Abigail Andrews graduated from St. Louis Community College with an Associates in Horticulture this year and is currently exploring the different opportunities that the field has to offer. She is trying to get as much hands-on experience in horticultural work as she can. Down the road she might want to delve into education and outreach. Abigail plans to further her knowledge and continue developing her skills before heading back to school.

She says, “A couple things I’ve enjoyed about my time at LREC so far have been the variety of projects that there are to work on and how much time we spend outdoors.”

When not at the ecology center Abigail likes to spend her free time reading, drawing, playing video games, and listening to music.

Jinxin Li, a recent graduate with a Master of Science in Urban Planning from Columbia University, has built her academic and professional background around sustainability and environmental planning. In her summer internship with the New York City Battery Park City Authority, she contributed to community waste reduction initiatives and supported environmental compliance strategy development, strengthening her knowledge of urban policy and community engagement.

At Litzsinger Road Ecology Center, Jinxin is expanding her ecological knowledge through prairie and woodland restoration, native plant ecology, and invasive species management. This hands-on experience has deepened her understanding of sustainable practices in urban planning and reinforced her commitment to environmental compliance. Her combined experiences have enriched her perspective on sustainable urban development, preparing her for a career focused on integrating ecological principles within urban settings.