Shanasia Sylman

Hey, I’m Shanasia. I’m a Cornell PhD candidate living in San Diego, CA. I've served as the 2024-2026 NOAA Margaret A. Davidson Graduate Research Fellow at the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve. Prior to my PhD, I worked as an outdoor recreation planner for the National Park Service. Through my research, I focus on how relationships between U.S. parks and protected areas and Native communities are evolving due to the influence of the Land Back Movement. I study not only opportunities for deeper and more meaningful engagement, but also the possibility of giving public parkland back to Native Nations.