Fishing line accumulation in areas around Jordan Lake NC, Summer 2020 – 2022
  • Amaya Horner (Provost’s Professional Experience Program), NCSU, Literature review focused on urban forestry and citizen science, Fall 2020 – Spring 2021
  • Noah Sacks (External Learning Experience (ELE) for Environmental Science degree), NCSU, Developing a citizen science project evaluating tree cover in urban and suburban communities, Fall 2020 – Spring 2021
  • Alison Plumley (McNair Scholar), NCSU, Evaluating feasibility of intercropping industrial hemp with a greenhouse study, Summer 2019 – Spring 2021
  • Jacob Burris (Provost’s Professional Experience Program), NCSU, An investigation into the industrial hemp industry in the mountains of NC, Spring 2020 – Spring 2021
  • Jaren Baluyot (Doris Duke Scholar), NCSU, A case study investigating diversity in natural resources and forestry, Summer 2020 – Spring 2021
  • Westley Foxx, NC A&T State University, Evaluating nutrient dynamics in industrial hemp – a literature review, Summer 2020
  • Joshua Carter (Work Study Student), NCSU, Literature review focused on organic matter manipulations in loblolly pine plantations, Fall 2020
  • Noel Griffin (Applied Ecology minor), NCSU, Evaluating impacts of loblolly pine genetics on root biomass. Fall 2020
  • Ashlee George, James Holmes, Connor Saunders, Dorian Gothard, Willie Adams (ES 400 Capstone Course), NCSU, Ecosystem services and financial feasibility of industrial hemp, Fall 2020
  • Adrian Chamberlin (Applied Ecology minor), NCSU, Scientific confidence by gender in secondary education – based on survey in Introduction to Environmental Science course, Fall 2019
  • Dave Axline (External Learning Experience (ELE) for Environmental Science degree), NCSU, Evaluating the plant biomass of undergrowth in a greenhouse industrial hemp study, Fall 2019
  • Janai Minga, Texas Southern University, Evaluating ecological literacy in an introductory, interdisciplinary undergraduate course, Summer 2019
  • Sophie Uthe (Applied Ecology minor), NCSU, Evaluating feasibility of intercropping industrial hemp with a greenhouse study, 2017 – 2019
  • Colleen Smith (NSF Basic and Environmental Soil Science Training -BESST Program REU student), Humboldt State University, An evaluation of intensive management effects on soil microbial biomass and functional diversity, Summer 2018
  • Austin Cary, Tuskegee University, Evaluating soil nutrient availability with intercropping biofuels, Summer 2018
  • Nadia Bowles, Tuskegee University, Evaluating soil nutrient availability with intercropping biofuels, Summer 2018
  • Kedel Sulimani, Tuskegee University, Evaluating soil nutrient availability with intercropping biofuels, Summer 2018
  • Janell Neal, East Carolina University, Evaluating the sustainability of miscanthus and switchgrass intercropping in loblolly pine plantations, Summer 2018
  • Maddie Adams, NCSU, Evaluating soil nitrogen at Bent Creek Experimental Forest, 2017 – 2018
  • Austin Cary, Tuskegee University, Evaluating soil nutrient availability in areas with and without Chinese Privet, Summer 2017
  • Rosemary Edberg (Parks Scholar), NCSU, Evaluating ecoliteracy: does it vary based on where someone is from? Summer 2017